As Peter gets into the swing of his letter, he uses several metaphors to capture the mind of his readers. That is exactly what he does in this passage, using the metaphor of living stones, being built into a house.

You can see his imagery for yourself in 1 Peter 2:4-5.

This is one of the only sections of 1 Peter that is declarative, along with 1:1-12, while the rest of Peter’s letter is built around exhortations or imperatives. What this means is that this passage, along with the beginning of the chapter one, provide the foundation for the entire letter.

This section, examining the fact that the believers are God’s chosen people, is elemental to the rest of Peter’s encouragement to his first century audience, as well as later readers. This fact provides some immense motivation and encouragement as we understand our identity as God’s chosen people.

Peter begins this entire section (verses 4-10) with the imagery of stones and buildings. This is probably inspired by Psalm 118:22, which Jesus quoted, probably within Peter’s hearing. As a common tradesman, such imagery would have likely stuck in his head, and he uses it here to make his point clear.

Not only does he begin this word picture, but he takes it a step further by adding Jesus in as the “living” stone. And, in verse 5, he will include us in that description as well. That is encouraging, because, just like Jesus, Peter’s readers in Asia Minor were rejected by men, and yet were chosen by God and precious in his sight.

What is the point of comparing us to living stones? God is using such stones to build a house. To early Christians, especially those of Jewish background, this would have been a clear reference to the temple, and it is even further clarified with the next portion of the verse, which references the priesthood and the sacrificial system. Without some explanations, this comparison is lost on us today. We simply don’t think in those terms, not having that background.

But Peter’s readers did see the parallels. And they knew that the temple would require sacrifices and priests. In the new order of things, after the Old Covenant had been set aside and the New Covenant established, that priesthood changed though. It changed to become a priesthood of all believers. And the sacrifices are no longer needed, because Christ made that sacrifice of himself, once for all.

And while this is true, it is not Peter’s point here. His emphasis is not on the fact that all Christians are priests, but on the act that we are set apart by God for his use. And part of that use is to offer sacrifices to him. The difference is in the fact that the sacrifices we are to offer are spiritual sacrifices, and no longer physical sacrifices.

For a good idea of what these might include, sit down with a pen and read the entire letter of 1 Peter, looking for them. There are many to be found throughout the course of this short letter.

And once you have that list, begin to focus on living that way. After all, that is the point of Peter’s letter. His desire, and God’s, is that we live that kind of holy life.

That is what makes those spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God.

Question: How do you live as a part of the house Peter describes? What kinds of spiritual sacrifices do you offer to God? You can leave a comment by clicking here.