1 Peter 2:18 Commentary - Dr Peter Masters

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1 Peter 2:18

Comments

These are words that would not please many people, but they are the duty of believers. The principle of order in society and respect for civic authorities is extended to employers and employed: be subject to your lawful employers and seniors. Obviously exceptions apply. We obey God rather than man. We do not comply with anything which is immoral or wrong, but in all general respects it is to be carried out. It doesn’t mean to say we endorse everything they do, but we have got to be very patient and very tolerant and accept a good many things, simply because they tell us to do them.Modern translations go for alternative words. ‘Fear’ is translated as ‘respect’, but rather than diluting the sense of the word for modern acceptability, it is much better to ask, what does it mean? It is not so much fear of employers, but fear of disgrace, fear of having to be corrected, and fear of not behaving towards them as God requires. The ‘fear’ word is surely significant, and that would be healthy for us. It is quite strong language. Be under them, obey them, submit to them. It's a call to conscientiousness; respect, yes, but carefulness, and fear of just reproof, surely. ‘Not only to the good and gentle, but also to the forward’, literally, the crooked or the twisted. This person is unreasonable, unjust. You wouldn't obey somebody who was crooked, in the sense of being criminal, utterly unethical. No, in that case you would obey God rather than man. But if he's only unjust and unfair and unreasonable, you do your utmost to comply.

Application

It is the will of God that we give no cause for complaint from the world, and the believer should always have an eye to his testimony. If providence has made a man a servant, then he should not use unlawful means to remove himself from this position. Instead, let him use this and every other situation in which he finds himself for a testimony. In each case he is to be a model citizen according to his calling. If a man is a slave it is no dishonour to Christ, for greatness in heaven is not the same as greatness on earth. A Christian should have no difficulty submitting to his earthly master because the Spirit of God works grace and humility in his heart which is exactly what he needs in this situation. Though he is a slave now, in the world to come he will be the Lord’s free man. This is his true status even now, and he bears patiently with his present circumstances because they can do nothing to take away what Christ has given him. If his earthly master does not recognise what he is, he loses nothing by that

Peter urges servants to show the same patience towards those who treat them well as to those who take advantage of them. To the first they are obedient and respectful, submitting to God’s providence, and accepting their position of subjection. They remember that in the goodness of God every situation in this world can be turned to profit so as to build character and earn an eternal reward. Let them be content to submit even to those who are fellow believers and not resent that one who is their equal in the kingdom of heaven, conducts himself as their superior in this life. Rather, let them be pleased to offer service when the one who benefits is the Lord’s, for in offering service to their believing master, they serve Christ. But if the master is not reasonable and treats them harshly they lose nothing, for God will reverse all in the Day of Judgment. They have a special opportunity to learn lessons through this painful experience which they could not otherwise learn; it is a great advance to be able to return good for evil in humility and without rancour or resentment. A servant who behaves meekly in the face of harshness speaks to the conscience of his master and so witnesses to the truth and convicts his master. The master may think himself to be above all influence from his servant but in the wisdom of God every believer has opportunity to bear record to the truth. An evangelistic spirit will encourage the believing servant to use even his limited circumstances for good.

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1 Peter 2:18 Commentary and Bible Study