Attitudes of a Pilgrim

Driving down a country road, one came to a very narrow bridge. In front of the bridge, a sign was posted: “Yield.” Seeing no oncoming cars, I continued across the bridge and to my destination.

On my way back, I came to the same one-lane bridge, now from the other direction. To my surprise, I saw another “Yield” sign posted.

Curious, I thought. I’m sure there was one positioned on the other side.

When I reached the other side of the bridge, I looked back. Sure enough, yield signs had been placed at both ends of the bridge. Drivers from both directions were requested to give the other the right of way. It was a reasonable and gracious way of preventing a head-on collision.

When the Bible commands Christians to “be subject to one another” (Eph. 5:21), it is simply a reasonable and gracious command to let the other have the right of way and avoid interpersonal head-on collisions.

Craig Brian Larson, 750 Engaging Illustrations for Preachers, Teachers & Writers (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 2002), 554.

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The Book of First Peter addresses the displaced Jews who ran from persecution. The Book is filled with hope and instruction for the weary pilgrim caught between the sin cursed world to which he no longer belongs, and the Heavenly Kingdom to which he belongs, but has not yet made the trip. The Apostle uses the fact that they are not of this world to instruct them on how to behave in this one.

Last week we discovered that as believing sojourners, we are to act differently than the unbelievers that surround us in order to point folks to God. Tonight we will see Peter drill down a little deeper on this subject. Tonight we will discover the Attitude of a Pilgrim.

Submission that Silences Ignorance

1 Peter 2:13–15 KJV

Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme; Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well. For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men:

Submit yourselves

The words “submit yourselves” are the translation of a Greek military term meaning “to arrange in military fashion under the command of a leader.” One could translate, “put yourselves in the attitude of submission to.” The exhortation is not merely to obey ordinances, but to create and maintain that attitude of heart which will always lead one to obey them. “Ordinances of man” refer to human institutions, such as the laws of the land. Christians are to do this because of their testimony to the Lord Jesus.1

1 Kenneth S. Wuest, Wuest’s Word Studies from the Greek New Testament: For the English Reader, vol. 11 (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1997), 60–61.

James 4:7 KJV

Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

Submission is for the Lord’s sake.

Submission is for those that punish evil doers.

Romans 14:16 KJV

Let not then your good be evil spoken of:

Submission is for those that praise those that do well.

Submission is to silence ignorant men.

Put to silence (φιμοῦν). A very graphic word, meaning to muzzle or gag. Compare 1 Cor. 9:9; 1 Tim. 5:18. See on Matt. 22:12.1

1 Marvin Richardson Vincent, Word Studies in the New Testament, vol. 1 (New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1887), 646.

1 Corinthians 9:9 KJV

For it is written in the law of Moses, Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn. Doth God take care for oxen?

1 Timothy 5:18 KJV

For the scripture saith, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn. And, The labourer is worthy of his reward.

Freedom that Serves Others.

1 Peter 2:16 KJV

As free, and not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of God.

The danger, of course, was that Christians, hearing of their freedom, would lapse into licentiousness. That is precisely what had happened in 1 Cor. 5:1–2; 6:12ff., as well as in 2 Peter and Jude. Freedom became a slogan and “a cover for evil.” Against this Peter asserts the truth, known from the OT (cf. the use of “servant” in the OT), that freedom is not release from bondage to a state of autonomy, but release from bondage to become a slave of God. Only in God’s joyful slavery is there true freedom. So Paul writes, “Now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the return you get is sanctification and its end eternal life” (Rom. 6:22 RSV). It was quite proper for Christians as God’s servants to do the good he commanded, including honoring rulers.1

1 Peter H. Davids, The First Epistle of Peter, The New International Commentary on the New Testament (Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1990), 102.

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Many people think that freedom is the license to do whatever a person wants, but true freedom is the ability to do what is right. It takes obedience in order to have true freedom. I can sit at a piano and be at liberty to play any keys that I want, but I don’t have freedom, because I can’t play anything but noise. I have no freedom to play Bach, or even “Chopsticks.” Why? Because it takes years of practice and obedience to lesson plans to be truly free at the piano. Then, and only then, does one have the freedom to play any piece of music.

The same is true of freedom in living. To be truly free, we must have the power and ability to be obedient.5301

1 Michael P. Green, 1500 Illustrations for Biblical Preaching (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 2000), 156.

Duty to the Universe

1 Peter 2:17 KJV

Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king.

First, Christians are to respect (timēsate, “honor, value, esteem”; cf. timēn, “respect, honor,” in 3:7) … everyone (cf. Rom. 12:10; 13:7). Believers should be conscious of the fact that each human has been uniquely created in God’s image.

Love the Brotherhood

Second, Christians are to love the brotherhood of believers, their brothers and sisters in Christ. God’s family members should love each other.1

1 Roger M. Raymer, “1 Peter,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 847.

Fear God

Third, Christians are to fear God. The verb “fear” (phobeisthe) here does not mean to be in terror, but awe and reverence that leads to obedience (cf. phobō in 1 Peter 1:17, phobou in 3:16, and phobon in 2 Cor. 7:11). One will never truly respect people until he reverences God.1

1 Roger M. Raymer, “1 Peter,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 847.

Honor the King

Fourth, believers are to honor the king. “Honor” is from timaō, the verb used at the beginning of this verse. The respect or “honor” due to all is especially to be given to those God has placed in authority (cf. “the king” in 1 Peter 2:13 and “governors” in v. 14; cf. Rom. 13:1).1

1 Roger M. Raymer, “1 Peter,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 847.