I Peter 2
Spiritual growth through the Word of Godverses 1-3
Wherefore laying aside all malice – guile – hypocrisies – envies
evil speakings as newborn babes
desire the sincere MILK of the word
that you may grow thereby
IF so be you have TASTED that the Lord is gracious
Rejection of Jesus by worldverses 4-8
To WHOM coming as to a LIVING STONE
disallowed indeed of men
BUT CHOSEN of God – and precious
You also – as lively stones – are built up a spiritual house
a holy priesthood – to offer up spiritual sacrifices
acceptable to God by Jesus Christ
WHEREFORE also it is contained in the scripture
BEHOLD – I lay in Zion a chief corner stone – elect – precious
and he that believes on HIM shall not be confounded
To you therefore which believe HE is precious
BUT to them which be disobedient
the stone which the builders disallowed
the same is made the head of the corner
and a stone of stumbling – and a rock of offense
even to them which stumble at the word
being disobedient
whereunto also they were appointed
Christians are chosen peopleverses 9-12
BUT you are a chosen generation – royal priesthood – holy nation
peculiar people – that you should show forth the praises of HIM
WHO has called you out of darkness into HIS marvelous light
which in time past were not a people
but are now the people of God
which had not obtained mercy
but now have obtained mercy
Dearly beloved – I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims
abstain from fleshly lusts – which war against the soul
Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles – that
whereas they speak against you as evildoers
they may by your good works
which they shall behold
glorify God in the day of visitation
Christians are to respect authorityverses 13-17
Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake
whether it be to the king – as supreme
or governors – as to 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 you may put to silence the ignorance of
foolish men
as free and not using your liberty for
a cloak of maliciousness
but as servants of God
Honor all men
Love the brotherhood
Fear God
Honor the king
Christians are to be good workersverses 18-20
Servants – be subject to your masters with all fear
not only to the good and gentle – but also to the forward
For this is thankworthy
if a man for conscience toward God endure grief
suffering wrongfully
For what glory is it – if – when you be buffeted for your faults
you shall take it patiently? but if – when you do well
and suffer for it – you take it patiently
this is ACCEPTABLE with God
Christians are to follow example of Christverses 21-25
For even hereunto were you called – because Christ also suffered for us
leaving us an EXAMPLE – that you should follow HIS steps
WHO did NO SIN – neither was guile found in HIS mouth
WHO – when HE was reviled – reviled not again
when HE suffered – HE threatened not
BUT committed HIMSELF to HIM that judges righteously
WHO HIS OWN SELF bare our sins in HIS OWN body on a tree
that we – being dead to sins
should live unto righteousness
by WHOSE stripes we were healed
For you were as sheep going astray
BUT are now returned to the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls
COMMENTARY:
DAILY SPIRITUAL BREAKFAST: Young Believers
:5 You also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. (4152 “spiritual” [pneumatikos] means non-carnal, regenerate, religious, supernatural, by the aid of the Holy Spirit or in a manner caused by or filled with the Spirit)
DEVOTION: New life in Christ is what Peter is teaching the Christians who were receiving this letter. He wanted them to grow in the LORD. He wanted them to move from the milk of the word to the meat of the Word of God.
He described Christ as a living stone that was rejected by the religious leaders of the day. HE was precious and chosen of God. HE was the chief cornerstone. HE was elect before the foundation of the world. HE was a rock of offense to those who were not believers. Peter uses many other words and titles to describe Christ.
Those who received the letter were welcomed into the family of God. They are called lively stones in this verse. Remember that Peter established that Christ is the foundation of the building. Believers are individuals who are added to the building. One stone at a time is added to the house of God. Each stone is a member of the priesthood of believers. Each stone is to offer sacrifices pleasing to the LORD. The only sacrifices that are accepted by the LORD come by way of the Holy Spirit’s influence on the life of a believer.
Once we change families and enter the house of the LORD we are supposed to be lively individuals for the LORD. How do we change families? The way we change families is by a choice to follow the LORD Jesus Christ as our Savior.
Once in the new family we are to build up a life that is acceptable to the LORD. How do we build a life that is acceptable? We have to follow the direction of the Holy Spirit who is indwelling us. We learn how to follow HIM by reading the Word of God and prayer.
Too often we can look in the pews of Bible believing churches and see those who sit, soak and sour. Many look like they have been drinking sour lemonade. When God looks down on a worship service, HE should see rejoicing and encouragement.
Does HE see that in the services where we attend? Does HE see us being encouraging to those around us?
In the book of Hebrews we find one of many sacrifices we are to offer the LORD. In chapter 13 verse 15, we are to offer the sacrifice of praise to the LORD. Was there a lot of praise coming out of our mouths in church this past Sunday?
We have to remember that once we enter the family of God, we are to offer the sacrifice of praise each day to the LORD. We have something to praise the LORD concerning: our salvation. We need to offer the proper sacrifices to God. We need to study the New Testament to see which sacrifices are supernatural. It is not normal for humans to offer proper sacrifices to the LORD. When sacrifices are offered it is usually to get something in return. That is not a proper sacrifice.
If you would like a list of New Testament Biblical Sacrifices, please send me an email and I will send you a list.
CHALLENGE: Those who are part of the family of God are chosen. They are a royal priesthood. They are a holy nation. You are part of that group if you are a follower of Christ. Act like a future king!!!
DAILY SPIRITUAL LUNCH: Transitional Believers
: 6 Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believes on HIM shall not be confounded. ((2617 “confounded” [kataischuno] means ashamed, dishonored, shamed, put to shame, humiliate, disgrace, disappoint, or put to the blush)
DEVOTION: We should base all our beliefs on the Word of God. Another name for the Word of God is Bible or Scripture.
The word “Scripture” used in the New Testament usually means an Old Testament reference to something. In this case it was a reference to the coming Messiah.
Isaiah was a major prophet who had many references to the coming Messiah. Many say that we can use Isaiah 53 to present the Gospel to those who are Jews. It can be used to lead someone to understand that Jesus Christ was to come first as a suffering servant.
The name “Christ” means Messiah. There is only ONE true Messiah but there are many false “Christ” that will come into the world. Many humans have been called a Messiah. It is the wrong use of the world. Many have predicted that someone who is in leadership in our world is the “Messiah” but they are wrong. They are only false messiahs.
We have nothing to be ashamed of when we are walking with the LORD. We have the answer that the world needs. We know who we are in Christ. We know that everyone needs to have an understanding of who Christ is and how they can have this relationship with HIM.
HE is the cornerstone of our faith. Without HIM our faith doesn’t hold water. It is empty. If HE didn’t die for our sins we are still in sin and have no hope for the future, but HE did die for our sins and we are the only ones who have true hope for the future.
HE was chosen by God to be our representative. HE lived a perfect life and died a death that was acceptable to the Father for our sins. God elected HIM before the foundation of the world for this responsibility.
HE is precious in the Father’s sight because just as a human father considers his children precious the heavenly Father does so with Jesus Christ.
CHALLENGE: We should treat Jesus Christ the same way the Father treats HIM. HE should be our cornerstone or the foundation of our faith. HE should be elected to the highest position in our life over any other person or possession. HE should be more valuable than any precious metal we might own. How are you treating Jesus Christ in your life today?
: 17 Honor all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king. (5091 “Honor” [timao] means to show esteem, reverence, respect, venerate, attribute high status, provide aid or financial assistance, regard, or value)
DEVOTION: The Christian life is different from the rest of the world. There is no respect for others anymore it seems. Children are not taught to respect their parents or elders anymore in the public schools. Sometimes they are not even taught this in their churches.
Parents at home need to train their children to respect their parents and elders. They need to teach that anyone in authority over them needs to be respected. This includes doctors, police, firemen and even employers.
There should also be taught the fact that every child should learnt to love those who love the LORD. There should be a family atmosphere in the church. There should be respect and love shown to those who try to teach spiritual truths to our children. They should be taught to listen in Sunday School class and when the pastor teaches in the Worship service.
Even when we talk we should show respect for those in authority over us as adults. Sometimes we can be very negative toward those who are elected officials in our government. We have to watch what we say at times, especially around children.
If we fear God we will try to put these verses into practice in our daily life around our children and fellow believers. Our God is still on the throne. HE has allowed some people to be in office.
CHALLENGE: Our response to bad officials should be prayer and voting when we have an election. We should never give up until the LORD returns.
DAILY SPIRITUAL SUPPER: Mature Believers
: 24 Who HIS OWN own self bare our sins in HIS OWN body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live to righteousness, by whose stripes you were healed. (2390 “healed” [iaomai] means to cure, to make whole, to free from errors and sins, to bring about (one’s) salvation, restore, repair, or renew)
DEVOTION: When Jesus died on the cross for our sins this verse states that we were healed by Christ. It is true in the sense that we have been healed from sin. Our sins are
forgiven and washed away. God the Father no longer looks at us as sinners because HE looks at us through the blood of Christ that was shed on the cross. HE accepted HIS sacrifice.
Some will say that we are healed of sickness because of this but that is not true. Many believers have been sick whicht was not caused by sin in their life. They are sick because of a weakness of human flesh while we live in our human bodies.
Too often people think that people who are sick are out of fellowship with the LORD and that is true sometimes but not at all times. If you are sick you can examine yourself to see if it is caused by sin, but most of the time it is caused by our human weaknesses in the flesh. God still heals human sicknesses when we pray.
Understand that we need healing from sin first and foremost and that was accomplished by Christ on the cross.
CHALLENGE: We need to praise the LORD for this healing daily from sin.
:25 For you were as sheep going astray; but are now returned to the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.(1985 “bishop” [episkopos] means 1 an overseer. 1a a man charged with the duty of seeing that things to be done by others are done rightly, any curator, guardian or superintendent. 1b the superintendent, elder, or overseer of a Christian church. [Strong, J. (1995). Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon. Woodside Bible Fellowship])
DEVOTION: Were you ever involved in a church split? We were, and it wasn’t pretty. There was one group who thought that the services were not contemporary enough, and another group who thought that they weren’t traditional enough. Neither side could be pleased until many were hurt by what was being said and decided, and the pastor decided to retire.
While much has been written about church polity, what is clear from this passage is that Jesus Christ is ultimately the Shepherd and Bishop of our souls. This image seems to recreate the metaphor of Psalm 23, where it is said that the good shepherd’s rod and staff comfort the sheep. That is to say that these implements were used to guide the sheep when they needed to be gently turned in a certain direction (such as toward a grazing area), as well as correct (and punish) them when they disobeyed and wandered. So we have a picture of Jesus Christ being both the loving and disciplining authority over our souls.
However, it is also true that He has placed over us in authority wise men who will follow His lead in doing these two activities. While the Protestant Reformation was accurate in emphasizing the priesthood of all believers that did not mean that the authority structure in the church was to be totally abolished. Rather, it meant that those in authority spiritually are to be men who are spiritually sensitive to the problem(s) at hand and use the Scripture to address them. Sometimes that means that we as members are to forego our rights to do things the way we want in order to serve others in the church.
CHALLENGE: Are you willing to be under the authority of those God has placed in a position of leadership in the local church? If you have not, you need to seek out your pastor and talk with him about your attitudes. (MW)
DISCIPLINES OF THE FAITH:
BODY
Chastity (Purity in living)
Fasting (Time alone with LORD without eating or drinking)
Sacrifice (Giving up something we want to serve the LORD)
Submission (Willing to listen to others and LORD)
Solitude (Going to a quiet place without anyone)
SOUL
Fellowship (Gathering together around the Word of God)
Frugality (wise use of resources)
Journalizing (Writing down what you have learned from the LORD)
Study and Meditation (Thinking through your study in the Word)
Secrecy (Doing your good deeds without others knowing but God)
SPIRIT
Celebration (Gathering around a special occasion to worship LORD)
Confession (Tell the LORD we are sorry for our sins on a daily basis)
Prayer (Conversation with God on a personal level)
Silence (Letting the LORD deal with some problems and needs)
Worship (Time to praise the LORD alone or in a group)
DOCTRINES OF THE FAITH:
Scripture (66 inerrant books of the Bible)
Wordverses 2, 8
Scriptureverse 6
God the Father (First person of the Godhead)
Godverses 4, 5, 10, 12, 15-17, 19, 20
Accepted spiritual sacrificesverse 5
People of Godverse 10
Will of Godverse 15
Servants of Godverse 16
Judges righteouslyverse 23
God the Son (Second person of the Godhead –God/man,Messiah)
Lordverses 3, 13
Lord is graciousverse 3
Living stoneverse 4
Disallowed of menverse 4
Chosen of Godverse 4
Preciousverses 4, 6, 7
Jesus verse 5
Christ verses 5, 21
Jesus Christverse 5
Chief corner stoneverse 6
Electverse 6
Stone which the builders disallowedverse 7
Head of the cornerverse 7
Stone of stumblingverse 8
Rock of offenseverse 8
Marvelous lightverse 9
Lord’s sakeverse 13
Suffered for believersverse 21
Exampleverse 21
No sinverse 22
No guileverse 22
Sufferedverse 23
Committed HIMSELFverse 23
Christ bore sins verse 24
Crucifiedverse 24
By HIS stripes we are healedverse 24
Shepherdverse 25
Bishopverse 25
Shepherd and Bishop of your soulsverse 25
God the Holy Spirit (Third person of the Godhead – our comforter)
Trinity (Three persons of the Godhead who are co-equal = ONE God)
Angels (Created before the foundation of the world – Good and Evil)
Man (Created on the sixth twenty-four hour period of creation)
Newborn babesverse 2
Gentilesverse 12
Ordinance of man verses 13, 14, 17
Governors
Punishment of evildoersverse 14
Praise of them that do wellverse 14
Servants be subject to your mastersverse 18
Sin (Missing the mark set by God on man and angels)
Maliceverse 1
Guileverse 1
Hypocrisiesverse 1
Enviesverse 1
Evil speakingsverse 1
Disallowed Christverse 4
Disobedientverses 7, 8
Stumbleverse 8
Fleshly lustsverse 11
Evildoersverses 12, 14
Ignorance of foolish menverse 15
Cloak of maliciousnessverse 16
Forwardverse 18
Faultsverse 20
Sinverse 22
Guile verse 22
Sinsverse 24
Gone astrayverse 25
Salvation (Provided by Christ’s death on the cross for our sins)
Desire the sincere milk of the wordverse 2
Growthverse 2
Tastedverse 3
Graceverse 3
Lively stonesverse 5
Spiritual houseverse 5
Holy priesthoodverse 5
Spiritual sacrificesverse 5
Believeverses 6, 7
Not confoundedverse 6
Precious is Christverse 7
Chosen generationverse 9
Royal priesthoodverse 9
Holy nationverse 9
Peculiar peopleverse 9
Praiseverse 9
Called out of darknessverses 9, 21
People of Godverse 10
Mercyverse 10
Strangersverse 11
Pilgrimsverse 11
Abstain from fleshly lustverse 11
Honestverse 12
Good worksverse 12
Glorify Godverse 12
Submitverse 13
Well-doingverses 14, 15
Put to silenceverse 15
Libertyverse 16
Servants of Godverse 16
Honor all menverse 17
Love the brotherhoodverse 17
Fear Godverse 17
Honor the kingverse 17
Servants be subject to mastersverses 18, 19
Thankworthyverse 19
Endure griefverse 19
Suffer wrongfullyverse 19
Do wellverse 20
Patienceverse 20
Acceptable to Godverse 20
Follow Christ’s stepsverse 21
Dead to sinsverse 24
Righteousnessverse 24
Healedverse 24
Returned to Christverse 25
Israel (Old Testament people of God)
Church (New Testament people of God)
Newborn babes desire sincere milk of the wordverse 2
Growverse 2
Called out of darknessverse 9
Time past not a peopleverse 10
People of Godverse 10
Dearly belovedverse 11
Strangers and pilgrimsverse 11
Sheepverse 25
Last Things (Future Events)
Appointedverse 8
Day of visitationverse 12
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QUOTES regarding passage
15 Peter is speaking of ordinary situations and not of persecutions (cf., e.g., Acts 4:18ff.; 5:18ff.) when he speaks of governors as commending the good. Later in this epistle, Peter deals with the more difficult situation of governmental persecution of those who do good (3:14, 17; 4:1, 12–19). No government that consistently rewards evil and punishes good can long survive, because evil is ultimately self-destructive. It is God’s will for Christians by their submission to the state authorities to “silence” (phimoun) the “ignorance” (agnōsia)—a kind description—of “foolish” men. The word aphronōn (“foolish”) is a common biblical adjective for an obstinate sinner. Three different Hebrew words are commonly translated in the LXX by this Greek word (cf. Derek Kidner, The Proverbs: An Introduction and Commentary [London: Tyndale, 1964], pp. 39–42). (Blum, E. A. (1981). 1 Peter. In F. E. Gaebelein (Ed.), The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Hebrews through Revelation (Vol. 12, p. 233). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House.)
By well-doing (ἀγαθοποιουντας [agathopoiountas]). Present active participle of ἀγαθοποιεω [agathopoieō], only in LXX and N. T. (Mark 3:4). In accusative case agreeing with ὑμας [humas] understood, accusative of general reference with φιμοιν [phimoin], present active infinitive (epexegetic infinitive after το θελημα του θεου [to thelēma tou theou], the will of God), late and rare verb (from φιμος [phimos] muzzle), as in Matt. 22:12. The ignorance of foolish men (την των ἀφρονων ἀνθρωπων ἀγνωσιαν [tēn tōn aphronōn anthrōpōn agnōsian]). Ἀγνωσια [Agnōsia] is late and rare word (in the papyri) from alpha privative and γνωσις [gnōsis] (knowledge), in N. T. only here and 1 Cor. 15:24 (disgraceful ignorance in both instances). Note alliteration. (Robertson, A. T. (1933). Word Pictures in the New Testament (1 Pe 2:15). Nashville, TN: Broadman Press.)
2:13–15. Christians are responsible to obey the law (cf. Rom. 13:1–7; Titus 3:1–2). Peter exhorted his readers to abide by governmental laws, to submit … to every authority (ktisei, lit., “creation” or here “institution” or “law”) instituted among men (anthrōpinē, “made by man, human”). The motivation for obedience is not avoiding punishment but is for the Lord’s sake. To honor God who ordained human government, Christians are to observe man-made laws carefully as long as those laws do not conflict with the clear teaching of Scripture (cf. Acts 4:19). The general purpose of legal authority is to punish … wrong and to commend … right. Evidently Christians were being slandered and falsely accused of evil, for Peter stressed that it is God’s will (thelēma, a term expressing the result of one’s purpose or desire; cf. “God’s will” in 1 Peter 3:17; 4:2, 19) that through excellent behavior they silence (phimoun, lit., “muzzle”) the ignorant talk of foolish men. Each of the three Greek words rendered “ignorant talk of foolish men” begins with the letter alpha, as do the three Greek words in 1:4 rendered “never perish, spoil, or fade.” Apparently Peter enjoyed alliteration!
This section of Peter’s argument leads many to believe that the organized persecution through oppressive Roman laws either had not begun or had not yet reached the provinces of Asia Minor. Christians were then facing lies and verbal abuse, not torture and death. Christians were still enjoying the protection of a legal system which commended those who obeyed the law. So a believer’s best defense against slanderous criticism was good behavior. (Raymer, R. M. (1985). 1 Peter. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 2, pp. 846–847). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)
Of course, everything we do should be for the glory of the Lord and the good of His kingdom! But Peter was careful to point out that Christians in society are representatives of Jesus Christ. It is our responsibility to “advertise God’s virtues” (1 Peter 2:9, author’s translation). This is especially true when it comes to our relationship to government and people in authority.
As Christian citizens, we should submit to the authority vested in human government. The word translated “ordinance” in our Authorized Version simply means “creation or institution.” It does not refer to each individual law, but to the institutions that make and enforce the laws. It is possible to submit to the institutions and still disobey the laws.
For example, when Daniel and his three friends refused to obey the king’s dietary regulations, they disobeyed the law; but the way that they did it proved that they honored the king and respected the authorities (Dan. 1). They were not rebels; they were careful not to embarrass the official in charge or get him into trouble; and yet they stood their ground. They glorified God and, at the same time, honored the authority of the king.
Peter and the other Apostles faced a similar challenge shortly after Pentecost (Acts 4–5). The Jewish council commanded them to stop preaching in the name of Jesus, but Peter and his associates refused to obey (see Acts 4:19; 5:29). They did not cause a rebellion or in any way question or deny the authority of the council. They submitted to the institution but they refused to stop preaching. They showed respect to their leaders even though these men were opposed to the Gospel.
It is important that we respect the office even though we cannot respect the man or woman in the office. As much as possible, we should seek to cooperate with the government and obey the law; but we must never allow the law to make us violate our conscience or disobey God’s Word. Unfortunately, some zealous but ignorant Christians use these differences as opportunities for conflict and loud sermons about “freedom” and “separation of church and state.”
When a local church constructs and furnishes a building, there is a local code that must be obeyed. (I have been through several building programs and I know!) The government has no right to control the pulpit or the business meeting, but it has every right to control matters that relate to safety and operation. If the law requires a certain number of exits, or fire extinguishers, or emergency lights, the church must comply. The state is not persecuting when it sets up the code, nor is the church compromising when it obeys the code. But I know some overly zealous saints who have disgraced the name of the Lord by their attitudes and actions relating to these matters.
Peter named the offices we are to respect. “The king” meant “the emperor.” In democratic nations, we have a president or premier. Peter did not criticize the Roman government or suggest that it be overthrown. God’s church has been able to live and grow in all kinds of political systems. The “governors” are those under the supreme authority who administer the laws and execute justice. Ideally, they should punish those who do evil and praise those who do good. This ideal was not always reached in Peter’s day (see Acts 24:24–27), nor is it reached in our own. Again, we must remind ourselves to respect the office even if we cannot respect the officer.
Two phrases are important: “the will of God” (1 Peter 2:15) and “the servants of God” (1 Peter 2:16). When we do something in the will of God and as the servants of God, then we are doing it “for the Lord’s sake.” God has willed that we silence the critics by doing good, not by opposing the authority. The word “silence” in 1 Peter 2:15 is literally “muzzle,” as though the pagan critics were like a pack of yelping, snapping dogs!
Someone may argue, “But, as Christians, are we not free?” Yes, we are free in Christ; but we must never use our freedom for ourselves. We must always use it for others. Sad to say, there are “religious racketeers” who prey on ignorant people and use “religion” to veil their evil actions. A true Christian submits himself to authority because he is first of all submitted to Christ. He uses his freedom as a tool to build with and not as a weapon to fight with. A good example of this attitude is Nehemiah, who willingly gave up his own rights that he might help his people and restore the walls of Jerusalem.
If we are sincerely submitted to authority “for the Lord’s sake,” then we will show honor to all who deserve it. We may not agree with their politics or their practices, but we must respect their position (see Rom. 13). We will also “love the brotherhood,” meaning, of course, the people of God in the church. This is a recurring theme in this letter (1 Peter 1:22; 3:8; 4:8; 5:14). One way we show love to the brethren is by submitting to the authority of the “powers that be,” for we are bound together with one another in our Christian witness.
“Fear God” and “honor the king” go together, since “the powers that be are ordained of God” (Rom. 13:1). Solomon had the same counsel: “My son, fear thou the Lord and the king” (Prov. 24:21). We honor the king because we do fear the Lord. It is worth noting that the tenses of these verbs indicate that we should constantly maintain these attitudes. “Keep loving the brotherhood! Keep fearing God! Keep honoring the king!”
As Christians, we must exercise discernment in our relationship to human government. There are times when the right thing is to set aside our own privileges, and there are other times when using our citizenship is the right thing. Paul was willing to suffer personally in Philippi (Acts 16:16–24), but he was unwilling to “sneak out of town” like a criminal (Acts 16:35–40). When he was arrested on false charges, Paul used his citizenship to protect himself (Acts 22:22–29) and to insist on a fair trial before Caesar (Acts 25:1–12). (Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 2, pp. 404–406). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)
Ver. 15. For so is the will of God, &c.] Which refers not so much to what goes before; though it is a truth, that it is the will of God that men should be subject to magistrates, and that magistrates should encourage virtue, and discourage vice, reward the obedient, and punish delinquents; but to what follows: that with well-doing; by doing good works, and those well; by living soberly, righteously, and godly; by having the conversation honest among the Gentiles, agreeably to the law of God, and as becomes the Gospel of Christ; particularly, by living according to the laws of civil society, so far as is consistent with, and not contrary to the commands of God; and by being subject to every civil magistrate, and ordinance of man: ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men or, as the Syriac version renders it, that ye may stop the mouths of those foolish men who know not God: or, as the Ethiopic version has it, who know not these things; who are ignorant of God, of his righteousness, of his law, his Gospel, and ordinances. The Gentiles were very ignorant of these things, and very foolish in their imaginations about religious affairs; and from this their ignorance and folly arose calumnies, reflections, and censures upon the people of God; they neither knew God, nor them, nor true religion, and reproached what they understood not, and for want of knowing it: now the apostle signified, that it was the declared will of God that his people should so behave in civil life, that their enemies should be entirely confounded, and silenced, and have nothing to say against them; the word signifies to be muzzled, to have the mouth shut up, as with a bit or bridle; it is used in Matt. 22:12; 1 Cor. 9:9. (Gill, J. (1809). An Exposition of the New Testament (Vol. 3, p. 550). London: Mathews and Leigh.)
FROM MY READING:
(Remember the only author that I totally agree with is the HOLY SPIRIT in the inerrant WORD OF GOD called THE BIBLE! All other I try to gleam what I can to help me grow in the LORD!!)
THE CENTRALITY OF THE CROSS
For the love of Christ constrains us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead. 2 Corinthians 5:14
Everything proceeds from the cross. A Christian is a man who glories in the cross. If the cross is not central to you, you are not a Christian. You may say that you admire Jesus and His teaching, but that does not make you a Christian.
The apostle tells us that the cross governs his view of himself and that he has a new view of himself as a result of the cross. This is one of the most glorious aspects of the doctrine of the cross. It gives a man an entirely different view of himself.
Now, how does that happen? If you read 2 Corinthians 5, you will find that he there expands this aspect in a particularly clear manner. He has two great things to say: “Wherefore,” he says in verse 16, “henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more.” That is one. But here is another in verses 14-15: “For the love of Christ constrains us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: and that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.”
What he is saying in that chapter is all summarized in verse 17 when he puts this astonishing statement before us: “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” And among the “all things” that have become new is man’s view of himself. This is one of the most glorious deliverances a man can ever know, to be free and delivered from himself.
A Thought to Ponder: If the cross is not central to you, you are not a Christian.
(From The Cross, pp. 199-200, by Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones)
The God of Heaven
“And he said unto them, I am an Hebrew; and I fear the Lord, the God of heaven, which hath made the sea and the dry land.” (Jonah 1:9)
It was by these words that the prophet Jonah identified himself to the merchants of Tarshish as he was fleeing on their ship from the presence of the Lord. This special title, “the God of heaven,” seems generally to have been used by the Jews when they were talking to men of other religions, stressing that their God was no mere tribal deity but the true God who had created the very heavens.
The title was first used by Abraham, speaking to his servant: “And I will make thee swear by the LORD, the God of heaven, and the God of the earth” (Genesis 24:3). At this time, the nation of Israel existed only in the promise of this “God of heaven.”
It also appears frequently in the books of Ezra and Nehemiah, first in the decree of Cyrus the Persian: “The LORD God of heaven…hath charged me to build him an house at Jerusalem” (Ezra 1:2). Even though the Persians followed lesser gods, Cyrus knew that the one God of heaven was the Creator. The name then reappears several times in the book of Daniel, who was living in the palace of the heathen king of Babylon. Its final Old Testament occurrence is Daniel 2:44: “The God of heaven [shall] set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed.”
In the New Testament it occurs only twice, both in Revelation. In one instance, John writes that the ungodly nations “blasphemed the God of heaven”; in the other, he says they “gave glory to the God of heaven” (Revelation 16:11; 11:13). In our own witnessing today, especially to those who don’t know or believe the Bible, it is also good to stress that our God is not just the God of Judeo-Christian tradition but the Creator of all things.
(HMM, The Institute for Creation Research)
After being cruelly mistreated, Jesus is crucified and gives up His spirit.
INSIGHT
The apostle John reveals the most detailed picture of Pilate’s judgment of Jesus. At first, Pilate says, “I find no fault in Him at all” (18:38). Then, he scourges Jesus, hoping to placate the Jews. Without success, he makes efforts to release Jesus, but the Jewish leaders will not stand for it. Anxious about his political reputation in Rome, Pilate caves in, washes his hands of the affair, and releases Jesus to the Jewish leaders to be crucified.
We place much of the blame for Jesus’ death on Pilate. But if at any point in time Pilate had repented of His deed, Jesus Himself would have welcomed him into the kingdom of God. (Quiet Walk)
Should we have shut the country down for the coronavirus? This is a question that will be debated for some time. But what’s critically important now is the fact that we need to get America back up and running. According to today’s news, over 26 million people are unemployed. Some have lost their jobs completely and there will be many businesses that will not survive. Families are afraid, people are scared. No matter what historians end up recording as the successes and mistakes of the COVID-19 pandemic response, my prayer is that through all of this upheaval and uncertainty, people will assess their lives and consider where they stand before God. Through this pandemic, we have all been reminded of the frailty of life and just how abruptly what we take for granted as normal can be radically changed. Even a couple of months ago, none of us would have believed what was just around the corner—that professional sports arenas would sit empty with all events canceled, that schools across the entire country would be shut down, that restaurants and retail stores would not be able to allow customers inside. What’s around the next corner? We don’t know. But we do know that God loves us and if we put our faith and trust in Him, He will be with us through whatever storm is next.
(Franklin Graham)
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