Living In View Of Eternity (1 Peter 4:7-11) Series

Interpretation Question: What does it mean to love each other deeply?

When people go through suffering it is very common for it to cause discord. If a husband has a bad day at work, it often affects his relationship with his wife and kids. When people are stressed, it often brings up harsh feelings and emotions, sometimes towards people we love the most.

No doubt, this was happening in this congregation. In 1 Peter 5:5 we may see an implication that this suffering was causing rebellion amongst some of the youth in the church towards the elders. This is why Peter has to tell them to be subject to them. Look at what Peter said in 1 Peter 5:5 in the ESV: “Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders.”

There are no surprises to this, when Israel was in the wilderness suffering, the people rose up against Moses and Aaron. Trials often cause conflict. These congregations were not only suffering from without but also from within.

This is probably the reason Peter calls for them to “love each other deeply because love covers over a multitude of sins.” They needed to love one another deeply because they were being hurt by one another.

A view of eternity, should promote love in the people of God. God is coming soon. Similarly, James called the Hebrews who were similarly scattered because of persecution to care for one another in view of Christ coming. As you know, they were warring and fighting against one another. Somebody had even died because of this conflict (James 4:1-2). Look at how he challenged them in James 5:8-9: “You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord's coming is near. Don't grumble against each other, brothers, or you will be judged. The Judge is standing at the door (emphasis mine)!”

He said stop grumbling and fighting with one another because Christ, the Judge, is coming. He is at the door, he is coming soon. End your conflict and walk in love towards one another, for the judge is coming soon. We should have a revelation of this as well, when we are tempted to fight with family, friends and fellow church members. Christ is coming soon to judge.

Peter used the word deep or it can be translated fervently to describe the depth of the believer’s love for one another. Fervent is an athletic word used of muscles stretching or straining; it pictures a person running with stretched muscles, giving maximum effort. Listen to what Warren Wiersbe said about the Christian’s love:

This love should be “fervent.” The word pictures an athlete straining to reach the goal. It speaks of eagerness and intensity. Christian love is something we have to work at, just the way an athlete works on his skills. It is not a matter of emotional feeling, though that is included, but of dedicated will. Christian love means that we treat others the way God treats us, obeying His commandments in the Word. It is even possible to love people that we do not like!

Christian love is forgiving. Peter quoted from Proverbs 10:12—“Hatred stirreth up strifes: but love covereth all sins.”