Cautioned for New Persecution
The Ambassador's Handbook • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
0 ratings
· 2 viewsNotes
Transcript
Handout
2. Christian Conduct As Husbands (3:7, 2 Corinthians 4:7, 1 Thessalonians 4:4; Isaiah 59:1–2, 1 John 2:9)
Thus far, we’ve only been seeing the submissive side of relationships. Citizens. Slaves. Wives. But now we have instructions for the leader of a relationship—the husband. Perhaps there were no governors or slave owners in the churches in Asia Minor, but there were definitely husbands. We see that just because submission to an authority is required doesn’t mean the authority can do whatever he wants.
The first word is “likewise.” This means that husbands should, in some way, learn from the attitude of their wives. I believe it is referring to the humility and deference Peter commands the wives to show. The husband, while the leader, should not be domineering. Like the wife shows honor to the husband, the husband should show honor to the wife.
We saw last week how Sara called Abraham “lord,” and treated him as such. But Abraham (with a few exceptions) seemed to treat Sara as a princess. The husband is the head but not the dictator.
What are these husbands to do? They should dwell with their wives according to knowledge. This idea of “dwelling with” is important, because it implies spending much time together. It can be easy for a couple, after marriage, to get so busy with life that they fail to maintain their relationship together. Peter warns against this and encouraged them to not just be in the same location, but actually dwell—live—together. He should do this because of two bits of knowledge Peter will give in a moment.
In this dwelling together, the husband is commanded to give honor to his wife. The word “giving” has the idea of assigning or apportioning. It’s not something that happens on accident. From what I have read, it’s a natural thing for husbands to neglect their wives and become very focused on their work. Like dwelling together, this must be something done intentionally.
Also, to give her honor means to show her respect and make her feel valued. Again, this stresses the idea that every husband must guard against neglecting to give his wife what she needs.
Why should a husband show this honor? Two reasons. Here is the knowledge he spoke of. First is that the wife is the weaker vessel. This phrase can be misunderstood and abused, so it’s worth stopping to think about what it really means. [use the example of It’s Good to Be a Man]
It is clear from Scripture and observed experience that a woman is no weaker than a man morally, spiritually, intellectually, emotionally, or in any other immaterial aspect. There is the example of Eve in the garden, but this is not really a repeated pattern. Men can be just as easily duped as women, and it varies on a person to person basis. So what is this “vessel” referring to?
A few times in Scripture, the term is used to describe human frailty.
And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father.
Here it is within a specific picture, emphasizing how much greater God is than any person.
But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.
That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour;
That verse is in the context of abstaining from fornication. How is fornication done? With the body.
Scripture and observation would lead us to conclude this is talking about women having the weaker bodies. As I’m sure you’ve heard pointed out, there are exceptions.
[use the example of punching at Teen Camp]
However, the great majority of women are weaker than the great majority of men, and this is why a husband show show his wife respect. He should look out for her and seek to take the brunt of difficulties as much as possible. This would have been even more important in the ancient world, where their everyday occupation would have been a lot of physical labor, but it’s still important today.
The Bible Exposition Commentary Chapter Six: Wedlock or Deadlock? (1 Peter 3:1–7)
The husband should treat his wife like an expensive, beautiful, fragile vase, in which is a precious treasure.
Example of my copy of Scottish Chiefs.
The second reason is that every Christian, man and women, are heirs together of the grace of life. And while that phrase is a little tricky to figure out, by comparing it to other similar passages, we can see that it is talking about salvation and the eternal life it gives. Every Christian member of a family is an equal heir of the blessings of salvation. So, really, what he’s saying is that a husband should honor his wife because God honors his wife. God does not value one above the other. They are both equally his children, but they have different roles.
This idea fights back against abuses of this passage. Yes, men must be strong leaders and be the head of the home. Yes, the wife must submit. But that does not mean that women are less important or should have no rights. The correct response to feminism is not masculism, but this doctrine right here.
And what happens if a husband does not follow these things? His prayers will be hindered. This is because a husband failing to honor his wife is a sin, and sin separates us from God.
Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; Neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, And your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.
Failing in this way is failing in the duties of a leader, and it is also failing in showing the kind of Christian love that a husband should. He is essentially hating his wife, which John forbids.
He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now.
We have been reconciled to God through sin, but knowingly, willingly living in a sinful behavior puts a barrier between us and God. Just like an unsaved person’s sins separate him from God until he repents, a Christian’s sin make God unwilling to hear him until he repents.
IV. Cautioned for New Persecution (3:8–4:19)
Here, we are going to return to the topic of persecution. We saw it play out under the commands to citizens, slaves, and wives, and now instructions are given to all people.
A. Overcoming Injustice (3:8–22)
1. A Compassionate Conduct (3:8–12)
Peter opens this section by saying “finally.” We’re not really near the end of the letter—really, we’re only halfway through. But he’s saying this in summary of all the instructions he has been giving over the course of the book. Those were to specific people in specific circumstances. But the following commands are for everyone. We see that in the next words, which say, “ye all.” Peter is speaking to every Christian in his audience, and by extension, all of us.
i. Christians should support one another in times of trouble. (3:8, 1 Corinthians 1:10, Ephesians 4:32, 1 Peter 5:5)
The first command is, “be ye all of one mind.” This speaks of the unity and harmony Christians should have in their shared Christlike thoughts. Christians should all be thinking the same things with thoughts informed by the Bible. This brings true fellowship.
That doesn’t mean there can be no individuality. God made every person different. But individuality is so emphasized in American culture that we each feel like we have to do our own thing and each be special little snowflakes. But this life is not about building our kingdom. It is not about competing with other Christians to be better, smarter, and more right than them. It’s about building God’s kingdom, and everyone must agree on that goal.
Compassion - “A suffering with another; painful sympathy; a sensation of sorrow excited by the distress or misfortunes of another”
This is a command to enter into the suffering of one another. To bear one another’s burdens. To walk beside someone else as they are facing tribulation, supporting them like you might support someone with a wounded leg.
A soldier helping another soldier who has a wounded leg.
We’ve already seen this command earlier in the book, but what does it really mean? How do you love as a brother?
The first thing that comes to my mind—and perhaps yours too—is fighting together. I know that, with my brother, the way we show love is to either fight each other or to work on something together. And since Christians are not supposed to fight each other, there’s only one other option.
C. S. Lewis describes this kind of relationship as “side by side, engaged in some common interest.” It’s when a group of people have a singular goal and are working with each other to accomplish it. Of course, this brotherly love isn’t just for men, but for all Christians. As we strive to be one mind in Christ, we should also work together toward those causes that would advance his kingdom.
Next is the command to “be pitiful.” This doesn’t mean pitiful as in pathetic, but rather as in full of pity for others. We should never grow calloused to the pains of others, but always have a soft heart that is ready to enter their pain.
And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.
To be courteous is to be polite. We should show honor to whom honor is due. The wife to the husband, the husband to the wife, the slave to the master, the citizen to the king, the younger to the older, and so on.
Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.
ii. Personal offenses should be repaid with good. (3:9, Matthew 5:39, 44, Proverbs 15:1, John 13:34–35)
“Rendering” means rewarding or paying back in equal measure. When someone does evil to us, we should not seek to do evil in return.
But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.
But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
This does not eliminate the idea of self-defense. There are other passages that directly or indirectly give us permission to carry weapons and defend ourselves. However, the context implies that this “evil” mostly includes social persecution. Personal offenses. Mockery. This kind of evil must not be repayed in turn.
“Railing for railing” speaks specifically of words. “Railing” means slander, insult, or verbal abuse. We all know it’s too easy to get flared up and match someone else’s harsh words, especially when we truly did nothing wrong. But when Jesus was reviled, he reviled not again. We must follow that example.
A soft answer turneth away wrath: But grievous words stir up anger.
Even more than not returning evil, we should return blessing. We should show kindness to the people who treat us with evil. This is such a huge thing because it is completely unnatural to humans. It is really hard to bless someone who is unjustly accusing you, or mocking you for your faith. Even if you can keep your mouth shut, you definitely do not at that moment want to take them to a nice restaurant or something.
But this is when we really decide that we will walk in Jesus’ steps of suffering. Showing kindness to those who hate us is one of the most Christlike things we can do. It is a testimony to the world that there is something real about our claims, and though it will only make some people more mad, it will persuade other people of the truth we have. This is part of those good works that will make the Gentiles glorify God.
It is also what we have been called to. We saw this already in how we should follow in Jesus’ steps, but it is also explicitly commanded, as we have seen.
And finally, we see another aspect of our calling. We are called to inherit a blessing. We already have, as we saw in chapter 1, but we will receive even more blessing in the future. Knowing this, why shouldn’t we be willing to bless others?
“It is not in order to inherit a blessing that we must bless, but because our portion is blessing.”
We should forgive others because we have been forgiven. We should love others because we are loved. And we should bless those who persecute us because God has blessed us despite all the times we do things that he hates.
iii. Good behavior leads to a good life. (3:10–11, Psalm 34:12–16, 1 Corinthians 6:18, 10:14, 1 Timothy 6:9–11, 2 Timothy 2:22)
The next three verses are a quote from Psalms.
What man is he that desireth life, And loveth many days, that he may see good? Keep thy tongue from evil, And thy lips from speaking guile. Depart from evil, and do good; Seek peace, and pursue it. The eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, And his ears are open unto their cry. The face of the Lord is against them that do evil, To cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.
We see that, even in the midst of persecution, we can love our lives and see good days. This may look different for different people, depending on the story God is telling. A Christian in China will see a different kind of good days than a Christian in America whose good ethics is making his business explode. But it is still a promise we can claim, no matter the circumstances.
First, Peter asks, “Do you want to love life?” Everyone does. And who doesn’t want to see good days? He immediately draws us in, because he’s saying, “Here’s how you live the good life.” So let’s see what he says.
The first two commands are repeats of what we’ve already seen. Refrain from speaking evil. Do not speak dishonestly. [compare the last phrase with Jesus’ description]
Next, we must eschew evil. What does that mean?
Eschew - “To flee from; to shun; to avoid.”
We should not only refrain from evil speech, but he should flee from the very idea of evil. Someone who wants to have a good life should run from evil as fast as possible. The epistles give some more specific things that should be eschewed:
Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body.
But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.
Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
We can all say from experience that the times we did not eschew evil are the times we did not see good days. Those are often the days we want to forget about. It’s when we do God’s will that we are really satisfied.
In the place of evil, Peter commands us to do good. Again, I already went over this.
The last command is interesting. “Seek peace.” In the light of personal offenses, false accusations, and slander, we should try to bring reconciliation between us and those who would attack us. Instead of seeking revenge, seeking retaliation, we should seek to live in peace as much as possible.
Seeking is already a strong word, but Peter emphasizes it again. He says to seek peace and ensue it. Ensue basically means pursue or strive toward. We still use it today in a different way, when we say something like “Chaos ensued after the car accident.” We mean that chaos followed. We use it to talk about results, but not actions.
However, in this context, Peter is really stressing his command to work for peace. There should be peace among Christians. We should try to bring peace between us and the world when possible. The kingdom of God is one that declares war on all sin and offers peace to all people.
This week, we’re stopping in the middle of a thought, but there’s still plenty to learn here. What we see is really the essence of Christian actions. We must be walking with God for this to be genuine, but this is our conduct before others. Unity. Compassion. Love. Pity. Courtesy. Blessing. Peace. These are the things we must pursue. And may God help us as we strive to emulate Him in these ways.