1 Peter 2:1-12

Read 1 Peter 2:1-12 

Helpful Background Information: 

• Peter is writing to believers who have been scattered around because of persecution they were facing. His reminder to remain steadfast in their faith is  rooted in his words to them. 

• Verse 1 of our text today starts with the word “so”. When we look at the verses leading up to 2:1, we see that Peter demonstrates God’s holiness, and explains how Christians have a responsibility to reflect that same holiness in their own lives. (1 Peter 1:15 “but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct”). When we move forward with our reading today, this is the lens we need to have. The call is to be holy.

• Jesus is pictured as the chosen and perfect cornerstone. If you are not familiar with cornerstones, they are used for structural support. It is the biggest and most solid stone connecting 2 walls and supporting a large part of the weight. Every other stone that was put done, aligned with the cornerstone and if it didn’t the whole structure would be insatiable.

  • Because Christ is the cornerstone, v9-10 carries so much weight. We are now part of the ‘you’ Peter is talking about. “Beloved…abstain from the passions of the flesh” v11 Can you hear Peter’s heart here? His longing for the people of God to know their worth found in Christ alone?

Reflection Questions: 

• Why does it matter that Jesus is the cornerstone?

• Peter quotes Isaiah 28 in our text for today. Read Isaiah 28:14-29. Besides the fact that both passages use the word cornerstone, why else would Peter use this text when talking to the believers?

• So what? Why does any of this matter to your faith? How are you going to let this impact you this week?