REMOVE THE FIVE GUMBALLS SO YOU CAN DRINK THE MILK
If a mouth is full of food (like five gumballs at once) it would be most difficult to attempt drinking a glass of milk at the same time. In this passage of Scripture five evils must be set aside in order to imbibe the milk of the Word.
"Therefore, laying aside all (1.) malice, (2.) all deceit, (3.) hypocrisy, (4.) envy, and 5.) all evil speaking, as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby, if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious..." (1 Peter 2:1-3, NKJV, numbers and parentheses, mine).
The Amplified NASB Bible renders the text like this:
"SO BE done with every trace of wickedness (depravity, malignity) and all deceit and insincerity (pretense, hypocrisy) and grudges (envy, jealousy) and slander and evil speaking of every kind.
Like newborn babies you should crave (thirst for, earnestly desire) the pure (unadulterated) spiritual milk, that by it you may be nurtured and grow unto [completed] salvation,
Since you have [already] tasted the goodness and kindness of the Lord" (1 Peter 2:1-3, NASB - AMP).
A. THE FIVE SINFUL GUMBALLS TO BE REMOVED...
1. Malice (baseness)
2. Deceit (guile)
3. Hypocrisy (hypocrisies)
4. Envy (envies)
5. Evil speaking (defamations)
B. THE DRINKING OF THE MILK OF THE WORD...
1. Related Passages: 1 Corinthians 3:1-3; Hebrews 5:12-14)
2. Context: Cf. 1:3, 23 (This pertains to the doctrine of regeneration set forth by Jesus to Nicodemus, John 3.)
3.Literal translation: "as new born babes" = "as just-now-born babies"
4. Phrase: "desire the pure milk of the word" (Cf. "pure" = reasonable as found in Romans 12:1 (the only other reference in N.T. where the word is used which means reasonable, sincere and "it makes all the sense in the world." All of which adds up to the practicality and usefulness of the Word.)
5. Cross reference: "My soul breaks with longing for Your judgments at all times" (Psalm 119: 20). Catch this: the Psalmist LONGED for this Word.
6. Peter writes and uses the decisive aorist imperative exactly as he did in 1:13,17,23. These aorists (verb tenses) are used because they are stronger than present imperatives would be. The implication is: long for this milk and for none other. Even Christians often hanker after the fleshpots of Egypt and grow tired of the simple, wholesome, saving Word, which is manna for the soul. Such a condition is the most serious sign of spiritual decline.
- dick christen
