1 Peter 2:11-25

(1 Peter 2:11-25)

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. Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme; Or unto governors, as unto 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 ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men: As free, and not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of God. Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king.  Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward. For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully.  For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God.  For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye 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 judgeth righteously: Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.  For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.

 

『Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme』, 『Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward. 』. Everything in this world is created by God, and ruled by God. However, God allowed Satan to dominate the world until the will of God was articulated. So, although the saints are people of the kingdom of God, they must keep the order of this world while they are in the flesh. When the Saints lived with an attitude of obedience, Peter was well aware of the practical difficulties they faced.

 

Obedience will be a joy to "people who work with masters of goodness and tolerance," but obeying even the most demanding is a matter of concern. Here, the meaning of the original language of the demanding ones means "a crooked and dishonest master."

Peter's exhortation, "You must obey the immoral master," means Satan as the immoral master. It is not to obey Satan, but to obey the order of the world, even though Satan reigns, after all, this world is also ruled by God. Peter tells us to obey all of the human systems that our lives are rooted in, and specifically to the king and governor.

 

At the time of the writing of 1 Peter, the king of Rome was the famous Nero. However, Peter's exhortation to obey such a king and obey such a rulership also makes us wonder. But on the other side, it says that God is the ruler of all things.『 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.  』. We can see that the key to obedience is to show good deeds. It is because when the act of obedience is good, it is possible to glorify God through those who slander. “Soon, good deeds stop ignorant words from foolish people.” When Christians obey the good deed centered on it, God prevents stupidity through good deeds.
If honoring people, loving brothers, and respecting the king are the surfaces of obedience, the center is good works. Citizens and servants who stick to the wicked system, the greedy king, and the crooked master's consistently good position are inconvenient. Therefore, those who adhere to the good stance must suffer. They suffer unfairly and face unfair things. It is the hardship that the people of the earth and the people of the earth have to experience in the way of Christ. However, Peter insists on avoiding the suffering.

 

 『For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully. For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God. 』

 

 For Peter, obedience was a word that goes beyond good works and suffers from good works. Even if the Saints suffer, Peter's words are determined not to give up the good work in the country, the workplace, the family, all the communities where the Saints live. By choosing good things in the world and sticking to good positions, it is the Christian's place in the world to suffer and live even if unfair suffering comes. It is because that is the place where our faith in God must take root, and it represents the glory of God.