Humble Sheep, Humble Shepherds
Read 1 Peter 5:1-5
Whoever is wise, let him attend to these things; let us consider the steadfast love of the Lord.
Today brings us to the last chapter of Peter’s letter. In one sense, the chapter and verse divisions of our Bibles are helpful to identify and locate specific writings or portions of the Scriptures. On the other hand, these markers often create false impressions that the writers were beginning new thoughts or separate ideas. These verses we have just read, often are viewed in this second sense, separated from the overall context without consideration of Peter’s main subject.
But there are indicators in these verses that Peter is continuing his discussion from not only the previous chapter, but actually from the earliest parts of his letter. For example, in verse 1 he uses the word translated “so” connecting his last thoughts to what he has to say now. Also, in verse 5, we find the word “likewise” and the two words “be subject” letting us know that the directive he gives here is in the same flow of thought found in chapters 2 and 3.
My point is that what Peter writes to us here is not a new subject disconnected from what he has written to us regarding suffering and endurance. Instead, Peter here speaks again to what it looks like to live as imitators of our holy Father, and following in the footsteps of our suffering Savior, as the people of God in a broken world. Specifically, Peter is continuing his instruction as to what it looks holiness will look like in the lives of Christians living under and responding to the authority of those who still possess a sin nature. Previously he has addressed our relationships to authority in our civil, vocational, and familial communities. Here he speaks of our relationships to authority in the Church community.
Interestingly, Peter takes a slightly different approach in this instruction. Earlier, as he gave us instruction regarding our relationship to human authority structures, each time he focused primarily on how we should respond to the authority. In fact, only in the wife-husband scenario did he write to the ones who possessed authority—the husbands. But here, as he writes about our relationships within the church community, his focus seems to be primarily directed towards the ones who possess the authority, with only a brief comment to those under the authority. This causes me to wonder why he didn’t address Christians in positions of civil and vocational authority, but chose to address those with positions of family and church authority.
There could be several reasons why, but in my opinion Peter is seeking to point us to something, or someone, revealed clearly in these two roles of the husband and the Elder. I don’t want to take a great deal of time with this, so simply put, I believe that Peter is emphasizing the fact that the husband images Jesus as the loving bridegroom of his Church, and the Elders image Jesus as the Shepherd of his Church. In other words, these two specific roles carry a weighty responsibility of portraying to other believers, and to the lost, what Jesus is like. There is no doubt that we all as the children of God are called to be holy—Christlike, yet in these two roles, there is greater opportunity and responsibility to proclaim Jesus in who we are and how we live.
With this in mind, Peter addresses the Elders—the Pastors. I want you to notice that he doesn’t speak to Elders as to the performance of their vocation. Instead, he talks about their perspectives of the Body, their motivations, and their lifestyle as they pursue ministry.
First, their perspective. The Elder is to understand that the people with whom they minister belong to God. He is called to literally “shepherd the sheep of God” that is “among you” or around you. The people to be shepherded do not exist because of the Elder’s ability to convince or attract the sheep. The sheep he is to minister to have been placed in his care, entrusted to his care, he the One to whom they belong. The Chief shepherd has saved them, gathered them, and is growing them. They are not the result of the under shepherd’s ministry, he is simply called to shepherd them.
The Elder, the under shepherd, is to exercise oversight with the sheep. Later this morning, as part of the
question and answer time with Andrew and Ben, we will talk about this idea a bit. But for now, Peter establishes that the Elders to exist with with a role of authority and he speaks to the Elder’s motivations as he possesses this authority using three contrasting statements regarding these motivations.
First, the Elder is shepherd willingly. He is to pursue this ministry because in his inner being he wants to. He is not being forced to do it, or guilted into doing it. He sees the spiritual, emotional, and physical needs of God’s people and is moved by sympathy and empathy to help them. Second, the Elder is not in it for the money or personal gain. Similar to the first motivation, the Elder wants to do this, but the goal is not about his gain, but the gain of the sheep. His satisfaction is not found in financial gain or personal recognition. His satisfaction is found in being a part of helping the sheep become more like Jesus. Spiritual victories, life transformation, new sheep are his reward. Third, the Elder is not to be domineering, he is to be an example to the flock. This seems to be an odd contrast at first, but if we consider Jesus’ teaching, it makes sense.
Jesus told his disciples that they were not to exercise authority like the Gentiles. They were not to use their authority to accumulate power and use people for their own purposes. Rather, his followers were to understand that they were called to be like their Savior. Any authority they possessed was to be used for the good of others and the glory of God—not their own benefit or praise. Jesus’ followers were to be people who served others, they were not to seek to be served. The Apostle Paul, speaking of his own ministry with the Corinthians says this: For the love of Christ compels us, since we have reached this conclusion: If one died for all, then all died. And he died for all so that those who live should no longer live for themselves, but for the one who died for them and was raised. (2 Cor. 5:14–15). A faithful under-shepherd does not build kingdoms for himself. His goal is to call the sheep to follow and exalt King Jesus.
But here’s the rub with all of this: These are the ideals which the under shepherd is to pursue. However, it is a mistake to believe, or expect, that the under-shepherd will never violate any of these ideals because God has chosen to give power to humans who are not fully sanctified and who struggle with desire for control, glory, and personal gain. They can begin to resent the sheep whose brokenness causes them to want to run from the sheep. In a moment, we will look at the solution to this problem.
Peter also writes to those he calls the “Younger.” For many reasons, which I don’t have time to elaborate this morning, I would suggest that this is not an age reference, but a functional role reference. “Elder” refers to role, and the most natural reading would understand that Younger also refers to role. And what does Peter say to the Youngers—the sheep of God under the oversight of these flawed under-shepherds? Submit to them.
Similar to the wives under the authority of husbands, and slaves under the authority of masters, and citizens under the authority of civil rulers, this command puts the sheep in a vulnerable position of submitting to the leadership of those who at times use their position for control, glory, and personal gain. And just like in the other situations, our minds seek exceptions, we justify rejection of the authority, and we look for ways out of the command.
Considering the sinful tendencies of both parties, how is it even possible to achieve obedience to Peter’s command? The answer is found in verse 5: Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another.
Some argue that this word “clothe” is used of a uniform that identifies the occupation of a person. For example, a baker, a firefighter, a police officer. Peter’s point then would be understood to mean that the people of God, those who are followers of the voice of their Chief Shepherd Jesus, are to be identified not only by their love for one another, but their humility with one another. It is to be so obvious in their lives that it marks them as his sheep.
In the first case, the Elders are to be shepherds who remember that their reward is not really achieved in this life, but in the next when the glory that is to be revealed and the unfading crown of glory bestowed upon them. They are to, in humility, realize their own brokenness and love the sheep, seek what’s best for them, and patiently endure their brokenness.
In the second case, the flock is to understand that at times their leaders may reveal their sin natures in non-disqualifying ways, and in doing so violate the personal rights of the sheep. Yet in the midst of what could destroy relationships and the damage the body, the sheep, in love, forgive, seek reconciliation and continue to follow their leadership. They are to, in humility, realize their own brokenness and love their shepherds, seek to pursue their calls to follow Jesus, and patiently endure the brokenness of their shepherds.
As with each of the community relationships, we need God’s gracious work in our lives. This is Peter’s encouragement at the end of verse 5. Humility is possible through the grace of God as it is through flow of this grace in a person’s life that humility as work of the Holy Spirit becomes evident in that person.
May we be people who humbly walk with one another in love, proclaim Jesus through lives that result from dependence upon God’s grace through the Spirit’s transforming work in us.