The Living Stone and Chosen People
(Isaiah 28:14–22; 1 Corinthians 3:10–15; Ephesians 2:19–22)

1Therefore, set aside all malice and all deceitfulness, as well as falseness and envy and every detraction. 2Like newborn infants, desire the milk of reasonableness without guile, so that by this you may increase unto salvation, 3if it is true that you have tasted that the Lord is sweet.

4And approaching him as if he were a living stone, rejected by men, certainly, but elect and honored by God, 5be also yourselves like living stones, built upon him, a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, so as to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

6Because of this, Scripture asserts: “Behold, I am setting in Zion a chief cornerstone, elect, precious. And whoever will have believed in him will not be confounded.”

7Therefore, to you who believe, he is honor. But to those who do not believe, the stone which the builders have rejected, the same has been made into the head of the corner,

8and a stone of offense, and a rock of scandal, to those who are offended by the Word; neither do they believe, though they also have been built upon him.

9But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, an acquired people, so that you may announce the virtues of him who has called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. 10Though in past times you were not a people, yet now you are the people of God. Though you had not obtained mercy, yet now you have obtained mercy.

11Most beloved, I beg you, as new arrivals and sojourners, to abstain from carnal desires, which battle against the soul. 12Keep your behavior among the Gentiles to what is good, so that, when they slander you as if you were evildoers, they may, by the good works that are seen in you, glorify God on the day of visitation.

Submission to Authorities
(Romans 13:1–7)

13Therefore, be subject to every human creature because of God, whether it is to the king as preeminent, 14or to leaders as having been sent from him for vindication over evildoers, it is truly for the praise of what is good. 15For such is the will of God, that by doing good you may bring about the silence of imprudent and ignorant men, 16in an open manner, and not as if cloaking malice with liberty, but like servants of God. 17Honor everyone. Love brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king.

18Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear, not only to the good and meek, but also to the unruly. 19For this is grace: when, because of God, a man willingly endures sorrows, suffering injustice. 20For what glory is there, if you sin and then suffer a beating? But if you do well and suffer patiently, this is grace with God.

Christ’s Example of Suffering
(Isaiah 53:1–8)

21For you have been called to this because Christ also suffered for us, leaving you an example, so that you would follow in his footsteps. 22He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. 23And when evil was spoken against him, he did not speak evil. When he suffered, he did not threaten. Then he handed himself over to him who judged him unjustly. 24He himself bore our sins in his body upon the tree, so that we, having died to sin, would live for justice. By his wounds, you have been healed. 25For you were like wandering sheep. But now you have been turned back toward the Pastor and the Bishop of your souls.