Peter begins to summarize and conclude this epistle with instructions to all Christians. In verses 1-4 he compels the elders among us to be examples to others. Again Peter is not speaking to people with the title or position of elder (as many churches today call their lay leadership), he is referring to those that others look up to including parents, seniors, teachers, leaders, and other mature Christians. Those that are elders are to set an example, but definitely not in a “do as I say, not as I do” way. We need to be mentors to our youth and to new Christians (always remember Deuteronomy 6:4-9). In verse two, Peter reminded us that God places these people in our lives to guide, and that they are His flock (not ours). We have been called to be a living example to others (see Romans 12:1-2).
5:5 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.”
Peter then addresses everyone else (non-leaders) in verse five, beginning with the word ‘likewise’, a term we saw earlier in chapter three referring to the need for interactive relationships (see 1 Peter 3:1, 7, see also chapter 16). The younger (in age as well as those who recently became believers) need to submit (line up under in submission) to those that have greater maturity. They need to be willing to listen and follow instruction (read Hebrews 13:7; 1 Thessalonians 5:12-13; 1 Corinthians 16:15-16).
Peter now addresses all Christians using an interesting call to action. We are all to clothe ourselves with humility toward one another. The Greek for the term ‘clothe yourselves’ essentially translates to “to tie something on oneself.”[1] I can’t be certain but I can’t help but think Peter may have been thinking about an incident in the upper room the night before Jesus’ crucifixion, when Jesus, after tying a towel around His waist, began to wash His disciples’ feet (read John 13:1-17). That demonstration of humility was a hard lesson for Peter. The Greek for the word ‘humility’ is the word ‘tapeinophrosynēn’ meaning “lowness of mind.”[2] What is humility? Possibly the best way to answer that question would be to first ask what is the opposite of humility? Obviously that would be pride.
Peter next quotes Proverbs 3:34 (from the Septuagint not Hebrew texts) just like James did (See James 4:6-10). What does the author of Proverbs mean by the phrase “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble”? How does God oppose the proud? The word ‘oppose’ in the Greek is often translated as ‘resists’. That alone should humble someone as it raises some painful questions such as, can a prideful heart pray properly or does God hear the prayer of a prideful person?
We see the greatest barrier to humility is pride, and perhaps the most dangerous form of pride is thinking we know everything we need to know. I’m not talking about people that are categorized as “know-it-alls” but those who think they already know all they need to know about God and as a result no longer read His Word, or seek to know Him personally. We need to study the Bible regularly, if not daily. If we stop listening to God and our elders, we run the risk of falling for every “wind of doctrine” no longer knowing right from wrong, trusting in our own intellect, and not God (see Ephesians 4:1-16).
5:6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you,
A person with a prideful heart no longer listens while they elevate their own opinions. A prideful heart can also become jealous, especially if they covet other Christian’s gifts. Regardless of the effects, pride causes us to take our eyes off Jesus (see 2 Corinthians 12:7-10 for Paul’s solution). Peter reminds us that being a Christian is about serving Jesus, not about us! Peter simply says, “humble ourselves” or bring low our thoughts about ourselves. How to do we do that? Be under the mighty hand of God. The ability to become humble does not come from us. The sin in us wants us to take charge in all that we do. We want what we want, we do what we want to do, and do it when we want to do it. But God is offering a better way, we are to follow Him. He provides the power and direction. Through example, the power of God should be seen in the way elder Christians lead their lives. We are to accomplish His purposes, not our own, so that at the proper time God will exalt us. One thing our modern-world thinking has made us is impatient. We need to understand that God will work on His time schedule, not ours (see Galatians 4:4-5; Titus 1:1-3).
At the proper time God will exalt us! The term ‘exalt’ means to lift up. As servants of God, we are to live in servitude to others. If we are humble (lowly), God will lift us up! Now that’s a real lift! He will lift us from our trials, tests, sufferings, etc., at the time He deems appropriate. Peter is trying to tell us that the first step toward serving God is humility!
5:7 casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.
Peter tells us that we also need to cast our cares and anxieties on Him. He is big enough to handle each and every issue, care, or concern in our lives! Why? Because He loves us and cares about us. Don’t let issues in your life turn you from God, go directly to Him. Remember pride can enter our lives when we try to seek our own solutions.
5:8a Be sober-minded; be watchful.
Similar to some of Paul’s writing, Peter reminds us that we need to remain sober-minded and watchful until Jesus returns (see 1 Thessalonians 5:6-8; 1 Corinthians 16:13-14; 2 Timothy 4:5; Colossians 4:2). The Greek word for ‘sober-minded’ is ‘nēpsate’, which conveys the need to remain calm, collected, temperate and self-controlled (disciplined).[3] The term in Greek translated here as ‘watchful’ points to the need to be vigilant without rest. In other words, we are to stay informed of what is going on in the world and keep a clear head at all times while we serve others.
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[1] Zodhiates, S. (2000). The complete word study dictionary: New Testament (electronic ed.). Chattanooga, TN: AMG Publishers. Strong’s Greek No. 1463
[2] Strong, J. (2001). Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon. Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software. Strong’s Greek No. 1463
[3] Arndt, W., Danker, F. W., & Bauer, W. (2000). A Greek-English lexicon of the New Testament and other early Christian literature (3rd ed., p. 672). Chicago: University of Chicago Press. Greek word νήφω