The Upward Look
© Copyright 2010, Max D. Hutto,

“Therefore, putting aside all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander.”
   1 Peter 2:1 NASB ©

Referring back to the previous verses with the word “therefore,” Peter states that since the believers have been born again by the enduring Word of God, they are to put aside certain evil traits. “Putting aside” means to get rid of these wicked traits. The Greek word for “put aside” literally means to put off, to lay down, or to cast off. The word was used for taking off and discarding an old set of clothes. The believers are to be constantly working to get rid of all sin in their lives. Peter specifically describes five sins that the believer must discard from his life as they are particularly destructive to the fellowship of the church and make it impossible to love one another.

Lord Jesus, because I have a new life in You, help me to purify my life from such sins. Teach me how to live according to Your Word.

* (footnotes & credits)

NASB ©
The Bible quotes marked NASB are from the New American Standard Bible,
© Copyright 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977,
by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, CA. (used with permission)

HCSB ©
The Bible quotes marked HCSB are from the Holman Christian Standard Bible,
© Copyright 2000 by Holman Bible Publishers (used with permission).

NIV ©
The Bible quotes marked NIV are from the New International Version,
© Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, by The International Bible Society. (used with permission)