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

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

1) What is the motivation for “putting away”?
Marker words in Scripture like “so” and “therefore” should be waving flags for us to stop reading, go back, and get a broader context for our understanding so that we correctly understand the meaning and purpose of the passage. In this instance, Peter has been talking about the power of the gospel being unleashed in the life of a believer, reminding us that we have been raised to life and are no longer slaves to Sin. Because of this new life and the power of the Spirit flowing inside us, Peter calls us to put away the lifestyle of Sin. Malice, deceit, and hypocrisy are clothes that no longer fit a remade creation of Christ, so stop putting them on!

2) What is “pure spiritual milk”?
The author of Hebrews uses similar phrasing when referring to our spiritual condition by using “milk” vs “solid food”. By looking at a cross-reference for Hebrews 5:11-14, we get a broader perspective on the meaning of this phrasing. “Spiritual milk” is the simple gospel, the basic foundations of the Christian faith and the character of God.

3) In what way are we “living stones” and what is God “building”?
To our Western culture, stones are what we find by the riverbed and our context generally ends there. But to the original hearers of Peter’s letter, stones were for building magnificent structures with, where the extremely obvious case in point was Solomon’s Temple in Jerusalem. The temple was cut using the finest of stones and its beauty and resplendence was apparent to everyone in the Roman world. Then-current-day believers would be tempted to wish for a physical building, for power, and display of importance in the social and political spheres around them. Peter reminds them here that they, as Christ followers, are the “living stones” and God was building them together as His Church to display an everlasting glory that would shine into eternity!

1) What is the motivation for “putting away”?
There’s no escaping that fact that relationships are full of conflict, but we absolutely have a choice in how we respond to that conflict. Instead of grabbing the weapons of Sin and Death (namely: deception, malice, hatred, anger, and so forth), as Christ-followers, we have a new “wardrobe” to choose from. The garments of Christ are love, mercy, gentleness, self-control, patience, goodness, and the like. In the next verse, Peter notes how we “grow up” in our salvation. Putting these clothes on doesn’t come naturally, but with practice and growth, and the under-girding of the Holy Spirit’s power, we can fight against the enemy when it comes to conflict in our relationships!

2) What is “pure spiritual milk”?
Those who are taking in the spiritual milk are not wrong! If you are seeking and exploring the claims of Christ, let the sweetness of the gospel capture your heart and draw you in. Read His Word, meet with other believers, get to know this God who is pursuing and redeeming you….but don’t stop there! We were not saved from eternal separation from God to stay in one place, rather we were intended to grow and become more like Jesus. Keep Journeying with Christ! Eating the “solid meat”, doesn’t mean going beyond the gospel and the heart of God, rather it means going deeper into it. Don’t be satisfied with simple answers or explanations or “feel-good” sermons. Push the boundaries of your comfort zone and hunger for more of God and more of His righteousness! Paul warns here by his words “if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good”, that if you aren’t growing and longing for more of Jesus, then carefully consider whether you have genuinely given your heart to Him or whether you are deceiving yourself.

3) In what way are we “living stones” and what is God “building”?
Political sway, social importance, and the desire for power are temptations we face in our modern day world, just like the ancient Christians. Even if it’s simply power of our own home, control in our relationships, approval on social media, or being noticed by others we have elevated to a higher standard. Take courage and find rest in knowing that Jesus sees you, and your fellow sisters and brothers in Christ, as being far more valuable and long-lasting than fleeting popularity. The work God is doing in and through a heart fully surrendered to Him will last for eternity and have impact in the present day. Trust Him for your foundation today; let Him build and shape you for His purposes!

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We love getting help while we study and www.studylight.org is one of many excellent resources.  Just type in the verse you’re looking at and Boom! It’s right in front of you in English and Hebrew (Old Testament) or Greek (New Testament), which are the original languages the Bible was written in.

Want to know more about a specific word in a verse? Click on “Strong’s Interlinear Bible” then click the word you’d like to study. Find super awesome stuff like “origin”, “definition”, and even all the different ways that single word has been translated into English! If you want to be geeky, you can even click the word and hear its original pronunciation – That Is Awesome!

Want to get more background on a word or phrasing or passage? Click “Study Tools”, then pick a few commentaries to read their scholarly approach, keeping in mind that just because a commentary says it, doesn’t mean it’s true. (just like the internet :-))

Finding the original meaning is a huge deal when we study Scripture and can make all the difference in our understanding as we apply God’s truths to our everyday lives.

In our modern-day relationships, we want people to understand our original intention as we communicate; how much more so between God and humanity?!

Here’s a little bit more on why we take Digging Deeper so seriously.

Embracing God’s fullness in our lives is rooted in scripture and memorizing His word is vital to our continued growth and depth with Jesus.
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