Scripture Reading 1 Peter 2:1-3

Craving the True Nourishment: Longing for the Pure Milk of the Word

Bible Passage: 1 Peter 2:1–3

New American Standard Bible (2020) Chapter 2

1 Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander, 2 and like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation, 3 if you have tasted the kindness of the Lord.

1. Purging Poisonous Practices

1 Peter 2:1

The verse starts out with therefore, indicating that there is a connection between verse 1 and what was previously stated before. As we learned earlier in this chapter, specifically in verse 23, it talks about the new life we receive when we are born again by God’s grace through the means of his imperishable word. In this verse peter lists 5 things we must rid ourselves of to help us live out that new life. Now this expression of ridding comes from the Greek word “apotithemi”(ah po teeth tha me) which means to lay aside; take off. This idea of ridding can be used as a metaphor to the act of taking off old dirty worn out clothes that can no longer be used. I also want you to keep in mind that this act of ridding ourselves is not a one time deal but it is a continuous decision to turn down these 5 evil practices. Peter lists these 5, by the way are also decisions we can choose to participate in which are ALL MALICE:(the intention or desire to do evil or cause harm), ALL DECEIT:(to cause one to believe error for the sake of one’s own interests, safety, or pride), HYPOCRISY:(The characteristic of acting in way that is inconsistent with one’s character, belief system, or speech.), ENVY:(The desire to possess another person’s gifts, possessions, position or achievements),and SLANDER: (Communicating false and negative claims about another person). These 5 if left unchecked could be a recipe for not only hindering our spiritual growth but also causing great damage to the body. Elsewhere in scripture we can also find this concept of getting rid of or taking off the old self in Ephesians 4:22 where it talks about removing our old way of life which was full of deceitful desires, and James 1:21 where it talks about the prevalence of evil removing all filth and receiving the word humbly because by it our souls will be saved. This means that is of most importance that we find ourselves to not have any of these things be found among us.

2. Craving Consistent Nourishment

1 Peter 2:2

Verse 2 Peter gives the solution to all of these evil practices mentioned in verse 1 by giving us an illustration of how we are to be by paralleling the new life as (believers) to life as a new born baby. One thing we know about infants is the fact that they live out there life in a state of dependency and longing for getting fed and nurtured by the milk because it is essential for life. In other words peter is saying that just as it is vitally important for newborn babies to have milk for their life, health, nourishment and growth It is equally necessary for those with new life to have the spiritual milk which is the word of God for spiritual life, spiritual health, spiritual nourishment, and spiritual growth. This is the reason why we as believers should crave and have this state of dependency on the word.

3. Tasting Transformative Goodness

1 Peter 2:3

In verse 3 Peter makes a reference to Psalm 34:8 when he says “if you have tasted the kindness of Lord”. It’s here that peter places the word if. Maybe by placing the word if there peter is trying to get us and his audience to stop and think to ourselves, have we really tasted the kindness of the Lord? How can we know? what does that look like? I believe there are some ways we can know, if we examine ourselves do we find ourselves wanting to dive deep into scripture wanting to know more. Are we looking to see what scripture says about any given situation first. Do we take refuge in Him and what he has said in these scriptures?

Conclusion: As believers we must examine ourselves and put off sinful behaviors that keep us from growing in Christ and bringing destruction to the body. As believers we need to develop a longing for God’s word because it is through his word we mature, and find nourishment for our souls.