Clothe Yourselves with Humility & Submission

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1 Peter 5:5-7 Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” 6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, 7 casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.

Opening Prayer

From the Shepherd to the Sheep

Peter starts with the word likewise.

In this epistle, Peter has used it as a word that transitions us from one group to the next.

In this verse he’s transitioning from the elders to the church.

And, so to all of us as members of the church.

Elders shepherd elders as well as members.

Elders have a responsibility to shepherd each other as much as we do the church.

No church member is without oversight, nor without an example.

And, so the previous passage applied to elders...

Peter exhorting and commanding the elders to shepherd the flock of God...

And, now Peter turns to the flock of God...

And, commands that they be shepherded willingly.

This passage applies to us all.

The elders are not to lord authority over God’s people...

But, rather, be an example to the flock.

They are to lead and exercise their authority by being an example...

Not by using authoritarian methods and bypassing people.

It is this that gives balance to the minister’s authority.

But at the same time, the flock of God is to subject themselves to the authority of the elders.

Now, we notice that Peter targets a certain group in his first command.

1 Peter 5:5 Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders.

Be subject (imperative verb)

This is not a new command in this epistle...

As a matter of fact, we should be quite familiar with it by now.

To every human institution

To your employers

Wives, to their husband

And, here, those who are younger being subject to the elders.

God has chosen and ordained the elders to be the leaders among the flock of God.

Therefore, the elder’s leadership is to be:

esteemed

recognized

acknowledged

honored

followed

obeyed

subjected to

To subject yourself is to willingly place yourself under the oversight and direction of the one(s) you are to subject yourself to.

In this case, it is to the elders of the church.

Why is this command given to younger believers?

Does this mean that older believers are not to subject themselves to the elders?

No.

The elders have already been charged to exercise oversight over the whole church…the whole flock of God in their charge.

In many other passages, when the church is addressed it is told to submit themselves to the elders so that it would be advantageous for the church.

Also, the church is admonished to imitate their elders.

So, why does Peter direct this command to the younger believers of the church?

Quite frankly, it’s because it is typically the younger generation that imagines they know it all...

And, that they have it all figured out.

They are typically the ones who balk at the traditions of the older generation.

They are typically the ones who think taking instruction...

Or, heaven forbid, correction…equates with weakness.

Or somehow would prove that they are lesser than they think they should be thought of...

When in fact it just proves the fallen human condition that we all suffer.

So, this is a targeted command that directs itself at those who struggle with submitting themselves to any authority...

And, Peter is exhorting them to pay attention and subject themselves to the elders...

While they don’t think they need to…until they understand they really do.

Subjection takes concentration and effort.

It takes a deliberate decision to subject to someone else.

But this is just what Scripture is demanding.

And, in order to subject ourselves, we must have certain behaviors.

Peter goes on to give two more commands and attaches reasons to them...

Two Commands for the Entire Church

1 Peter 5:5 Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”

Clothe yourselves (imperative verb)

It is a picture of one wrapping themselves with an apron for work...

It is what Jesus did as He prepared to stoop down and wash His disciple’s feet.

The sovereign Lord of the universe clothed Himself with the apron of humility...

And served His disciples.

Those who are younger, along with everyone else...

We are to clothe ourselves with humility toward one another,

Humility is lowliness of mind

It is to offer oneself as lowly and submissive...

to walk in a spirit of lowliness

to present oneself as lowly and low-lying in mind

to be of low degree and low rank

not to be highminded, proud, haughty, arrogant, or assertive

A humble person may have a high position, power, wealth, fame, and much more...

But he/she carries themself in a spirit of lowliness and submission.

One denies themself for the sake of Christ and in order to help others.

Humility is to be developed.

Humility is one of the most difficult of all virtues.

As soon as you think you have it, you’ve lost it.

What does Peter mean here to clothe ourselves with humility?

He does not mean that someone is to feel humble, nor to merely pray for humility...

But to live it out.

He means that no one is to think themselves more important than the other.

No one is to think their needs more important than the needs of others.

No one is to think they should be listened to with greater importance than any other.

We are to see ourselves as equals…and each one of us as equally important.

This does not mean that there can be no one that is listened to with greater esteem in what they say...

Due to their godly character, wisdom, and years of faithful service to the Lord.

But, wisdom and godly character doesn’t equal greater importance in personal equity before God.

Male or female, rich or poor, young or old...

We are equal in God’s eyes and equally valuable to Him and His church.

Every believer is unique to God and has a very special gift and contribution to make to the world and to the church.

All believers are to subject themselves to one another, to each one’s uniqueness and gift.

All believers are to acknowledge, respect, and honor one another, all because of who each one is and because of the gift God has given each one of us.

Without humility, one will never subject themselves to anyone.

Why is this important? What motive is there?

because God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble

God resists the proud. He stands against all …

who look down upon others

who feel superior to others

who discriminate against others

who are prejudiced

who are boastful

who are haughty

God opposes the proud—all who oppress others—no matter who they are.

The word opposes is a strong word.

It is the picture of an army being set and arrayed against the enemy.

Marvin Vincent stated, “pride calls out God’s armies. No wonder, therefore, that ‘pride goes before destruction’”

The reason that humility toward others in the community, especially elders, is so important is because this is an expression of humility toward God.

God has placed believers into the community of faith under the authority of the elders to help them endure suffering...

To equip them for the work of ministry.

To arrogantly reject this is to pick a fight with God.

In contrast, Peter tells us that God gives grace to the humble.

Grace means the favor and blessings of God.

The person who walks humbly before God, recognizing and acknowledging the value of others, shall receive the favor and blessings of God.

Which would a sane person choose?

Peter answers that with a command.

1 Peter 5:6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, 7 casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.

Humble yourselves (imperative verb)

This is a command to be determined to exercise humility.

To bring yourself into a right light of observation.

To think of yourself…not like the world trains us to...

But, as the Bible thinks of us and trains us to.

Why is it so important to humble ourselves?

Because to the proud, the mighty hand of God means:

strength and power

sovereignty and control

warning and fear

anger and wrath

judgment and condemnation

But to the humble, the mighty hand of God means:

strength and power

sovereignty and control

salvation and security

care and protection

assurance and confidence

Which one should you choose?

Peter informs us by giving us another verb...

casting all your anxieties on Him because He cares for you.

Does suffering mean He doesn’t love you?

The opposite is true.

Does glory come from boasting?

Presenting yourself as something you’re not?

No, it comes from humbling yourself before God.

Do good things come from worrying and doubting God?

No, good things come from trusting God...

And, trusting that He is sovereign...

And, directing all the affairs of your life for your ultimate good.

Trust that God cares for you as His child...

Who has been adopted into the family of God...

As a child of God who has put your faith in JC.

There is no greater care than the care of God.

There is no greater sense of security than to know that you are protected by God.

There is not greater truth to sleep at night than the God of the universe...

Is also your loving Father...

Who is seated on His throne and does as He pleases in the heavens and on the earth...

And no one can stay His hand or say to Him, “what have you done?”

Conclusion

Contrary to what the world thinks, humility reaps unbelievable benefits.

Humility results in a person coming to Christ and learning of Him.

It leads to self-evaluation, an honest and courageous evaluation.

When a person looks at Jesus Christ, he sees what he should be...

And it motivates him to become what he should be.

He sees where he needs improvement and he is driven to fill in the gaps.

Humility results in conversion, assuring our entrance into the kingdom of heaven.

Humility results in our being exalted by Christ in that glorious day of redemption.

Humility results in healthy relationships and in community and social benefits.

For example:

it acknowledges and boosts others

it leads to better relationships

it encourages and helps others

it motivates others to grow and do more

Christ demands that His followers walk in humility.

Practicing humility demands two things:

Humility requires an honest evaluation of oneself.

Humility comes from knowing ourselves, just who we really are.

It comes from an honest appraisal of ourselves.

It takes courage to look at ourselves and it takes honesty to see ourselves as we really are: basically self-centered, a bundle of self-admiration and self-love.

We tend to exaggerate ourselves.

We tend to see ourselves unrealistically.

We tend to see ourselves:

at the center of action

as the hero of some spectacular rescue

as the great politician marching to victory

as the renowned sportsman saving the game in the last second

as the beauty queen dazzling the crowds

as the laborer of brilliance

as Prince Charming or Cinderella sweeping others off their feet

We are always at the center of the picture.

Humility begins to come when we honestly face ourselves and admit our self-centeredness.

Self-centeredness weakens and limits relationships and achievements.

Humility reaches its height when we lose our lives in the cause of Christ and welfare of others.

Humility requires courage.

It takes courage to be honest about our self-centeredness, and courage to convert or to change by coming to Christ as a small child.

It takes courage to become Christ-centered and people-centered and to give ourselves to the cause of Christ and others.

May we have the courage to clothe ourselves with humility towards one another...

And, humble ourselves under the mighty hand of God...

And, take solace in the truth that as His children...

He cares for us.

Closing Prayer