Or, The Mighty Hand of the God of All Grace
Scripture: 1 Peter 5:1-14
Date: July 17, 2022
Speaker: Sean Higgins
We started Peter’s epistle almost ten months ago to the day. I taught the opening verses, I also get the last chapter (and I took us on a brief trip into Hades in 3:18-22). These final paragraphs are a call to humility that wrecks self-importance and stress and Satan. This sort of staunch humility only comes by grace. In fact the whole letter has been about the true grace of God (see verse 12), and our God is the God of all grace.
We’ll see four sections, which don’t follow the paragraph divisions in the ESV. Here are four graces for a flock who will stand firm, and they are more connected than a quick reading would surface.
The last part of the letter is filled with exhortations and encouragements. The first exhortations are aimed at those called to oversee the flock on behalf of the Chief Shepherd.
So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed: shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory. (1 Peter 5:1–4, ESV)
The Christian life is hard enough already, with the fiery trial (4:12) and insults from aggravated pagans (4:3-4) who don’t understand the good you’re doing (4:16, 19). Adding to all that jerk shepherds would be injury to insults. So Peter has a word for the elders.
The title in these verses is elders (Πρεσβυτέρους, so presbyters), though shepherds and overseers are represented in verb form. The elders are pastors are bishops (from the noun ἐπίσκοπος); in the New Testament they all apply to the same group. There are two offices in the church: elders and deacons, though again elders have additional labels, and for that matter, as ministers they are related to deaconing. The elders belong with local churches (note “the flock…that is among you), and they come in groups (note the plural).
Rather than set himself above the elders as a fore-elder, Peter relates himself to them as a fellow-elder. He exhorts them as one with similar responsibilities, not as having responsibilities over them. (There is no Pope Peter, even though he was an apostle.) Maybe most significant is that he refers to himself as witness (μάρτυς) of the sufferings of Christ, which, as these first century elders would have known, connected Peter to his thrice denial of Christ. But he saw the suffering, and he had a word for those charged to shepherd the suffering.
The verb shepherd (also a person, and the shepherd person is pastor in Latin) refers to responsibilities for feeding, protecting, leading, caring. Also, this responsibility is a stewardship, because they are the flock of God (see also Acts 20:28).
To exercise oversight relates to bishops, a word we don’t use in our branch of the body, which is an English word derived from ἐπισκοπέω, an “above-looking,” though we do use “overseer.” The title Supervisor might have too much business baggage to be beneficial in a church context.
Motive matters for elders. First, the work should not require being bossed, not under compulsion; when you work for a boss you usually only work up to what the boss wants. It’s the lowest level of motivation, just doing what you’re told can be an excuse for laziness. Reluctance, let alone resistance, is ruled out. Let it be done willingly, with a whole-heart, like it’s your idea not someone else’s (see “aspires/desires” in 1 Timothy 3:1).
Second, the work should also not be for money, not for shameful gain. It doesn’t mean that the worker shouldn’t earn a wage (1 Corinthians 9:9-11; 1 Timothy 5:17-18), it means that mercenary ministry is about what the shepherd gets for himself not the flock. Eagerly means interested in the sheep not just the income. To be examples of greed for “fylthy lucre” (Tyndale) is to be a bad example.
Peter puts repetition weight on want with the words “willingly/“voluntarily and “eagerly.”
Likewise, the third motivation, not being bossy pants, not domineering, not control freak kings (see Matthew 20:25-27). Set an example. Be a model, not a sub-par master. Pull don’t push. Shepherds lead they don’t drive (Hiebert).
Those in your charge are the ones “allotted” (NASB) to a shepherd’s responsibility by God. He ordains a field with fences, a flock with faces.
The reward is that the Chief Shepherd will be pleased and give an unfading crown of glory. This is the only use of the description (ἀρχιποίμενος) in Scripture. Jesus is the Arch Shepherd, the Shepherd of shepherds, the Good Shepherd who laid down His life for the sheep. We are undershepherds, and humble shepherds are a grace to the sheep.
So many shepherds have not been humble, and whether or not they have been anxious, their pride has a systemic effect on the anxiety of the sheep.
There are two aspects here, a horizontal humility and a vertical humility. First is our attitude toward one another.
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.” (1 Peter 5:5, ESV)
The younger are not younger pastors (as we might think about a youth pastor coming under a senior pastor), this is the younger in age and the elders in context would be those in the office, but it could certainly extend to those who are older in age. The young are most likely to think they know better, most likely to resist any sort of constraint. Peter says, submit (NIV), a theme he already wrote much about in chapters 2 and 3.
The main command applies to all of you, regardless of age or office. Cloth yourselves with humility. Like a slave puts on an apron to work, wrap yourselves in humility. The reason comes from Proverbs 3:34. God sets His face against the proud; God does battle against the boastful. Grace doesn’t make a man proud, grace stays away from the proud.
Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. (1 Peter 5:6–7, ESV)
Verses 6 and 7 are one sentence, even though a few English translations (i.e., NIV, NRSV) try to make verse 7 its own imperative. The importance and comfort in verse 7 starts with getting in the right position before God. Humility and anxiety are inversely proportionate; more of one necessarily means less of the oather. Pride and it’s ugly step-sister self-pity are the fountain of chronic anxiety. Grace is the fountain of peace.
Pains, memories, threats, feelings, crooked bosses, disobedient husbands, problems, considered in one blend of an anxiety cocktail of whatever nature and flavor and duration. We might even be anxious thinking that the Lord should praise us for all our service (think Martha, Luke 10:41, and Paul in 2 Corinthians 11:28).
Stop holding the burden, casting all the worry. Transfer the concern. Like men threw their cloaks on a horse (same Greek verb in Luke 19:35), load your burden on the Lord.
Casting all the worry, considered as one singular; cf plural “anxious thoughts” in Psalm 94:19.
The command, again, is to be humble under the mighty hand of God. It’s not a hand that crushes, but it is a hand of power. And again, the way to be humble in this text is to throw all your cares before Him because He cares for you. You cannot care for yourself better than God cares for you. And you cannot make God care for you more than He does.
God is not taking a nap or a journey. He is sovereign, He is attentive, He is affectionate. His sent the Son of His love to show His love. He knows the path of low to exalted (Philippians 2). He knows suffering and burden. He knows His sheep. He raises them “in due time” (NIV).
Verses 8-11 belong together, but there are a few parts.
Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. (1 Peter 5:8-9, ESV)
When we are in full dependence on God we are not done, we are in the right position to fight.
Anxiety can consume a man like alcohol; depression can be as distracting and destructive as drunkenness. So be sober. Take off the ball gown of angst and gird up the loins of your mind (see 1 Peter 1:13). Don’t worry, be watchful. Peter hadn’t been watchful in Gethsemane.
There is an adversary, not just an enemy but an accusing enemy, and he is restless (he prowls around) and ruthless ( seeking…to devour). He is roaring - ὠρυόμενος - from ὠρύομαι, probably onomatopoetic (see also Psalm 22:13).
Resist him. We’re exhorted to flee sexual immorality (1 Corinthians 6:18) and idolatry (1 Corinthians 10:14) and youthful passions (2 Timothy 2:22, but nowhere are Christians told to run from the devil (Hiebert). Fight him with faith and the devil will flee (James 4:7).
Fight him as a community. You are not alone, your suffering is not unique, even if it is particularly heavy (see 1 Peter 1:6). We are part of a company of sufferers, “the brotherhood” (one word in Greek: ἀδελφότητι). “We have a contest in common with all the children of God” (Calvin).
And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. (1 Peter 5:10)
There is no narrow definition of suffering, and there is no definitive limit on a little while (compare with 1 Peter 1:6). But compared to eternal glory, the suffering is not long.
Look to the God of all grace. What a perfect and uninventible truth; what man would be audacious enough to dream up such grace apart from God’s own revelation of Himself? That He chose us at all, that He guards us every minute, that He purposes glory and inheritance for us, this is all grace all the way up.
The final four: restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish.
To him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen. (1 Peter 5:11, ESV)
A doxology breaks out. The God of all grace is the God of sovereignty, κράτος = might, rule. The God who promises eternal glory will be there to sustain it.
Here are Peter’s personal goodbyes.
By Silvanus, a faithful brother as I regard him, I have written briefly to you, exhorting and declaring that this is the true grace of God. Stand firm in it. She who is at Babylon, who is likewise chosen, sends you greetings, and so does Mark, my son.
Silvanus is likely the amanuensis, the one who wrote most of the letter as Peter spoke it.
The author’s summary of what he had written was that this letter was about the true grace of God. And the final thing to do with the grace is, “in it stand.”
The she…at Babylon is a church, not a woman, and John Calvin’s bent against the Pope notwithstanding, I’ve got no problem taking Babylon as a nickname for Rome which would have resonated among those who knew the story of Israel’s exile.
Mark is Peter’s son in the faith.
Greet one another with the kiss of love. Peace to all of you who are in Christ. (1 Peter 5:12–14, ESV)
The kiss of love, or holy kiss, was already a typical greeting. It didn’t last many centuries longer. Hard to believe any group with teenage girls could hold on to it.
Why did the elders pick 1 Peter? We also are elect exiles built as living stones on the Cornerstone, Jesus Christ, chosen as a people for His own possession.
So taste that the Lord is good (2:2-3), refuse the passions of the flesh (2:11), follow in His steps (2:21), bless that you may obtain a blessing (3:9), love one another earnestly (4:8), rejoice by faith with joy that is inexpressible and full of glory (1:8-9).
Keep doing good provocatively. Let their be no embarrassment about your faith in your suffering. Be the kind of humble that wrecks self-importance and stress and Satan’s attacks. Among a people of almost innumerable pathologies and anxiety, stand out as you stand firm under the mighty hand of the God of all grace.