1 Peter 2:5

Ye also. The Greek is emphatic: “ye yourselves also.”

Lively stones. The apostle applies the same term to the believers that he has applied to Christ (v. 4). Each believer is a living stone because of his union with the living Christ.

Without a vital connection with Jesus Christ no man can live a holy life (see on John 6:51, 57; 15:1-6), nor can he expect eternal life (see on ch. 14:19).

Built up. Gr. oikodomed, the same verb used by Christ when He announced the building of the Christian church (see on Matt. 16:18). As the Master Builder Christ fits each earnest believer into his appropriate place in the church of the redeemed. The clause may also be read, “be ye built up.” This reading stresses the Christian’s submission to God as the master workman (see on Eph. 2:21, 22).

Spiritual. Gr. pneumatikos, “pertaining to the spirit.” Only those who devote their lives to the glory of God will be included in the temple of the redeemed. Peter here sets forth the church as a corporate body, human beings united by devotion. Paul also refers to the church as a temple (1 Cor. 3:16; Eph. 2:20-22).

Holy priesthood. Literally, “for a holy priesthood,” “to be a holy priesthood.” Peter here refers to the fact that all Christians enjoy freedom of access to God by virtue of Christ’s mediatorial work and therefore need no human mediator (see on Heb. 4:16). The priesthood is characterized not only by direct access to God but also by holiness, by separation from the world, by special privileges and obligations. The redeemed will be “priests of God and of Christ” during the millennium (see on Rev. 20:6).

To offer up. Since Christians are priests they must have “somewhat also to offer” (cf. Heb. 8:3).

Spiritual sacrifices. That is, sacrifices characterized by a spirit of love and devotion to God in contrast with the animal sacrifices of the ritual system that had come to reflect little more than compliance with form. Only those who worship Him “in spirit and in truth” (John 4:23, 24) can offer sacrifices that are “acceptable to God.” Motives and attitudes are the test of a man’s sincerity (see on Matt. 20:15). Compare the sacrifices presented by Cain and Abel (see on Gen. 4:4, 5).

Acceptable to God. “A living sacrifice” — a dedicated life — is always “acceptable unto God” (see on Ps. 51:16, 17; Rom. 12:1). Other sacrifices said to be acceptable to Him are praise (Heb. 13:15), doing good, and sharing with others (v. 16). Material gifts find favor with God to the degree that they reflect the love and devotion of the giver (see Acts 10:4; Phil. 4:18).

By Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is the personal agent through whom we approach God, and through whom our offerings are acceptable. The Christian needs no human priest to present his sacrifices to God (see on Heb. 4:16; 10:19-22).