Theological Commentary: Click Here
1 Peter 2,
like much of the New Testament after the book of Acts, is about the Christian perspective
on life. Specifically, this chapter is
about our position towards others. God
has come. God has sent Christ. God has redeemed us. None of it is deserved.
Therefore,
we are to live while longing for spiritual food. We are to be a shining example that lives according
to God’s standards and not the world’s.
We are to live honorably so that when people look at us, they see
something that they desire to emulate.
We are to live honorably so that when we do the right thing and not the
expected human thing, God is honored.
Because we
are living with God’s perspective, our position to authority should be
clear. We are to live as though we are
free. Love community. Love God’s people. Honor our authorities. Fear God.
We are not a people of retribution and revenge. We are a people of love and respect.
To close
this chapter, Peter gets very real. He
tells us rather bluntly that there is no credit when a servant who does poorly
gets beaten. In a similar line of
thinking, there is no credit when a servant who acts properly gets
rewarded. When the Christian shines is
in their response to inappropriate treatment.
When Christians turn the other cheek, we show God. When Christians live well but get treated
poorly, we show what we are made of. When
we withhold our retaliation and instead reply with love we demonstrate the same
spirit that Christ had when He died for us.
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