lders exhorted and encouraged. (1-4) Younger Christians are
to submit to their elders, and to yield with humility and
patience to God, and to be sober, watchful, and stedfast in
faith. (5-9) Prayers for their growth and establishment. (10-14)
Verses 1-4: The apostle Peter does not command, but exhorts. He does
not claim power to rule over all pastors and churches. It was
the peculiar honour of Peter and a few more, to be witnesses of
Christ's sufferings; but it is the privilege of all true
Christians to partake of the glory that shall be revealed. These
poor, dispersed, suffering Christians, were the flock of God,
redeemed to God by the great Shepherd, living in holy love and
communion, according to the will of God. They are also dignified
with the title of God's heritage or clergy; his peculiar lot,
chosen for his own people, to enjoy his special favour, and to
do him special service. Christ is the chief Shepherd of the
whole flock and heritage of God. And all faithful ministers will
receive a crown of unfading glory, infinitely better and more
honourable than all the authority, wealth, and pleasure of the
world.
Verses 5-9: Humility preserves peace and order in all Christian
churches and societies; pride disturbs them. Where God gives
grace to be humble, he will give wisdom, faith, and holiness. To
be humble, and subject to our reconciled God, will bring greater
comfort to the soul than the gratification of pride and
ambition. But it is to be in due time; not in thy fancied time,
but God's own wisely appointed time. Does he wait, and wilt not
thou? What difficulties will not the firm belief of his wisdom,
power, and goodness get over! Then be humble under his hand.
Cast "all you care;" personal cares, family cares, cares for the
present, and cares for the future, for yourselves, for others,
for the church, on God. These are burdensome, and often very
sinful, when they arise from unbelief and distrust, when they
torture and distract the mind, unfit us for duties, and hinder
our delight in the service of God. The remedy is, to cast our
care upon God, and leave every event to his wise and gracious
disposal. Firm belief that the Divine will and counsels are
right, calms the spirit of a man. Truly the godly too often
forget this, and fret themselves to no purpose. Refer all to
God's disposal. The golden mines of all spiritual comfort and
good are wholly his, and the Spirit itself. Then, will he not
furnish what is fit for us, if we humbly attend on him, and lay
the care of providing for us, upon his wisdom and love? The
whole design of Satan is to devour and destroy souls. He always
is contriving whom he may insnare to eternal ruin. Our duty
plainly is, to be sober; to govern both the outward and the
inward man by the rules of temperance. To be vigilant;
suspicious of constant danger from this spiritual enemy,
watchful and diligent to prevent his designs. Be stedfast, or
solid, by faith. A man cannot fight upon a quagmire, there is no
standing without firm ground to tread upon; this faith alone
furnishes. It lifts the soul to the firm advanced ground of the
promises, and fixes it there. The consideration of what others
suffer, is proper to encourage us to bear our share in any
affliction; and in whatever form Satan assaults us, or by
whatever means, we may know that our brethren experience the
same.
Verses 10-14: In conclusion, the apostle prays to God for them, as the
God of all grace. Perfect implies their progress towards
perfection. Stablish imports the curing of our natural lightness
and inconstancy. Strengthen has respect to the growth of graces,
especially where weakest and lowest. Settle signifies to fix
upon a sure foundation, and may refer to Him who is the
Foundation and Strength of believers. These expressions show
that perseverance and progress in grace are first to be sought
after by every Christian. The power of these doctrines on the
hearts, and the fruits in the lives, showed who are partakers of
the grace of God. The cherishing and increase of Christian love,
and of affection one to another, is no matter of empty
compliment, but the stamp and badge of Jesus Christ on his
followers. Others may have a false peace for a time, and wicked
men may wish for it to themselves and to one another; but theirs
is a vain hope, and will come to nought. All solid peace is
founded on Christ, and flows from him.
lders exhorted and encouraged. (1-4) Younger Christians are
to submit to their elders, and to yield with humility and
patience to God, and to be sober, watchful, and stedfast in
faith. (5-9) Prayers for their growth and establishment. (10-14)