1 Peter 2:1 - Meaning and Application

The apostle has just been urging believers to love one another and has praised the word of God as an incorruptible seed, one that lives and remains forever. He now turns to a needed warning: “So then, put away all evil,” and the like. These sins destroy love and block the power of the word, so they also keep us from growing in new life.

His advice is to lay aside what is evil, the way you would throw off a rotten old garment. Cast it away with disgust and never put it on again. The sins he names are these: malice, which can mean wickedness in general, but here especially settled anger that sits in the heart until it turns into a wish to harm others; guile, meaning deceitful words, flattery, lies, and crafty tricks that take advantage of another’s weakness; hypocrisies, meaning all forms of pretending, whether in religion or in everyday friendship; all envies, which is sorrow over another person’s good, success, gifts, or reputation; and evil speaking, meaning speaking against someone or damaging their name.

From this we learn several things. Even the best Christians still need warnings against serious sins like malice, hypocrisy, and envy, because they are only partly made holy and still face temptation. Also, our acts of worship toward God will not please him if we are careless in how we treat other people. The sins here are offenses against our duty to our neighbor, and we must put them away if we want to receive God’s word rightly. One sin left untouched can keep us from spiritual growth and lasting good. Malice, envy, hatred, hypocrisy, and evil speaking usually go together, and evil speaking often shows that malice and deceit are already in the heart.

The apostle then moves, like a wise doctor, from cleansing the body to giving wholesome food. After telling them to get rid of harmful things, he tells them to long for the word of God, so they may grow by it. He calls it pure milk, meaning food fit for the soul, for a new life in Christ. This milk must be sincere, not mixed with human additions that spoil God’s word (2 Corinthians 2:17).

They are to desire this milk “like newborn babies.” He reminds them that they have been born again. A new life needs suitable food, and newborn children hunger for milk often and eagerly, doing all they can to get it. In the same way, Christians should desire God’s word with strong, repeated longing, so they may grow through it. The goal is growth in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior (2 Peter 3:18).

From this we learn that a strong hunger for God’s word is a sure sign of new birth. It is one of the first signs, but it is still sure. We also learn that growth in wisdom and grace is the aim of every Christian, and all spiritual means are meant to build us up. The word of God, when used rightly, does not leave a person as he was. It makes him better.

Peter adds a reason from their own experience: “since you have tasted that the Lord is good” (1 Peter 2:3). He is not expressing doubt, but reminding these believers of something they already know. Since they have felt God’s goodness, they should put away these sins, desire the word, and grow by it. The Lord spoken of here is the Lord Jesus Christ.

From this we learn that the Lord Jesus Christ is full of grace toward his people. He is infinitely good in himself, and he is kind, free, and merciful to needy sinners. He is gentle and good to those who do not deserve it, and grace is abundant in him. We also learn that Christ’s grace is best known by a real personal taste of it. Tasting requires direct contact, and so it means being united to Christ by faith. Then we can taste his goodness in his care for us, in our spiritual needs, in our fears and trials, and in his word and worship each day.

Even so, the best of God’s servants have only a taste of Christ’s grace in this life. A taste is only a little, not a full drink, and it does not satisfy completely. That is true of God’s comforts in this world. The word of God is the chief way Christ makes his grace known and gives it to people. Those who feed on the pure milk of the word taste his grace most fully. So in our reading and hearing of the word, we should keep seeking to know and experience more of his grace.