Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary 1 Peter 2:5

"ye also, as living stones, are built up a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God through Jesus Christ." — 1 Peter 2:5 (ASV)

Jesus’ great prophecy to Peter (Matthew 16:18—19) concerned Jesus’ building of his church. Peter sees, in the coming of individuals to Jesus the Rock, the building of a new spiritual edifice. Solomon was amazed at the thought of God’s gracious condescension in dwelling among his people and in a house (the temple) that Solomon built (1 Kings 8:27). Now the localized manifestation of God’s presence on earth is replaced by his indwelling of all believers (1 Corinthians 3:17; 1 Corinthians 6:19).

“Are being built” (GK 3868) is descriptive of believers of all ages in history.

When anyone comes to Christ, a new stone is added to the “spiritual” (GK 4461) house. The use of the word “spiritual” does not mean that what Peter is speaking of is less “real” than a material house or material sacrifices. Rather, the material sacrifices and temples that were shadows of the reality to come are now superseded. The OT spoke of the offerings of prayer, thanksgiving, praise, and repentance (51:19; 107:22; 141:2) in addition to material sacrifices and offerings. The NT speaks of the offering of “faith” , material gifts as “a fragrant offering” , “your bodies as living sacrifices” (Romans 12:1), “a sacrifice of praise” (Hebrews 13:15), the conversion of the Gentiles as “an offering acceptable to God” (Romans 15:16), and Paul’s coming death as “a drink offering” (2 Timothy 4:6).

The great new truth Peter states here is the revelation that “through Jesus Christ,” i.e., through his work on the Cross, every Christian is part of a new priestly order. This truth of the “priesthood of all believers” was rediscovered and restressed during the Reformation. It means that all Christians have immediate access to God, that they serve God personally, that they minister to others, and that they have something to give. This does not mean, however, that each Christian has public gifts of preaching or teaching. In this verse Peter is stressing the reassuring fact that through Christ believers are able to worship and serve God in a manner pleasing to him.