1 Peter 1:10 Commentary - Dr Peter Masters

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1 Peter 1:10

Comments

Calvin points out that the diligent enquiries of the prophets did not result from their having a different salvation to us, but from their realisation that the coming of Christ was for them still in the future. Christ’s incarnation, they knew would reveal much detail about the work of God that was hidden from them and they longed to know more about it. They therefore struggled with all their powers to make the most of what God had already revealed in order that they would see as clearly as possible the glory of the coming Messiah. They scrutinised their own prophesies, realising that they spoke better than they knew, and that their prophecies transcended their own natural understanding and gave them a window on the wonderful works of God. They did not search in their own understanding or in human speculation for light on future things, but in the only place which could provide any reliable information: the word given to them and to other prophets by God. The focus of attention of the prophets was, from their perspective, the coming gospel age in which they knew the brightest and fullest revelation of God’s purposes would be made known. They understood that the coming of the Messiah into the world would mark the climax and completion of God’s message to mankind in which all his purposes on earth would be fully explained. They knew that they lived in the twilight period before the full brightness of day dawned, and though they thanked God for the privilege position they occupied as outriders of his redemptive purposes, they knew that the greatest glory lay in the future and they were drawn to the coming church age. What attracted them most of all was the glorious grace of God which would be delivered to the church.

Application

Grace is such a wonderful attribute of God because it is so unique to the Lord, so high above what man is capable of, and because it achieves so much. To stare into the distance of a wonderful landscape and feast on its glories, the depths and scale of the hills and valleys, enlarges the heart, especially for those who see this as the work of their Creator. But to stare into the landscape of grace and see what wisdom designed it, what suffering it entailed for the Son of God, what degradation it lifts man up from, what vast numbers it has saved, and how eternal are its effects is to be overwhelmed by an even greater spectacle. The prophets understood that God’s grace was concentrated in the work of the coming Messiah, whom Isaiah so long ago foretold would be wounded for our transgressions and bruised for our iniquities.

What a privileged position we are in. We stand along the riverbanks. The prophets – they strained ahead to see the fulfilment of their prophecies. No, said the Lord to them, it’s not for you to enter into the fulfilment. That is awaiting another generation. That’s us! How can we not be a rejoicing people? What a privilege we have! God may one day say to us, ‘I didn’t place you back in the time of Isaiah, when with every ounce of faith you had to believe in things which you wouldn’t actually see’ (though of course you would see them in eternity). We are placed right at the river bank, the age of the gospel, the great age of the ingathering of souls, Jews and Gentiles alike.

Questions

There is a purpose in this digression. It continues in verses 11 and 12. Why does the apostle Peter begin to talk about this? The prophets who prophesied of Christ, and the grace of Christ, and the work of Christ, wanted to know when he would come, and in precisely what form would he come, and what exactly would he do to be bear away sin? Isaiah gets pretty near to it, but none of the prophets were told the details, and certainly they were not told the ‘when’. This is mentioned by Peter because what he is effectively saying to us is this: how privileged we are in New Testament times, in the age of the gospel, the age of the church! Even the greatest of the prophets didn't see as clearly as we see. They knew Messiah was coming. They knew he would take away sin. It was in this they trusted. All sacrifices of old pointed forward to this: God would make a way; ‘Repent of your sin, he will forgive you; Messiah is coming. But they didn't see it. Now we live in a blaze of sunshine, of truth. How much you should love him!

Outline

Purpose

Introduction

1 Peter 1:10 Commentary and Bible Study