you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
1 Peter 2:5 NIV
In the previous verse, Jesus was called the living Stone, rejected by people, but chosen by God. And in this verse, we who follow him are also described as being like living stones. Stones that are used to build a spiritual house.
The word translated into English as “house” can refer to a home, a palace, or a temple. And, by extension, a family or lineage. Given the context here, a temple would seem to be what Peter is referring to. A spiritual temple, one not made by human hands (Mark 14:58; Heb. 9:11). A temple built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Jesus as the chief cornerstone (Eph. 2:19-22). And we, like living stones, are added to that spiritual temple as it rises up to the Lord.
But, in keeping with the spiritual temple, we are also a holy priesthood offering spiritual sacrifices. Sacrifices that are acceptable to God. We often think of sacrifice as giving something up. But sacrifice is really about making an offering to God.
As a holy priesthood offering spiritual sacrifices, we no longer offer animals on a physical altar at a physical temple. Instead, we are to offer ourselves as living sacrifices, holy and acceptable to God (Rom. 12:1). Not just once, but on an ongoing basis. We should also offer up the sacrifices of praise, doing good, and helping others in need (Heb. 13:15-16).
Let’s be faithful priests, members of a spiritual temple, who offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to our God.
