The newborns of 1 Peter 1:23 and 1 Peter 2:2 need a “house” in which to live. The term “house” is ambiguous since it can refer to the physical structure (of stone/brick and mortar) as well as to the family that calls the place home. Peter adds the adjective “spiritual” because God in the Holy Spirit also lives in this house (John 14:23; 1 Corinthians 3:16; 1 Corinthians 6:19). By his presence the Spirit also works a pattern of living among the residents that befits persons craving for God’s kind of milk (1 Peter 2:2), persons who have tasted that the Lord is good (1 Peter 2:3), persons made alive to be “living” stones (1 Peter 2:4). This reference to “a spiritual house” allows the apostle to transition briefly to new imagery, that is, that of a “priesthood.”
5 you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.