A Living Stone and a Holy People

1 Peter 2

1 j So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander. 2 k Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual l milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation - 3 if indeed you have m tasted that the Lord is good.

4 As you come to him, a living stone n rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, 5 o you yourselves like living stones are being built up as p a spiritual house, to be q a holy priesthood, r to offer spiritual sacrifices s acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

6 For it stands in Scripture:
t "Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone,
a cornerstone chosen and precious,
u and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame."

7 So the honor is for you who v believe, but for those who v do not believe,
w "The stone that the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone," 1

8 and
x "A stone of stumbling,
and a rock of offense."
They stumble because they disobey the word, y as they were destined to do.

9 But you are z a chosen race, a a royal b priesthood, c a holy nation, d a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you e out of darkness into f his marvelous light. 10 g Once you were not a people, but now you are God's people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

11 Beloved, I urge you h as sojourners and exiles i to abstain from the passions of the flesh, j which wage war against your soul. 12 k Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, l they may see your good deeds and glorify God on m the day of visitation.

  1. Cross References
    Ephesians 4:22
    To put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires.
    Ephesians 4:25
    Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another.
    Ephesians 4:31
    Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice.
    Colossians 3:8
    But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth.
  2. Cross References
    Matthew 18:3
    And said, "Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
  3. Cross References
    1 Corinthians 3:2
    I fed you with milk, not solid food, for you were not ready for it. And even now you are not yet ready.
    Hebrews 5:12 - 13
    For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food.
  4. Cross References
    Psalms 34:8
    Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!
    Hebrews 6:5
    And have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come.
  5. Cross References
    1 Peter 2:6 - 7
    For it stands in Scripture: "Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a cornerstone chosen and precious, and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.
  6. Cross References
    Ephesians 2:20 - 22
    Built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone.
    1 Corinthians 3:9
    For we are God's fellow workers. You are God's field, God's building.
  7. Cross References
    Hebrews 3:4
    (For every house is built by someone, but the builder of all things is God.)
    Hebrews 3:6
    But Christ is faithful over God's house as a son. And we are his house if indeed we hold fast our confidence and our boasting in our hope.
  8. Cross References
    1 Peter 2:9
    But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.
  9. Cross References
    Isaiah 56:7
    These I will bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer; their burnt offerings and their sacrifices will be accepted on my altar; for my house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples.
    Malachi 1:11
    For from the rising of the sun to its setting my name will be great among the nations, and in every place incense will be offered to my name, and a pure offering. For my name will be great among the nations, says the Lord of hosts.
    Romans 12:1
    I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.
    Hebrews 13:15
    Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name.
  10. Cross References
    Romans 15:16
    To be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles in the priestly service of the gospel of God, so that the offering of the Gentiles may be acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.
    Philippians 4:18
    I have received full payment, and more. I am well supplied, having received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent, a fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God.
  11. Cross References
    Isaiah 28:16
    Therefore thus says the Lord God, "Behold, I am the one who has laid as a foundation in Zion, a stone, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone, of a sure foundation: 'Whoever believes will not be in haste.
  12. Cross References
    Romans 9:33
    As it is written, "Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense; and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.
    Romans 10:11
    For the Scripture says, "Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.
  13. Cross References
    Isaiah 28:16
    Therefore thus says the Lord God, "Behold, I am the one who has laid as a foundation in Zion, a stone, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone, of a sure foundation: 'Whoever believes will not be in haste.
  14. Cross References
    2 Corinthians 2:16
    To one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life. Who is sufficient for these things?
  15. Cross References
    2 Corinthians 2:16
    To one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life. Who is sufficient for these things?
  16. Cross References
    Psalms 118:22
    The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.
  17. Cross References
    Psalms 118:22
    The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.
  18. Cross References
    Romans 9:33
    As it is written, "Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense; and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.
    Isaiah 8:14
    And he will become a sanctuary and a stone of offense and a rock of stumbling to both houses of Israel, a trap and a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem.
  19. Cross References
    Romans 9:22
    What if God, desiring to show his wrath and to make known his power, has endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction.
    Jude 1:4
    For certain people have crept in unnoticed who long ago were designated for this condemnation, ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into sensuality and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.
  20. Cross References
    Isaiah 8:14
    And he will become a sanctuary and a stone of offense and a rock of stumbling to both houses of Israel, a trap and a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem.
  21. Cross References
    Deuteronomy 10:15
    Yet the Lord set his heart in love on your fathers and chose their offspring after them, you above all peoples, as you are this day.
    Isaiah 43:20
    The wild beasts will honor me, the jackals and the ostriches, for I give water in the wilderness, rivers in the desert, to give drink to my chosen people.
  22. Cross References
    Exodus 19:6
    And you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. These are the words that you shall speak to the people of Israel.
    Revelation 1:6
    And made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
    Revelation 5:10
    And you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth.
  23. Cross References
    Isaiah 61:6
    But you shall be called the priests of the Lord ; they shall speak of you as the ministers of our God; you shall eat the wealth of the nations, and in their glory you shall boast.
    Isaiah 66:21
    And some of them also I will take for priests and for Levites, says the Lord.
  24. Cross References
    Deuteronomy 7:6
    For you are a people holy to the Lord your God. The Lord your God has chosen you to be a people for his treasured possession, out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth.
  25. Cross References
    Exodus 19:5
    Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession among all peoples, for all the earth is mine.
    Deuteronomy 7:6
    For you are a people holy to the Lord your God. The Lord your God has chosen you to be a people for his treasured possession, out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth.
    Isaiah 43:21
    The people whom I formed for myself that they might declare my praise.
    Malachi 3:17
    They shall be mine, says the Lord of hosts, in the day when I make up my treasured possession, and I will spare them as a man spares his son who serves him.
  26. Cross References
    Isaiah 42:16
    And I will lead the blind in a way that they do not know, in paths that they have not known I will guide them. I will turn the darkness before them into light, the rough places into level ground. These are the things I do, and I do not forsake them.
    Acts 26:18
    To open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.
  27. Cross References
    Psalms 36:9
    For with you is the fountain of life; in your light do we see light.
  28. Cross References
    Hosea 1:6
    She conceived again and bore a daughter. And the Lord said to him, "Call her name No Mercy, for I will no more have mercy on the house of Israel, to forgive them at all.
    Hosea 1:9 - 10
    And the Lord said, "Call his name Not My People, for you are not my people, and I am not your God.
    Hosea 2:23
    And I will sow her for myself in the land. And I will have mercy on No Mercy, and I will say to Not My People, 'You are my people'; and he shall say, 'You are my God.'
    Romans 9:25 - 26
    As indeed he says in Hosea, "Those who were not my people I will call 'my people,' and her who was not beloved I will call 'beloved.'
    Romans 10:19
    But I ask, did Israel not understand? First Moses says, "I will make you jealous of those who are not a nation; with a foolish nation I will make you angry.
  29. Cross References
    Leviticus 25:23
    The land shall not be sold in perpetuity, for the land is mine. For you are strangers and sojourners with me.
  30. Cross References
    Romans 13:14
    But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.
    Galatians 5:24
    And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
  31. Cross References
    James 4:1
    What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you?
  32. Cross References
    1 Peter 3:16
    Having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame.
    2 Corinthians 8:21
    For we aim at what is honorable not only in the Lord's sight but also in the sight of man.
    Philippians 2:15
    That you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world.
    Titus 2:8
    And sound speech that cannot be condemned, so that an opponent may be put to shame, having nothing evil to say about us.
  33. Cross References
    Matthew 5:16
    In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.
    2 Corinthians 9:13
    By their approval of this service, they will glorify God because of your submission flowing from your confession of the gospel of Christ, and the generosity of your contribution for them and for all others.
    Galatians 1:24
    And they glorified God because of me.
  34. Cross References
    Isaiah 10:3
    What will you do on the day of punishment, in the ruin that will come from afar? To whom will you flee for help, and where will you leave your wealth?
    Luke 19:44
    And tear you down to the ground, you and your children within you. And they will not leave one stone upon another in you, because you did not know the time of your visitation.
English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.
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