Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
1 Peter Ch.2 / 5 Ch.s
1PE:2
* A temper suitable to the Christian character as born again, is
recommended. (1-10) Holy conversation among the Gentiles
directed. (11,12) Subjects exhorted to pay all proper obedience
to their civil governors. (13-17) Also servants to their
masters, and all to be patient, according to the example of the
suffering Saviour. (18-25)
#1-10 Evil-speaking is a sign of malice and guile in the heart;
and hinders our profiting by the word of God. A new life needs
suitable food. Infants desire milk, and make the best endeavours
for it which they are able to do; such must be a Christian's
desires after the word of God. Our Lord Jesus Christ is very
merciful to us miserable sinners; and he has a fulness of grace.
But even the best of God's servants, in this life, have only a
taste of the consolations of God. Christ is called a Stone, to
teach his servants that he is their protection and security, the
foundation on which they are built. He is precious in the
excellence of his nature, the dignity of his office, and the
glory of his services. All true believers are a holy priesthood;
sacred to God, serviceable to others, endowed with heavenly
gifts and graces. But the most spiritual sacrifices of the best
in prayer and praise are not acceptable, except through Jesus
Christ. Christ is the chief Corner-stone, that unites the whole
number of believers into one everlasting temple, and bears the
weight of the whole fabric. Elected, or chosen, for a foundation
that is everlasting. Precious beyond compare, by all that can
give worth. To be built on Christ means, to believe in him; but
in this many deceive themselves, they consider not what it is,
nor the necessity of it, to partake of the salvation he has
wrought. Though the frame of the world were falling to pieces,
that man who is built on this foundation may hear it without
fear. He shall not be confounded. The believing soul makes haste
to Christ, but it never finds cause to hasten from him. All true
Christians are a chosen generation; they make one family, a
people distinct from the world: of another spirit, principle,
and practice; which they could never be, if they were not chosen
in Christ to be such, and sanctified by his Spirit. Their first
state is a state of gross darkness, but they are called out of
darkness into a state of joy, pleasure, and prosperity; that
they should show forth the praises of the Lord by their
profession of his truth, and their good conduct. How vast their
obligations to Him who has made them his people, and has shown
mercy to them! To be without this mercy is a woful state, though
a man have all worldly enjoyments. And there is nothing that so
kindly works repentance, as right thoughts of the mercy and love
of God. Let us not dare to abuse and affront the free grace of
God, if we mean to be saved by it; but let all who would be
found among those who obtain mercy, walk as his people.
#11,12 Even the best of men, the chosen generation, the people
of God, need to be exhorted to keep from the worst sins. And
fleshly lusts are most destructive to man's soul. It is a sore
judgment to be given up to them. There is a day of visitation
coming, wherein God may call to repentance by his word and his
grace; then many will glorify God, and the holy lives of his
people will have promoted the happy change.
#13-17 A Christian conversation must be honest; which it cannot
be, if there is not a just and careful discharge of all relative
duties: the apostle here treats of these distinctly. Regard to
those duties is the will of God, consequently, the Christian's
duty, and the way to silence the base slanders of ignorant and
foolish men. Christians must endeavour, in all relations, to
behave aright, that they do not make their liberty a cloak or
covering for any wickedness, or for the neglect of duty; but
they must remember that they are servants of God.
#18-25 Servants in those days generally were slaves, and had
heathen masters, who often used them cruelly; yet the apostle
directs them to be subject to the masters placed over them by
Providence, with a fear to dishonour or offend God. And not only
to those pleased with reasonable service, but to the severe, and
those angry without cause. The sinful misconduct of one
relation, does not justify sinful behaviour in the other; the
servant is bound to do his duty, though the master may be
sinfully froward and perverse. But masters should be meek and
gentle to their servants and inferiors. What glory or
distinction could it be, for professed Christians to be patient
when corrected for their faults? But if when they behaved well
they were ill treated by proud and passionate heathen masters,
yet bore it without peevish complaints, or purposes of revenge,
and persevered in their duty, this would be acceptable to God as
a distinguishing effect of his grace, and would be rewarded by
him. Christ's death was designed not only for an example of
patience under sufferings, but he bore our sins; he bore the
punishment of them, and thereby satisfied Divine justice. Hereby
he takes them away from us. The fruits of Christ's sufferings
are the death of sin, and a new holy life of righteousness; for
both which we have an example, and powerful motives, and ability
to perform also, from the death and resurrection of Christ. And
our justification; Christ was bruised and crucified as a
sacrifice for our sins, and by his stripes the diseases of our
souls are cured. Here is man's sin; he goes astray; it is his
own act. His misery; he goes astray from the pasture, from the
Shepherd, and from the flock, and so exposes himself to dangers
without number. Here is the recovery by conversion; they are now
returned as the effect of Divine grace. This return is, from all
their errors and wanderings, to Christ. Sinners, before their
conversion, are always going astray; their life is a continued
error.