I Peter Chapter 2 1~~ Therefore get rid of: all evil and all deceit, all hypocrisies, and jealousies, and all evil speakings {slander, gossip, meandering}. 2-3~~ Like newborn babes, desire unadulterated doctrinal milk so that by it you may grow up to salvation . . . 3~~ if you have tasted, and you have, that the Lord is benevolent. {Note: First class condition of IF - 'and you have' - is here because you ARE alive under logistical Grace of God}. 4~~ Coming face to face with an always living stone {Jesus}, receiving rejection by the authority of men {Jesus was rejected}, but chosen of God, and is the most valuable. {Note: Jesus, is the most precious of all that God the Father possesses.} 5~~YOU, YOURSELVES, AND ONLY YOU YOURSELVES, as always living stones, are built up into a spiritual house, an Holy priesthood , to offer again and again spiritual sacrifices . . . acceptable and well pleasing to God {God the Father} through the instrumentality of Jesus Christ. {Note: All prayer is to God the father through Jesus Christ, our High Priest. A priest serves God and represents mankind before God. A partial list of 'spiritual sacrifices' today is: rebound, prayer, praise, divine good, giving, obedience to the teachings of your right pastor-teacher} {Verses 6-8 Occupation with Christ} 6~~ Because of this {because Christ is a living stone} it is contained in the scripture, "Behold, I have deposited in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, and the most valuable, and he that believes on Him shall not be ashamed." 7~~ Unto you, and only you whom believe - to your advantage - He is of highest value. But unto them - to their disadvantage - who refuse to believe . . . the stone, which the builders disallowed, the same {Jesus} has become the head of the corner. 8~~And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense, even to them who stumble at the Word, being disobedient into which they also were appointed. {Note: Christ died for ALL mankind, believers or unbelievers -- doctrine of unlimited atonement.} 9~~ But you and only you are an elect race . . . a royal priesthood . . . an holy nation   {holy means 'separated unto God' - here the church} . . . a protected people . . . that you should communicate to others the excellencies of Him Who has called you out of darkness into His amazing light. 10~~Who in time past were not a people {in the plan of God}, but are now the people of God . . . who had not received Grace, with result that there was no Grace, but now have obtained Grace. {Experience of the priesthood} 11~~ Beloved ones, I command you as temporary residents yet well known in the land, abstain from fleshly lusts {old sin nature} which war against the soul {emotional revolt of the soul}. {Note: If you refer back to verse 1, this epistle was written by Peter to believers abroad.} 12~~ Having your manner of life noble and honorable among the Gentiles {used for all unbelievers} with the result that they malign you as doing wrong . . . they may, by your good productions {stabilized soul} which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of inspection. {Note: This means you are in full time Christian service and unbelievers observe your day by day manner} 13-14~~ Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man {recognize the authority of establishment} because of the Lord's sake whether it be to the King, as supreme, 14~~ or unto governors, and to all those that are sent by him . . . for the punishment of evildoers and for the recognition and honor of them that do well. 15~~ For so is the will of God, that with doing well you may muzzle the ignorant speech of foolish men. 16~~ As free, and not using your state of freedom as a vale of evil {rejection of Authority}, but as the servants of God. 17~~ Have respect for all men in authority {men with authority} . . . love toward the family of God . . . have respect for The God . . . honor the king {leader of national entity when the Bible was written}. {Verses 18-25 - the subject is the handling of undeserved suffering } 18-19~~ Workers, submit yourselves to duly constituted authority with respect - to your advantage - not only to the good and reasonable {competent managers}, but also to the incompetent {crooked, unfair and surly} . . . 19~~ for this is Grace (!) if anyone, because of conscience toward God {knowing Divine Viewpoint}, endures {undeserved suffering} patiently where under mistreatment. 20~~For what kind of credit if you are slugged {beaten with fists} because of your sinning and you shall take it patiently? But if when you do good {doing divine good, in fellowship} and suffer for it and you stay under it patiently, this is Grace from the immediate source of God. 21~~ For into this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us a 'copy-head', that you should imitate His tracks. {Note: In old times an alphanumeric stencil was used to learn how to properly make letters . . . we are to copy how Christ handled undeserved suffering on the cross}. 22~~ Who {Christ} did not sin. Neither was deceit nor treachery found in His mouth {no 'sins of the tongue'}. 23~~ Who {Christ}, when He was maligned, He did not return the abuse. When He suffered, He threatened not. But He {Christ} committed Himself to Him {God the Father} Who judges righteously. {Note: Faith Rest - Christ put his troubles in his human state into the hands of God as an example for all believers in the Church Age to follow - he did NOT rely on his own deity.} 24~~ He {Jesus} carried all of our sins in His own body on the cross. He, Who knew no sin was made sin as a substitute for us that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. {Note: The issue of the cross is NOT sin, but Christ and how He handled the judgment of all sins on the cross} 25~~ "For you kept on being like sheep going astray {Isaiah 53:6}". But are now returned to the Shepherd {Christ} and Bishop {guardian} of your souls.