Be A Living Witness
(1 Peter 2:11-3:12)
Be a Witness: Personally (Holiness)
(the key Center, Verse 2:12)
11 Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul. 12 Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us (v12 Key Center).
Exegesis: We are set apart as aliens and stranger to the world. This term is Peter is referring to be in regard to moral and ethical setting part. It literally means someone who dells alongside or is in exile, but his home is elsewhere. Living according to the God principles in an anti-Christian environment is to Christ glory when He comes back. Despite what the world may accuse these believers of doing (starting a fire the Rome, orgies etc.) it’s how they live that is going to glorify God. It’s what we do that’s going to set the example of Christ likeness in everything that we do, weather or not people are looking or not. The “sinful desires” Peter calls it, is nothing more then the pull of the worldly system: Perigee, power, and money, influence, all of which are of the world. We will see that Peter is demonstrating that our relationships we have authenticates our Christian testimony, a hard but truthful wisdom in the mist of unimaginable perpetuation. It’s interesting that Peter uses the word “war.” Here Peter identifies the enemy of our souls, not as Satan, but our sinful desires. This is an interesting point to make considering his audience he writing too who are persecuted and hunted down at the hands of Nero. Peter does not tell his audience about the enemy of Satan and his army of demons, instead he redirects them from the external temporal enemy (Nero) to the eternal vexing enemy of our souls which is found inside of us: our sinful desires. War is something that is intentional not passive or half-heartedly commitment too. War is strategic and well though out. Peter is pushing his audience towards being proactive in regards to holiness and living the good life from the inside out and, thus be a living witness to those around them. This is a logical conclusion because the next verse gives us a directive imperative. Peter informs us about the nature of the battle, then gives us a battle plan as to how to implement our strategy while engaging the enemy of our soul, our sinful, selfish nature.
Illustration: It is the picture of a foreigner who is in a country for a while, long enough to rent and least a house, but is not a permanent resident. He is a stranger, an exile who dwells in a strange land. Noah was told to build an ark. It wasn’t what others said, what others accused him of (crazy), it was what he was doing and whom he was doing for. Holiness is to doing and saying what’s right when no one is around. Having a clear conscience before God is priceless. That’s what holiness is to the believer.
War: Find a good war stories
The goal of war is to conquer and dominate without hesitation. Those who have really seen war really don’t stop seeing it. The enemy is ruthless and relentless.
Application: (Read and reflect the key Center, Verse 2:12). We are to live like who we are, and whom we belong too, not where we are and who were with. Although we are aliens and stranger to this world, we have absolutely no obligation to live like those to whom we are visiting. Our moral conduct should come not from this world but from above. It not what who may say, it what you do and who you do it for, and who you are that’s going to make the difference. Just because we live in the world just not mean we have to act like the world. The genuine mark of a personal walk with Christ is love. A loveless believer will never reach a lost world. When Christ comes back it’s how we treat one another that are going to make the difference when all is revealed and laid bare before Him.
Transition: Now that we know that we are to be witness personally, we also need to realize that it also extends to our life as we live in society also that makes or breaks our witness as believers. (Read key Center, Verse 2:12, out loud)!
Be a Witness: In Society
13 Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every authority instituted among men: whether to the king, as the supreme authority, 14 or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right. 15 For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish men. 16 Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God. 17 Show proper respect to everyone: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the king.
Exegesis: The words for submit is the same word that’s used throughout this passage and in fact it’s the same exact word use throughout the New Testament is the word, hupotasso. This is primarily a military term, to rank under, it literally translates to relinquish control of, it means to be obedient and to subject yourself to the controlling authority that’s has been placed over you. It means to actively be subjected toward (obedient) the final decisive decision that has been in instituted or set up. It seems it’s that Peter is demonstrating that our relationships we have authenticates the Christian testimony, a hard but truthful wisdom in the mist of unimaginable perpetuation. In this paragraph Peter is saying that everyone should respect, honor and obey the laws of the land and everyone who enforces those laws. Peter’s main concern here is how to be living an authentic Christian lifestyle in an anti-Christian society. Peter encourages these misunderstood Christians who are subjected to cruel and inhuman treatment to show proper respect to everyone by living a Godly life authenticated through submission and good deeds in the community which they are apart of, with love being the primary stimulus (2:13-3:7; see also 1:14, 22, 13; 3:8-10; 4:8-10), despite and in the midst of their present suffering to actively be subjected toward (obedient) leader to the government if at all possible. Not all the laws in society are anti-Christian. Peter essentially identifies that as long as it does not contradicts the commands of Christ, that their lives should be a life obedience, a life that has relinquish controls to the laws and in the eyes of the populous as a testimony of Christianity’s wiliness to be a positive influence in the larger scope of civil obedience. By doing so, all the false accusations will be dissuaded by their good behavior in society.
Illustration: If you get caught speeding do you respectfully talk to officer who pulls you over? You would mostly answer yes, but why because he earned, no but it but simply because of the position that he had as an officer of the law. The simple fact that the person who pulled you over has a badge and drives a police car dictates that we are to respect what that represents. It’s of no consequence who wearing or if they have deserved it or not the uniform represents authority.
Application: (Read and reflect the key Center, Verse 2:12). We are to obey and respect every law and rule no matter how stupid it may be unless it is diametrically opposed to the obedience to the Gospel of Christ. Honor those who enforce those rules, not because they earned and even if they didn’t earn it but because of the position they hold. This is our witness to unbelieving anti-Christian society. There is not any conditional prerequisite placed upon the audience that Peter was writing too. He does not say, that the believers should submit to the governing authorities if they are treated better. Peter’s tone seems to be that of expected response without any other grounds of negotiations contingent on the obedience of his listeners. We are required to live a “Good life in Society” weather anyone else does or not. God hold us personally responsible for being obedient before Him. Therefore, we cannot blame others for our lack of “Good life in Society,” there are simply no “if only” placed our personal responsibility God has called to be as productive as possible as far as it depends on us to do our part. Peter tone seems to be that of expected response without any other grounds of negotiations contingent on the obedience.
Transition: Now that we know that we are to be witness “personally” and in “Society”, we also need to realize that it also extends to our life as we live our lives in the work place. (Read key Center, Verse 2:12, out loud)!
Be a Witness: In the Work Place
18 Slaves, submit yourselves to your masters with all respect, not only to those who are good and considerate, but also to those who are harsh. 19 For it is commendable if a man bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because he is conscious of God. 20 But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God. 21 To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example that you should follow in his steps. 22 "He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth." 23 When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. 24 He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed. 25 For you were like sheep going astray, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.
Exegesis: The words for submit is the same word that’s used throughout this passage and in fact it’s the same exact word use throughout the New Testament is the word, hupotasso. This is primarily a military term, to rank under, it literally translates to relinquish control of, it means to be obedient and to subject yourself to the controlling authority that’s has been placed over you. It means to actively be subjected toward (obedient) the final decisive decision that has been in instituted or set up. It seems it’s that Peter is demonstrating that our relationships we have authenticates the Christian testimony, a hard but truthful wisdom in the mist of unimaginable perpetuation. Peter draws us picture back to his opening remarks in this passage as it relates to personal holiness and drives it home in a more practical example of submitting to those who are enslaved. He encourages all salves to be a willing participate of Christ-likeness and submit themselves to their earthly masters, weather if their masters are cruel or fair, the point is the same, their submissive disposition and action is their Christian witness. Peter’s example is clear, if you genuinely break the laws or do something that’s unruly and they receive a beating for it they got what they deserved. But blessed is the men who receive, “bears up” willing, a beating/whipping for doing what is good, for their conscience is clear of corrected behavior, something that God does not over look. This is of great encouragement to these persecuted believers.
Illustration: A man working on the clock at work and is paid for it is commended and honorable. But if the same man clock out for his one hour lunch break come back, clocks back in but does not immediately goes back to work but continues to rest while others are working, thus stealing time and money from the company, and is fired such a man can not say he’s being persecuted because he’s a believer and he knows he supervisors is not. But if that same man comes back clocks in and immediately goes back to work, such a man can be a witness to his supervisor, not just for being honest but can be a living testimony of his Christianity.
Application: (Read and reflect the key Center, Verse 2:12). While slavery is not no longer a issue in the US the principle a master can be universally applied to all who are in leadership or supervisory positions. Christ submitted Himself to the Father and suffered the death of a cross for our salvation, thus leaving us an example for them. The end result of Christ suffering was the reconciliation between God and man. Again, Peter stresses that living a Godly life authenticated through submission and obedience is quantitative distinguishing mark of the Christian life. The measure of their Christian testimony will be manifested and measured by and through their submissiveness, as a believing slave. The end result can be, winning their masters over to belief in Christ through their submission lifestyle. Can we say the same in our lives; is our life lived in such a submissive disposition? There is not any conditional prerequisite for placed upon the audience that Peter was writing too. He does not say that we as believers should submit to our masters/supervisors if they were treated a certain way, there are simply no “if only” placed our personal responsibility to be submissive. Peter tone seems to be that of expected response without any other grounds of negotiations contingent on the obedience of christianized salves.
Transition: Now that we know that we are to be witness “personally,” in “Society” and in the work place, we also need to realize that it also extends to our life as we conduct ourselves at home. (Read key Center, Verse 2:12, out loud)!
Be a Witness: At home
3 1 Wives, in the same way be submissive to your husbands so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without words by the behavior of their wives, 2 when they see the purity and reverence of your lives. 3 Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. 4 Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight. 5 For this is the way the holy women of the past who put their hope in God used to make themselves beautiful. They were submissive to their own husbands, 6 like Sarah, who obeyed Abraham and called him her master. You are her daughters if you do what is right and do not give way to fear.
Exegesis: The words for submit is the same word that’s used throughout this passage and in fact it’s the same exact word use throughout the New Testament is the word, hupotasso. This is primarily a military term, to rank under, it literally translates to relinquish control of, it means to be obedient and to subject yourself to the controlling authority that’s has been placed over you. It means to actively be subjected toward (obedient) the final decisive decision that has been in instituted or set up. In this paragraph starts to build this “being a witness” and applies to the home. All though this passage Peter it demonstrating a progress of though starting at a broader view of believers life personal, moves this concept to society, slaves and now the structure of the home. It seems it’s that Peter is demonstrating that our relationships we have authenticates the Christian testimony, a hard but truthful wisdom in the mist of unimaginable perpetuation. The clear unprecedented instruction is for the wives to be in submission to their husband (singular). In this context the word means that a Christian wife is to place herself under the authority and control of her husband; that she is to subject and submit herself to her own husband’s authority, control, and leadership. There is no question but that this is what the word means. God does not mean dictatorial subjection . . . that a wife is to subject herself to a tyrant who acts like a beast or is abusive, nor does that a wife is to be a slave or footstool for her husband, nor does that a wife is to serve her husband without restraint; or that a wife is to be treated as inferior to her husband. Christian’s wives are not to be in subjection like slaves but rather the principle of Christian subjection to God’s will relates to every class and every situation What God does mean by subjection is order, to live in cooperation with her husband throughout life. If a woman wants to give her life to God, than she has to give herself, that is, submit herself, to the leadership of her own husband. The wife’s duty is to subject herself to her own husband even if he does not obey the God’s Word. Scripture is clear and pointed about this. A wife’s submission is a powerful expression of her trust in God. This kind of faith and obedience can accomplish great things, even without a word. “Do not obey the word”: This refers to an unbelieving husband, but it is a stronger idea than merely “do not believe.” It has the idea of someone in active disobedience to God’s word. Even these husbands can be won through the godly conduct of loving wives. The Christian wife, in obedience to her Lord, subjects herself to her husband’s leadership, authority, and control. But most importantly is why: that the husband may be won to Christ by the Godly behavior of the wife. (3:2): She is to live in obedience of her husband no matter how much he fails to obey God’s Word. She obeys her husband out of her love and fear of the Lord lest she herself falls under condemnation of God. It is this fear and reverence that make her subject herself to her husband. The command does not require women to be subordinate to men in general but to their husbands as a function of order within the home, a wife is to accept her place in the family under the leadership of her husband whom God has placed as head in the home. The inner beauty of a godly woman is incorruptible. This means that it does not decay or get worse with age. Instead, incorruptible beauty only gets better with age, and is of so much more value that the beauty that comes from the hair, jewelry, or clothing. Like, Sarah obeyed Abraham: two things demonstrated Sarah’s submission to Abraham. First, she obeyed Abraham, even when it was difficult and he was wrong (as in Genesis 12:10-20). Second, she honored Abraham by calling him lord. It is possible to obey someone without showing them the honor that is part of submission. True submission knows the place of both obedience and honor. The significance of Sarah’s doing lies in the fact that this is what she called him in her own heart, not merely when others might hear her. The real test of what one is, or what one thinks, lies in the content of what they say to themselves, not in what they might say to others. In summary, the order for family life in the New Testament was still clearly patriarchal. Yet, in religious matters women are coheirs with men (v.7) when both come to the faith. Although Peter upholds societal norms for the purpose of church witness in society, his sympathy here is clearly with the woman, as it was with the slaves in 2:18-25. He continues to advocate that submission to authority for the sake witness and silencing the charges that Christianity is subversive; husbands were always in the position of authority in that culture.
Illustration: When group of 20 people are traveling across town on the highway, their caravanning because there are too many people to fit into one car. Only one person knows exactly where the designation is found. With a caravan of four vehicles they set out for their trip across town. The person knows where the place is, is in the lead vehicle. All other vehicles have to follow where the lead vehicle is going. Among 20 people either one is more valuable then the other, however, when it comes to getting to their designation all the other cars have to turn when and where the lead vehicle turns. On the highway, there were times that the lead vehicle had to slow down and other times it had to speed up. Consequently, the other vehicles behind had to match their course and speed in corresponding fashion as the lead vehicle responses. Why because it was following the leader, not because the person in the lead vehicle was more important but in order to for everyone to arrive on time at the same time to the event they had to subject themselves to where the lead vehicle was going, slow down and speed up but always following the lead vehicle.
Application: (Read and reflect the key Center, Verse 2:12). Submission is not about superiority but about functionality in the home. Just like the other vehicles had to match the lead vehicles directions and responses, so the wife it to be subjected to her own husband as the leader of the home as God has instituted. She obeys her husband out of her love and fear of the Lord. The wife’s faith is not so much in her husband but in God’s ability to lead and directs the husband’s leadership. If he does not believe then her faith is still placed in God ability to vindicate her cause and give her the strength to live in obedience toward her husband so that he may be won to faith in Christ as a direct result of seeing the testimony of her behavior towards him. Peter would never have brought this issue up if it was not a prevent problem in the lives of his audience. What Peter is doing here is reminding the wives that God’s plan is that wives impact their husbands not through persuasive lectures, but through godly submission, chaste conduct, and the fear of God. In a way, a wife’s efforts to change her husband through nagging words and argumentation may hinder the power of God’s working on the husband. It is much more effective it is to submit God’s way, demonstrating trust in Him, and to let God have his way with the husband. The attractiveness of a wife’s submissive behavior even to an unbelieving husband suggests that God has inscribed the rightness and beauty of role distinctions include male leadership or headship in the family and female acceptance of and responsiveness to that leadership. Peter suggests that even an unbelieving husband sees this submissive behavior and deep within perceives the beauty of it. Within his heart there is a witness that this is right, this is how God intended men and women to relate as husband as wife. The real question at hand; is what do you called your husband in your own heart? Is “lord in your life and home” or is he some to just to do your bibbing when you say it, and when you demand it? If it’s the later, Peter challenges you to re-examine your view of your husband. There is not any conditional prerequisite for placed upon the audience that Peter was writing too. He does not say that wives should submit to their husbands if they were better leader, or if they would only lead in a certain direction. There are simply no “if only” placed our personal responsibility for wives to be submissive their husbands. Peter tone seems to be that of expected response without any other grounds of negotiations contingent on the obedience of christianized salves. Peter tone seems to be that of expected response without any other grounds of negotiations contingent on the obedience. Peter is demonstrating that our relationships we have authenticates the Christian testimony, a hard but truthful wisdom in the mist of unimaginable perpetuation.
Transition: Now we understand how a wife’s submissive behavior and deposition is her witness not only to her husband but also to everyone else. Peter moves to the husband’s responsibility as to how he is a witness to those who do not believe. (Read key Center, Verse 2:12, out loud)!
7 Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers.
Exegesis: Peter uses the phrase “in the same way” meaning that God has rules and a role for the husband to follow within the framework of the family construct as well. It is interesting to note that Peter does not mention anything about headship or employing the husband to be the head of the home. This apparent lack of direct instruction is due to the fact that his wife Christian witness is her responsibility primarily. In addition, there does not seem to be any conditional prerequisites placed upon the audience that Peter was writing too. He does not say, that the husband should be “considerate” to his wife only if she submits to him or treats him better. Peter’s tone seems to be that of expected response without any other grounds of negotiations contingent on the obedience. There are not “only if” or conditions place upon his instructions to the husband. The word “considerate” is the most crucial to the interpretation of what Peter is saying. The key word in this verse is the "considerate." In English this word means having or marked by regard for the needs or feelings of other, which usually characterized by careful thought. The English meaning certainly carries idea of one aspect of what this word mean but being considerate goes both ways. However, Peter was addressing specially the husbands in this verse. The Greek phrase is kata gnosis, “to know”, or "knowledge" in a continuous on going state of knowledge. To better grasp what Peter was communicating is take a closes look at the whole phrase kata gnosis, which translated considerate, or to be more literal "according to knowledge" or "with understanding." The best translation, than, is "Husbands, in the same way live with your wives according to (gnosis) knowledge.” Gnosis translates the word knowledge, primarily a seeking to know, an inquiry, investigation, or to be aware of. Like the hupotasso, this word in the Greek is a very strong verb and it involves obedient acknowledgment, as one would be moved to action after assimilating what is understood. Paul also elaborated on the husband’s responsibility to protect and care for his wife, "just as Christ does the church" (Eph. 5:28-30)." By placing this phrase into the context of what Peter was saying it places emphasis on the husband’s responsibility to have a working knowledge of their wives’ spiritual, emotional, and physical needs and actively try to meet them on a everyday basis. Essentially, the emphasis is that of servant hood as a leadership. However, this does not mean that the husband is to accommodate to every whim of his wife’s wished, because being a servant to her needs does not necessitate being a slave to every one of her wants. Peter commands the husband to be a servant to spiritual, emotional, and physical needs of his wife, which is what’s being emphasis here. The phrase “weaker partner” implies that of a physically weaker. There is not indication that Peter is speaking of a inferior then men as it relates to their spiritual, or intellectual abilities rather weaker is that of the physical nature. As a result, Peter is instructing men that they need to be very consciences of how they treat, handle and interact with them physically. Peter then is exhorting the husbands not to be physically abusive but handle their physical composition with tender care, as if he was holding the world’s priceless vas. Peter uses the phrases “treat them with respect” or “Giving honor to the wife”. The Greek original word for honor is often translated as "price." A better meaning here in Peter is to "value." Value your wife. As mentioned above, the wife is not looking to the world but to her husband for the genuine attention and value which all people need. She should never experience the dishonor of being ignored nor suffer the humiliation of having an unfaithful husband. The exhortation is to place a great value on their wife relationship: relationally (being faithful), physically and spiritually. The use of superior strength and towards her is not honoring her, but by becoming her protector and supporting her in times of need, that is what Peter is emphasizing here. The husband is placing her in high esteem as a vital and essential component of the marriage and the family structure. The phrase “as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life” is no doubt that Peter stating that is no spiritual high achy in the Kingdom of heaven. While God created men and women roles differently there is not favoritism in the eyes of God. A quite opposite ideology of the time of Peter’s writing. Women at the time were treated, culturally, like possessions and not individuals. A godly husband realizes that his spouse is not only his wife, but also his sister in Jesus. Part of their inheritance in the Lord is only realized in their oneness as husband and wife. This reminds husbands that even though they have been given great authority within marriage, their wives are still equal to them in spiritual privilege and eternal importance: they are ‘joint heirs. “So that nothing hinders your prayers: Prayers can be hindered. All sin hinders prayer; particularly anger. Anything at which we are angry is never more apt to come into our mind than when we are at prayer; and those who do not forgive will find no forgiveness from God. By not honoring and respecting who God made the wife to be it interrupt the communications with the God, a hard and server consequence for mistreating a wife. This should speak to the husband as to the gravity that God takes this issue. In summary, the wife is not a possession to conquer but an individual to cherish! The husband is to cherish and continuously be a servant to her needs and actively try to meet them so that he will have continuous uninterrupted communication with God. In the mind of Peter; there’s interconnectedness between how the husband treats his wife and his spiritual relationship with God.
Illustration: All men are devoted to there occupation because they find their identity in what they do. I know a man name Rob who was in the telecommunication field. He was always reading and researching the latest and greatest technological advancements, by default if he’s going to be prepared to answer question at his job, he needs to be proactive about not only about knowing but always using the latest telecommunication devices, also. Men are by nature proactive about what they do and what they care about. There’s can be lots of prestige in learn and using the latest and greatest technological advancements in our world. God created your wife to be the weaker partner. Let me illustrate what Peter may be referring too when he say the weaker partner. For example, women’s metabolism is normally lower than men’s as and women’s blood contains more water and 20 percent fewer red cells. Since the red blood cell supply oxygen to the body cells, women tires more easily and is more prone to fait. Her constitutional vitality is, therefore, limited to life span. A woman withstands high temperatures better than men do because their metabolisms slow down less then men. Women’s vital capacity or breathing power is significantly lower than men’s. As a result may require more sleep or rest than men. Men and women differ in skeletal structure, women having a shorter head, broader face, less protruding chin, shorter legs, and longer truck; and has larger kidneys, liver, stomach, and appendix than men, but smaller lungs; this is to say nothing, that on an average, men possesses 50 percent more brute strength than women (40 percent of a man body weight is muscle; 23 percent of a women’s body is muscles). A woman has several unique and important functions: menstruation, pregnancy, and lactation. Women hormones are of different type and more numerous than men’s. Women’s thyroid is larger and more active. It enlarges during pregnancy and menstruation; making women more prone to goiter; provides resistance to cold; is associated with her smooth-skinned, relatively hairless body and thinner layer of subcutaneous. Women’s heart beats more rapidly (average 80 beats per minute vs. 72 beat per minutes for men). Women’s blood pressure (10 points lower than men’s) varies from minute to minute, but she has fewer tendencies towards high blood pressure at until after menopause. You see, the Peter telling husbands to place a great value on their wife and their relationship: relationally (being faithful), physically and spiritually. The use of superior strength and towards her is not honoring her, but by becoming her protector and supporting her in times of need as the weaker partner is what Peter is emphasizing here. A personal can not have a car and use it if it does not have gas, the proper tune-ups, oil changes etc. A husband should not expect a active relationship with God if he’s dishonoring and muscling her down in life. There’s interconnectedness between how the husband treats his wife and his spiritual relationship with God.
Application: (Read and reflect the key Center, Verse 2:12). However, Peter uses it more in a practical way, in that the reflective inquiry must be grounded in love and motive to action. Peter intention is to describe the husband roll as a servant to the needs of his wife. Working this idea in with what Paul was saying, "Just as Christ does the church," men have the responsibility protect, teach encourage, guild her as they journey through life together. If a man really desires to live in accordance with knowledge with their wife he must understand their needs and actively attempt to adjust their living in light of that knowledge. The primary need of all humans being is the need for appreciation. No women can resist the continuation of constant praise and affirmation. A woman who is praised is a secure, confident and responsive wife. There is no doubt that Peter is instructing husbands to be aware of their wife’s needs and to learn to get their eyes off themselves and put their praise on their wife. When men actively live with their wives according to knowledge they are protecting every aspect of their person. Roughness and strength of the male physic go hand in hand. But so does beauty and frailty. The female has what the man wants beauty and delicacy. The male has what the female wants - courage and strength. The one is as good in its place as the other, and by these things God has made equality between the man and the woman so that there is properly very little superiority on either side. This union of complementary natures creates one whole. Again, this does not mean that the husband is to acclimate to every whim of his wife’s wished, being a servant to her needs does not necessitate being a slave to her wants. However, Peter does commands the husband to be a servant to spiritual, emotional, and physical needs of his wife that is what’s being emphasis here. Understanding her limitation in all aspect and actively release her of the unnecessary fatigue of fulfilling that which drains her spiritual, emotional, and physical, is exactly what Peter was getting at here in this verse. Just like most men devote considerable time and effort to learning every aspect of their job for which they are employed. What Peter is saying here is that similar effort should be given to learning to be a good husband and servant of his wife’s needs. Husbands are to be proactive about their relationship with his wife not reactive. He must give the more effort into his wife then anything else in the world, which will re-forced his relationship with God.
Transition: Now we understand that husband has his own responsibilities also within the context of the family structure along with the wife. We should know that Peter is demonstrating that our relationships within the family is our witness also, Peter turns his attention back to everyone he’s writing too and exhorts his listeners to be a witness in all you do in life. (Read key Center, Verse 2:12, out loud)!
Be a Witness: In All You Do
8 Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble. 9Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing. 10 For, "Whoever would love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from deceitful speech. 11 He must turn from evil and do good; he must seek peace and pursue it. 12 For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil."
Exegesis: In verse eight Peter sums up everything he’s been stating all throughout this passage: “live in harmony with one another” (family and relationships), “be sympathetic, love as brothers, and be compassionate and humble.” This portion of God’s Word is wrapping up the thought which Peter has been conveying regarding submission. He started by addressing the whole Body of Christ in verse 13 when he told every one of them to submit to governing authorities for the Lord’s sake. He then moved on to address slaves, then wives, husbands and now finally back to the entire Body. And what he’s encouraging these saints to do are to consider how they live their lives. This is was what Peter wanted them to understand, because it is how the inward man of Christ is able to affect his world as people see the love of Christ in their lives. Peter’s primary concern has been with our ethical conduct amongst unbelievers and in the face of persecution: Believers to the government, slaves to unbelieving masters, and wives to unbelieving husbands. In this passage, he encourages us to cling to one another as our community in the face of a hostile world. The rest of the paragraph describes how we are to accomplish this. The worldly system functions on the premise that eye for and eye, and insult for and insult. Jesus of course clear that issue up and Peter is re-enforcing what Christ taught. Vengeance and bitterness was the driving force within the cultural norms, but Peter calls the believer to relinquish control for vengeance into the hands of God. In order to be a witness to the unbelieving Peter instructs his audience to respond with blessings instead of reacting with bad behavior, thus, by doing so, they will in turn be blessed. We have been called to inherit a blessing. If we are to live consistently with our calling, then we should be characterized by the fact that we bless others. This is referring to insolent talk or abusive speech. These are words intended to harm another’s character or feelings. This injunction has everything to do with what we say, which, according to Jesus, issue forth from our heart. Peter sees our response to pressures not as aggressive retaliation, but with active grace. Harmony: Family structure, relationships, this is not a superficial harmony in which we are merely trying to avoid conflict. We are one-minded about loving each other and seeking the good of one another. We are one-minded about honoring and serving our Lord together. That one-mindedness makes us put aside our superficial differences and focus on what really matters to God. Sympathetic: Sympathetic comes from this Greek word, “sumpathais”. It means to share feelings with another. It often refers to sympathizing with those who are suffering. This is a compound word made up from the root word “suffer” and the prefix “with.” The word originally meant “to suffer with.” Although the term is more generally, that is referring to sensitivity to where others are in their experience; we are to identify or empathize with others, whether in their sorrow or their joy. “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another (John 13:34, 35).” There is little doubt that this is the same kind of love Peter is referring to here, since he most likely was there when Jesus said this. Compassionate: To show compassion is to act. It may be to provide a shoulder for support or tears; it may be to help with provisions or to help with a task. It is lending aid out of real concern for the other in need. Humble: Biblical humility is not thinking less of yourself but it is thinking less about yourself and more about the needs of others, is what Peter seems to me be emphasizing here. This too is authentics Christianity to an anti-Christian society. The vitally important quality of humility is the recognition of our weaknesses and limitations. It recognizes strengths too, but it knows these have come from God (1 Peter 4:10; 1 Corinthians 4:7; Romans 12:3). Humility is closely related to submission, and it is essential for true Christian unity (see Philippians 2:1-8). Humility is not just required of those who are younger (1 Peter 5:5), but of all (1 Peter 3:8). Our Lord Himself was characterized by humility (Matthew 11:29).
Verses 3: 10-12 is nothing more but an re-interaction from what Peter is attempting to communicated to these persecuted Christians.
Illustration: What it means to be “sympathetic” might be illustrated by the way people drive in the Third World. The highway may have three traffic lanes, but there are five or six lanes of cars. While traffic signs and lights are not always obeyed, one thing is quite noticeable in all the apparent chaos: every driver is very aware of what the other drivers are doing. When one car veers to miss a bicycle, the other cars adjust accordingly. This is the way Christians should be—sensitive to what is going on around them. We dare not lose sight of the more specific meaning of the term, “to suffer with.” Peter’s epistle has much to say on the subject of suffering.
When we say harmony we tend to think our differences are what is real and our courtesy is what is superficial. We say a real one-minded church would not have two styles of worship. We must be practicing a superficial politeness in order to get along. But the reality is that the harmony is real and the difference superficial. Both sets of worshipers desire to glorify God in worship; both groups fellowship together and minister together.
Application: (Read and reflect the key Center, Verse 2:12).
Transition: Now (Read key Center, Verse 2:12, out loud)!
Conclusion
Appeal: (Read and reflect the key Center, Verse 2:12). The
This is what he meant when he wrote in 1 Peter 2;12 "Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us." Jesus said a similar thing in Matt 5:14 "You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven." Brotherly love, not retaliating against injustices, living harmoniously and obediently is fundamental to being Christian. In our society, the challenge is how we should face persecution when we can do something about it. According to Peter, we should not be known for retaliation, retribution, or fighting for our rights at any cost. We are called, not only to be known for our love, but for our peacefulness (1 Pt. 2:23).
1 Peter 2: 12
“12 Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.”
