1 Pet 2.1-25 gives us exhortations from Peter to his Jewish brethren about putting aside the old nature; that Israel is God’s chosen people and how they were to conduct themselves among the non-Jews.
v 1…Therefore (in light of what was just said), putting aside (like an old coat) all malice and all guile and hypocrisy and envy and slander (various sins of the old nature),
v 2…like newborn babies (just born again), long for the pure (speaks of clarity in God’s ways-Lam 4.7; Song 4.2) milk (milk is made by chewing the cud where the Hebrew concept of “meditate” comes from in Josh 1.8-‘”hagah”; the clean animals in Lev 11 teach us this concept; the Torah was given at Shavuot and dairy products are eaten to symbolize the word of God) of the word (1 Cor 3.2; Heb 5.11-14; Josh 1.8) that you may grow in respect to salvation (believers are not fully mature at first in the Torah/Scriptures),
v 3…since you have tasted (in part at salvation-Heb 6.5) the kindness of the Lord (this is also speaking about the word; just as milk is for a baby, so is the Tanak/Scriptures).
v 4…And coming to him as a living stone (he is talking to Jewish believers in the dispersion, not a non-Jewish “church”-1 Pet 1.1, 2.12; the “living stone” is Yeshua), rejected by men (by the Jewish builders) but choice and precious in the sight of God,
v 5…you also, as living stones are being built up as a spiritual house (a Temple-1 Cor 3.6, 6.19; Eph 2.22; the ruling judges called the Sanhedrin sat in the “Lishkat Ha Gazit” or the “Chamber of the Hewn Stones” because the people were seen as “stones” and their rulings were to help the people “fit together”; the stones on the breastplate of the high priest were also seen as the people-Exo 28.12-129), for a holy (with a kedusha) priesthood (Exo 19.6) to offer up spiritual sacrifices (like Torah observance, prayer, praise, etc) acceptable (well received) to God through Yeshua the Messiah).
v 6…For this is contained in Scripture (Isa 28.16), “Behold (see for yourself) I lay in Zion an elect, precious stone, a corner foundation; and he who believes in him shall not be disappointed.”
v 7…Then to you who believe belongs the honor. But to disobeying ones he is the stone which those building (the Temple of people) rejected (were unpersuaded), “The stone which the builders rejected, this became the very corner (Psa 118.22),”
v 8…and, “A stone of stumbling (obstruction) and a rock of offense (scandal)” for they stumble because they are disobedient to the word (Tanak/Scriptures), and to this they were also appointed (all things enter into the plans of God; there are no coincidences and nothing happens by chance).
v 9…But you (Israel; the living stones) are a chosen (by-election) race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation (set apart from the other nations), a people for God’s own possession (like a bride), that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who has called you out of darkness into his marvelous light;
v 10…for you once were not a people (Hos .1.9-“lo-ammi”), but now you are the people of God; you had not received mercy (Hos 1.6-“lo-ruhamah”), but now you have received mercy.
v 11…Beloved, I urge you as aliens and strangers (in a foreign land) to abstain from fleshly lusts, which wage war against the soul (being in a body with a corrupt nature).
v 12…Keep your behavior excellent among the Gentiles (who surround you and observe your conduct), so that in the things in which they slander you as evildoers, they may on account of your good deeds as they observe them, glorify God in the day of visitation (Yom Ha Din; day of judgment-Isa 10.3).
v 13…Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake (as representing him as long as it does not violate the Torah) to every human institution (civil law wherever you live); whether to a king as the one in authority (or having power),
v 14…or to governors as sent by him (indirectly by the king) for the punishment of evildoers and the praise of those who do right (the king should express gratitude to those who obey civil laws).
v 15…For such is the will of God that by doing right you may silence the ignorance of foolish men (to muzzle those who might say something against them);
v 16…as free men, and do not use your freedom as a covering for evil, but as bond-slaves of God.
v 17…Honor all men; love the brotherhood, fear God, honor the king (the office).
v 18…Servants, be submissive to your masters with all respect, not only to those who are good and gentle, but also to those who are unreasonable (ill-natured).
v 19…For this finds favor (Greek “charis” or grace) if for the sake of the conscience toward God a man bears up under sorrows when suffering unjustly (through severe words and reproaches).
v 20…For what credit is there if, when you sin and are harshly treated, you endure it with patience (it’s the least that could be done)? But if when you do what is right and suffer for it, you patiently endure it, this finds favor (grace) with God.
v 21…For you have been called for this purpose (to obey God even when mistreated), since Messiah also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in his steps;
v 22…” who committed no sin, nor was any deceit found in his mouth (Isa 53.9),”
v 23…and while being reviled, he did not revile in return; while suffering he uttered no threats, but kept entrusting himself to him who judges righteously (he had no obligation to even score because God will; Yeshua’s trial was the justice of men; God overturned the verdict of an earthly court by raising Yeshua from the dead; his punishment wasn’t from God, and Peter likened it to murder in Acts 5.30, 8.32-33);
v 24…and he himself bore (lifted up, forgave-see Isa 53.12 notes) our sins in his body on the cross (when he was lifted up on the cross) that we might die to sin (the sin nature) and live to righteousness (as defined in the Torah); for by his wounds (stripes, lacerations, bruises) we were healed (spiritually forgiven; made whole).
v 25…For you were continually straying like sheep, but now you have returned to the Shepherd (caretaker) and Guardian (Greek “episkopion” or overseer) of your souls (our entire being belongs to God).