1 Peter 2:2 Commentary - Dr Peter Masters

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1 Peter 2:2

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‘As newborn babes.’ Of course, they were not actually young Christians. He doesn’t mean to say, ‘As you are newly converted, do such and such.’ No, they are quite mature believers, most of them. No doubt they had new believers in their midst, but that is not the point. The point is, ‘Though you are a mature believer, be as a little babe when it comes to desiring ‘the sincere milk of the word’. The baby needs that milk as though its life depends upon it. We all know what babies do when they are hungry; they bawl. Try to pause a baby in mid-feed and listen to the little fellow or the little girl cry! Once they have started, there is no stopping until they are fully satisfied. That is the illustration. Then a very elegant translation in our King James Version: ‘Desire the sincere milk of the word.’ Oh no, the translation should be stronger: ‘As newborn babes, crave the sincere milk of the word.’ That is natural; that is healthy, and we too must crave the word of God. Peter loves opposites and they crop up often. In verse 1 we are told to put away all guile and then in verse 2, ‘desire the sincere’ – it is actually the same Greek word with a negative component – desire the guileless ‘milk of the word’. What does guileless milk of the word mean? He has spoken of the word of the gospel in chapter 1:25. All its doctrines are true; all its promises are the promises of God, which will be kept; all its prescriptions for life and godliness are perfect and true, and you will never be let down by any of them. All its narratives of events are perfect records; no fault can be found in them. Of course, that must be true! If God has inspired it, it is sincerity and truthfulness all the way through and in this uncertain world where you can’t trust a very great deal, it is wonderful that we can turn to this perfect word, which is absolutely honest and straightforward with us always. It isn’t a mystery book, which no one can fathom, but it comes to your mind and speaks the truth clearly in a way that can be understand.

Application

We must feel our need of the word of God and have a great hunger for it, and this is the issue so often with us. The reading of God’s word is sometimes difficult when our spirits are low, almost a chore. We chew at it without taste and without delight and that is terrible. What Peter is saying here is that just as a little child will go for that milk, so we must go for the word of God. Look for the Lord to bring it to life. When you read the word of God, pray for light and understanding and that you may be moved, but also bring it to life. Look for the Lord in the passage that you are reading. Look for his characteristic dealings with people. Look for the promises in every passage that you read – there may well be a promise in that passage, some plan of God. There may well be a reproof – recognise it, take it to heart, apply it. Is this me? Repent, even as you read, ask for strength and for help. See if there is an encouragement for you in the passage, one that will lift your heart that you can praise and thank God for. See what doctrines you can see in the passage. What is taught here? Above all, look for Christ and his handiwork and then your soul will be lifted up and you will read the Bible with greater pleasure and it will warm your heart and you will grow thereby. You have devotions and you pour out your heart to the Lord and thank him for all your blessings, and you repent of your sin, but remember you must also read the word, because it is the main agency for challenge to the soul, informing of the mind and advancing in the faith.

In personal reading every day, we read asking the questions: ‘What doctrine is here? What reproof is here for me? What encouragement is for me? What view of Christ? What view of the plans and purposes of God?’ You are not a newborn babe except in this one respect: you crave like a newborn babe the word of God, because this is what challenges you, this is what moves you to obey the Lord, to suppress these sins, to put them off. The thoughts harmonise. Peter isn’t leaping from point to point; he is right on theme. This is the cure for all gossip, the human tendency to mutual suspicion. Cast off the clothing! How do you do it? Crave the word of God, because the more you read it, the more you'll be challenged, the more you’ll be directed, the more you'll be helped.

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1 Peter 2:2 Commentary and Bible Study