1 Pedro 2
Warren Wiersbe · Citado em PreceptAustin
1 Pedro 2:2
Wiersbe quips that the naive church member who foolishly declares "We don’t want doctrine; just give us helpful devotional thoughts!” does not not know what he is saying. Apart from the truth (and this means Bible doctrine), there can be no spiritual help or health. (Wiersbe, W: Bible Exposition Commentary. 1989. Victor) C. H. Spurgeon encourages believers to continually imbibe the pure mild of the word, writing that "It is blessed, to eat into the very soul of the Bible until, at last, you come to talk in Scriptural language, and your spirit is flavored with the words of the Lord, so that your blood is Bibline and the very essence of the Bible flows from you. Let us partake of the beautiful invitation Ps 34:8 "O taste and see that the LORD is good; How blessed (fully satisfied independent of circumstances) is the man who takes refuge in Him!" As we taste and see His goodness, this only serves to whet our appetites for more of God's goodness as revealed in His Word. And the more we taste God's goodness, the more tasteless, less attractive and less satisfying the worldly options will become! The pure milk of the Word - As discussed below the original Greek (to logikon adolon gala) is a bit ambiguous and thus it is rendered variously by the translators… The spiritual milk which is without guile (A T Robertson) the pure spiritual milk (ESV) the sincere milk of the word (KJV) pure spiritual milk (NAB) The Psalms speak of the purity of God's Word… Ps 12:6-note The words of the LORD are pure words; as silver tried in a furnace on the earth, refined seven times. Ps 19:8-note The precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; The commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes. David spoke of the supremacy and sufficiency of God's Word in Psalm 19… 7 The law of the LORD is perfect (needing nothing for completeness), restoring the soul; The testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple. (Spurgeon's note) 8 The precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; The commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes. (Spurgeon's note) 9 The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever; The judgments of the LORD are true; they are righteous altogether. (Spurgeon's note) 10 They are more desirable than gold, yes, than much fine gold; Sweeter also than honey and the drippings of the honeycomb. (Spurgeon's note) In Proverbs we read… Pr 30:5-6 Every word of God is tested; He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him.:6 Do not add to His words Lest He reprove you, and you be proved a liar. (Bridges Commentary) Bishop
1 Pedro 2:2
Wiersbe - Sweeter than Honey - HOW WELL I REMEMBER THE DAY MY DOCTOR LOOKED AT ME AND said, “Reverend, you will not eat any more sweets.” I’ve learned to do without desserts, but there’s one sweet I cannot do without—God’s Word: “How sweet are Your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!” (Ps 119:103). Is the Word of God like honey or medicine to you? The way some people treat it, you’d think it is castor oil. True, there are times when we need the healing medicine of the Scripture. But the Bible is much more than medicine. It also is honey. Having an appetite for God’s Word is one sign that a person is truly born again, for the Bible is food for the soul. Job said, “I have treasured the words of His mouth more than my necessary food” (Job 23:12). Jeremiah said, “Your words were found, and I ate them, and Your word was to me the joy and rejoicing of my heart” (Jer. 15:16). Jesus said, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God” (Matt. 4:4). And Peter urges us to “desire the pure milk of the word” (1 Peter 2:2). When people are sick, their appetites change—in fact, they often lose their appetites completely. Likewise, sin in our lives robs our spiritual appetite, and we lose our desire for the Word. May we always have an appetite for the sweetness of the Word of God, even when we have to read things that convict us. That first bite of Scripture may taste sour sometimes, but it will turn sweet. It’s important to feed your soul a proper diet. Do you feed and nourish on God’s Word? The Bible is sweet to those who love it, learn it, and live it. (Prayer, Praise and Promises) Charles Stanley - Feeding on the Word: 1 Peter 2:2 As newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby. As any parent knows, a new baby has a limited menu. He drinks milk or a gentle formula that’s just right for his developing digestive system. As he grows, he moves up to soft foods that have been specially mixed for easy swallowing. But it’s only when a baby cuts his teeth that the real joy of eating begins. God designed the believer’s “appetite” for His Word to work in much the same way. As a young believer, you begin the nourishment process with the milk of Scripture, the elementary principles that lay the groundwork for deeper truths to come. Then as you mature in your relationship with Christ, you’re ready to learn more. A baby who doesn’t progress to more substantial foods doesn’t keep growing. Something is wrong. It would be unnatural and unhealthy for the baby to drink only milk for an extended period of time. If you don’t move beyond the basics of faith, you soon become spiritually malnourished and cease to develop as God planned. Are you growing in the Lord? Commit yourself to feeding on God’s Word each day, trusting Him to work His principles into your heart as you obey His direction. The more of His truth you absorb, the more you’ll grow to be like Christ. Father, help me to commit myself to feeding on Your Word each day. I want to grow strong in Your precepts. Constant Companion - When my wife and I are preparing for a trip, one of the first things we do is get out the road atlas. We study it intensely to learn the best routes, determine the number of miles we’ll have to travel, pick out interesting places to visit, decide how far we can get in a day, and estimate expenses. On the journey, the atlas is our constant companion, and we consult it many times a day. We couldn’t get along without it. For Christians, the Bible is an atlas for their spiritual journey, but it is much more. It is described as: sweeter than honey (Psalm 19:10-note; Ps 119:103-note) a lamp (Psalm 119:105-note) rain and snow (Isaiah 55:10,11) a fire (Jeremiah 23:29) a hammer (Jeremiah 23:29) water (Ephesians 5:26-note) a sword (Ephesians 6:17-note) solid food (Hebrews 5:12-note, He 5:14-note) a mirror (James 1:23-note) milk (1Peter 2:2-note) I have a companion, a dear, faithful friend, A union of blessing that never shall end; Till Jesus returns with His saints from on high We'll travel together, my Bible and I. —Anon The Bible is like a compass— it always points the believer in the right direction. Grow, Baby, Grow! - Whenever children visit relatives, they often hear this kind of greeting: “My, haven’t you grown!” This embarrasses them, but inside they’re glad they’ve outgrown babyhood. Not that babyhood is bad. How else can life begin? But it is sad when babies remain babies. Sometimes mature Christians, eager to keep new converts from stagnating in their growth, make them feel guilty for being babies and rush them down the road to maturity before they are ready. In 1 Peter 2, the apostle affirmed that spiritual babyhood is normal. Instead of forcing newborns to run before they can walk, he encouraged them to crave the wholesome milk of Christ’s basic teaching. He knew that as they continued to take in milk, in time they would move on to solid food and maturity (Heb 5:14-note). What a joy to see that happen! O to be like Thee! O to be like Thee, Blessed Redeemer, pure as Thou art! Come in Thy sweetness, come in Thy fullness; Stamp Thine own image deep on my heart. —Chisholm The Christian life is more like climbing a mountain than riding an elevator. James Moffatt - Like newly-born children (babes at the breast)—either an indication that this part of the homily had been originally addressed to the newly-baptized, or a reminder that, however experienced, they were not beyond the need of simple spiritual nourishment for the regenerate life, that they might grow up to salvation (the other side of 1Pe 1:5). This is a striking and original expression; the present attitude of Christians is more than mere waiting for the imminent salvation (1Pe 1:9), it is an active faith and love for the Lord which here and now brings them into vital contact with him. Thirst for (as the one food you appreciate) the pure (unadulterated) spiritual milk, i.e. for what faith receives from the living Lord. Peter does not contrast milk with solid food, as Paul had done in 1 Corinthians iii. 2 (see Hebrews 5:12, 13, 14); he describes it as spiritual, using, like Paul (in Romans 12:1), a Greek term, logikon, which in contemporary religious language had acquired this sense. The mistaken idea that there was a play on the resemblance between it and logos (Word) led to the rendering ‘milk of the Word,’ as though Christ were the content of Scripture or the Word. By a quaint custom in the later church the newly-baptized were sometimes given milk and honey as a symbol of their birth into God’s household—a practice for which there was apparently a precedent in the cults; the initiated in some Phrygian rites received milk, to symbolize their new birth to life eternal. The prevalence of such rites would lend point to Peter’s figure. But what is in his mind is a reminiscence of Psalm 34:8. Andrew Murray on The Milk of the Word… Beloved young Christians, hear what your Father has to say in this word. You have just recently given yourselves to the Lord and have believed that He has received you. You have received the new life from God. You are now as newborn infants. He will teach you in this word what is necessary so that you may grow strong. The first point is: you must know that you are God's children. Hear how distinctly Peter says this to those just converted: "You have been born again," "you are newborn infants," "you are now converted," "you are now the people of God." (1Pe 1:23; 2:2,10,25) A Christian, however young and weak, must know that he is God's child. Only then can he have the courage to believe that he will make progress and the boldness to use the food provided in the Word. All Scripture teaches us that we must know and can know that we are children of God. (Ro 8:16; 1Cor. 3:1,16; Gal 4:6,7; 1John 3:2,14,24; 4:13; 5:10,13) The assurance of faith is indispensable for a healthy, powerful growth in the Lord. (Ep 5:8; Col. 2:6; 1Pe 1:14,18,19) The second point which this word teaches you is: you are still very weak, weak as newborn children. The joy and love which a new convert sometimes experiences do indeed make him think that he is very strong. He runs the risk of exalting himself and of trusting in what he experiences. He should nevertheless learn much about how he should become strong in his Lord Jesus. Endeavor to deeply feel that you are still young and weak. (1Co 3:1,13; He 5:13,14) Out of this sense of weakness comes the humility which has nothing in itself. (Mt. 5:3; Ro 12:3,10; Ep 4:2; Php 2:3,4; Col. 3:12; 4:14; 1Th 4:1; 2Pe 3:18) It therefore expects all from its Lord. (Mt 8:8,15,27,28) The third lesson is: the young Christian must not remain weak. He must make progress and become strong. He must grow and increase in grace. God lays it upon us as a command. Concerning this point, His Word gives us the most glorious promises. It lies in the nature of the thing--a child of God must and can make progress. The new life is a life that is healthy and strong. When a disciple surrenders himself to it, the growth certainly follows. (Jdg 5:31; Ps 84:7; 92:13,14; Pr 4:18; Is40:31; Ep 4:14; 1Th 4:1; 2Pe 3:18) The fourth and principal lesson, the lesson which young disciples of Christ have the most need of, is: it is through the milk of the Word that God's newborn infants can grow. The new life from the Spirit of God can be sustained only by the Word of God. Your life, my young brothers and sisters, will largely depend on whether you learn to deal wisely and well with God's Word, whether you learn to use the Word from the beginning as your milk. (Ps 19:8,11; 119:97,100; Is 55:2,3; 1Co 12:11) See what a charming parable the Lord has given us here in the mother's milk. Out of her own life does the mother give food and life to her child. The feeding of the child is the work of the tenderest love. The child is pressed to the breast and is held in the closest fellowship with the mother. The milk is just what the weak child requires, food--gentle and yet strong. Even so, the very life and power of God is found in His Word. (Jn 6:63; 1Th 2:13; He 4:12) Through the Word, His tender love will receive us into the gentlest and most intimate fellowship with Himself. (Jn 10:4) From the Word, His love will give us what is needed for our weakness. Let no one suppose that the Word is too high or too hard for him. For the disciple who receives the Word and trustfully relies on Jesus to teach him by the Spirit, the Word of God will prove to be as gentle, sweet milk for newborn infants. (Ps 119:18; Jn 14:26; Ep1:17,18) Dear young Christians, would you continue standing, would you become strong, would you always live for the Lord? Then hear this day the voice of your Father-"As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the Word." Receive this Word into your heart and hold it firmly as the voice of your Father. Your spiritual life will depend on your use of the Word of God. Let the Word of God be precious to you above everything. (Ps 119:14,47,48,111,127) Above all, do not forget, the Word is the milk. The sucking or drinking on the part of the little child is the inner, living, blessed fellowship with the mother's love. Through the Holy Spirit, your use of the milk of the Word can become warm, living fellowship with the living love of your God. Long very eagerly for the milk. Do not consider the Word something hard and troublesome to understand-in that way you lose all delight in it. Receive it with trust in the love of the living God. With a tender motherly love, the Spirit of God will teach and help you in your weakness. Always believe that the Spirit will make the Word in you life and joy-a blessed fellowship with your God. Precious Savior, You have taught me to believe Your Word, and You have made me a child of God by that faith. Through that Word, as the milk of the newborn babes, You will also feed me. Lord, for this milk I will be very eager. I will long after it everyday. Teach me, through the Holy Spirit and the Word to walk and converse everyday in living fellowship with the love of the Father. Teach me to always believe that the Spirit has been given to me with the Word. Amen. Notes 1. What texts do you consider the best for proving that the Scriptures teach us that we must know we are children of God? 2. What are the three points in which the sucking child is to us an example of the young child in Christ in his dealing with the Word? 3. What must the young Christian do when he has little blessing in the reading of God's Word? He must set himself down through faith in fellowship with Jesus Himself and believe that Jesus will teach him through the Spirit, and so trustfully continue in the reading. (Ed: I would add he should take personal inventory of the list of sins in 1Pe 2:1-note, confess and repent of any that are identified by the searching light of the Spirit.) 4. One verse chosen to meet our needs, read ten times and then laid up in the heart, is better than ten verses read once. Only as much of the Word as I actually receive and inwardly appropriate for myself is food for my soul. Ed: Beloved, have you not had this experience? You read a chapter in the morning and by noon you can't even remember what book you read it in! See related topics - Memorizing His Word; Memory Verses by Topic, Meditate; Primer on Biblical Meditation Remember the "5P's" - Pause to Ponder the Passage then Practice it in the Power of the Spirit 5. Choose for yourselves what you consider one of the most glorious promises about making progress and becoming strong, and learn it by heart. Repeat it continually as the language of your positive expectation. 6. Have you learned to understand well what the great means for growth in grace is? (From Andrew Murray's book for new Christians - The New Life) IN ORDER THAT BY IT YOU MAY GROW IN RESPECT TO SALVATION: hina en auto auxethete (2PAPS) eis soterian: 2Sa 23:5; Job 17:9; Pr 4:18; Ho 6:3; 14:5,7; Mal 4:2; Eph 2:21; 4:15; 2Thes 1:3; 2Pe 3:18 1 Peter 2 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries 1 Peter 2:1-3 Getting Into The Word - Steven Cole 1 Peter 2:1-3 Hungering for God's Word - John MacArthur 1 Peter 2:1-3 Desiring the Word - John MacArthur 1 Peter 2:1-3 Cultivating a Hunger for God's Word - John MacArthur
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Wiersbe - The Word of God is our spiritual food: milk (1Peter 2:2), bread (Mt 4:4), meat (Heb 5:11-14), and even honey (Ps. 119:103). Just as the physical man needs a balanced diet if his body is to be healthy, so the inner man needs a balanced diet of spiritual food. The baby begins with milk, but as he grows and his teeth develop, he needs solid food. It is not difficult to determine a believer’s spiritual maturity, or immaturity, if you discover what kind of “diet” he enjoys. The immature believer knows little about the present ministry of Christ in heaven. He knows the facts about our Lord’s life and ministry on earth, but not the truths about His present ministry in heaven. He lives on “Bible stories” and not Bible doctrines. He has no understanding of 1Corinthians 2:6, 7. Salvation (4991) (soteria from sozo= to save, to deliver, to rescue from danger or destruction or from injury or peril, keep safe and sound) describes a condition of safety, deliverance, preservation from danger or destruction. Christians are those who are being saved (present tense salvation = sanctification), those who have been saved (past tense salvation) and will be saved (future tense salvation = glorification 1Pet 1:5). (See discussion of the Three Tenses of Salvation) We need to be "saved" every day of our life on earth, and every word that proceeds from the mouth of God provides the daily bread necessary to fight this life long battle with our mortal, indefatigable enemies, our fallen flesh, the evil world system and the Evil One himself (and his minions). Henry Alford explains the salvation to which Peter refers "The end to which growth leads is perfected salvation. “Growth is the measure of the fulness of that, not only rescue from destruction, but positive blessedness, which is implied in salvation John Bunyan spoke of our need for daily milk (bread) when he said that "Sin will keep you from this book, or this book will keep you from sin. Warren Wiersbe - You and I need bread for the body (Mt 6:11), but we must not live by physical bread alone. We also need food for the inner person to satisfy our spiritual needs. This food is the Word of God (Ps 119:103; Jer 15:16; 1Pe 2:2). What digestion is to the body, meditation is to the soul As we read the Word and meditate on it, we receive spiritual health and strength for the inner person, and this enables us to obey the will of God. John