I Peter 5:1-14 – Peter’s Final Instructions

I Peter 5:1-14 – Peter’s Final Instructions

And now, a word to you who are elders in the churches. I, too, am an elder and a witness to the sufferings of Christ. And I, too, will share in his glory when he is revealed to the whole world. As a fellow elder, I appeal to you: ² Care for the flock that God has entrusted to you. Watch over it willingly, not grudgingly—not for what you will get out of it, but because you are eager to serve God. ³ Don’t lord it over the people assigned to your care, but lead them by your own good example. ⁴ And when the Great Shepherd appears, you will receive a crown of never-ending glory and honor.

Peter is now addressing the leaders in the church.  He identifies himself with them, although they already respect him as an Apostle of Jesus Christ.  They knew Peter had been a first hand witness of the last three years of Jesus’ life, right up through the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ.  Peter, however, sees himself as a partner with them, not above them.  Because they were all suffering for the cause of Jesus Christ, they would all also enter the same glory as Jesus did.

Jesus had commanded Peter to feed His sheep, and now Peter is passing this along to the shepherds/leaders that were entrusted to care for their flocks.  Three terms are used to describe the care givers:  shepherds, elders, and overseers.  They all mean the same.  Peter sees himself as an elder, and does not lord over them his position as an appointed apostle.  He is giving them an example of how to care for their flocks, just as he is caring for them.  Jesus alone is the Chief Shepherd and He will reward them when He comes back.

In these verses Peter gives church leaders four priorities to follow:

1.     Shepherd the flock.  They were not Peter’s flock or the elders’ flock, but God’s flock, and Jesus is the Chief Shepherd.  To shepherd the flock is to lead and protect them, to seek them out, to calm their fears, to comfort their pains, and most of all to love them.  Peter received this same instruction from Jesus in John 21:16 when Jesus had asked the question three times, “Do you love me?  Then take care of my sheep.” 

2.     Serve willingly and joyfully.  Service should not be out of a sense of duty.  If we are negative in our leadership, others will suffer and we would be better off not being in church leadership.

3.     Serve eagerly.  Service should not be out to gain popularity or to be for personal gain.  Greed, recognition and personal agendas have no place in Christian service.  Our hearts are to be sensitive to God and to those we serve.  Our enthusiasm should flow out of being chosen by God, and we want to serve to bring glory to Him.

4.     Serve as an example to the flock.  Leaders are not called to dominate people, or lord over them.  Instead they are to take up their cross daily and follow the Lord.  They/we are accountable to God for our service, and must be found faithful in our ministry.  Matthew 20:25-28 tells us: 

But Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers in this world lord it over their people, and officials flaunt their authority over those under them. But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first among you must become your slave. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

⁵ In the same way, you younger men must accept the authority of the elders. And all of you, serve each other in humility, for

“God opposes the proud
    but favors the humble.”

⁶ So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor. ⁷ Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.

⁸ Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. ⁹ Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith. Remember that your Christian brothers and sisters all over the world are going through the same kind of suffering you are.

¹⁰ In his kindness God called you to share in his eternal glory by means of Christ Jesus. So after you have suffered a little while, he will restore, support, and strengthen you, and he will place you on a firm foundation.¹¹ All power to him forever! Amen.

We are not true followers of Christ unless we submit to Him and make Him Lord of our lives.  Peter points out in his letter that younger men should submit to the elders, and that all Christians should submit to each other.  This kind of submission refers to accountability.  We are all accountable to each other, and ultimately accountable to Christ.  We serve to give, not to get.  Being humble means to have the Spirit of Jesus Christ.  We find in Philippians 2:5-8: 

You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.   Though he was God,
    he did not think of equality with God
    as something to cling to.
Instead, he gave up his divine privileges;
    he took the humble position of a slave
    and was born as a human being.
When he appeared in human form,
     he humbled himself in obedience to God
    and died a criminal’s death on a cross.

When Jesus washed the feet is his disciples, He displayed the humility needed when caring for others.  God will lift Christian leaders to places of honor in His time.  When cares and anxiety are given to God, peace and tranquility beyond comprehension are given in return.  Jesus longs to help us, as we find in His words in Matthew 11:28-30:

Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”

No doubt Peter was thinking about his own failure when he writes, “Stay alert!”  He failed to stay alert and watch and pray with Jesus the night he and two other disciples were in the Garden of Gethsemane with Jesus.  Instead he fell asleep (as did the others), even after Jesus asked them to pray with Him. 

Peter described the devil like a roaring lion waiting to devour anyone as he prowls about.  James 4:7-8 gives this warming:

So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world.

Peter also reminds the Christians we are not alone in our suffering.  If we draw near to God, who cares so much for us, and resist the devil, who is out to destroy us, God will intervene at some point with His strengthening power.  God does the following for us during our suffering:

1.     God perfects us as He makes us more and more into the image of His Son.  He will restore what sin has taken away.

2.     God establishes us as we turn to Him and forsake sin. 

3.     God strengthens us, as we become firm in our commitment to Him.

4.     God settles us, lays a foundation in us, and makes us stable in our faith.

God perfects us, establishes us, strengthens us, and settles us…all for His glory.  As we submit to Him by our faith, and depend more and more upon Him, we give Him glory forever.  In our humility we see ourselves for who we are, and we see God for Who He is, and we worship Him as Lord and Savior.

¹² I have written and sent this short letter to you with the help of Silas, whom I commend to you as a faithful brother. My purpose in writing is to encourage you and assure you that what you are experiencing is truly part of God’s grace for you. Stand firm in this grace.

¹³ Your sister church here in Babylon sends you greetings, and so does my son Mark. ¹⁴ Greet each other with Christian love.

Peace be with all of you who are in Christ.

I am going to wrap up Peter’s first letter in this blog.  Let me review some facts of this epistle.  We know that First Peter was written by a man named Peter, who was impulsive and outspoken and impetuous.  In spite of his personality flaws, he was chosen by Jesus to be part of His inner circle of disciples, and he was chosen to write two books of the New Testament…I and II Peter.  God understands our human flaws, but He doesn’t discard us or give up on us…He gives us second chances, just like He did Peter.  That should be very encouraging to us, even if Peter’s letter does not lift us up!

Peter wrote this letter to Christians that had been scattered outside their homeland.  They were lonely, scared, discouraged, and not sure what the future held for them.  In short, they were hurting.  Peter used Silas to either take his dictations or to deliver this letter to these Christians.  Silas was a Roman citizen who had traveled extensively, and knew where to find these people.  He was also well educated and would know how to pen the words of Peter more eloquently than perhaps Peter would have done.  Therefore, he could have been both Peter’s secretary and his courier.

The letter ended with deep affection.  Peter mentions greetings from Babylon and Mark.  We know Mark to be the author of the second Gospel, but who was Babylon?  She could have been a woman, or she could have been a reference to the Bride of Christ – the church, or the church in Rome.   It has also been said that she could have been Peter’s wife.  The Christians were told to greet each with a kiss.  Early Christians demonstrated their love and unity with a kiss, which was outward sign of the peace they had between each other.  They considered themselves related through the family of Jesus Christ.

This letter contained three major messages: 

1.     By focusing on Jesus and trusting His Word, we have a vibrant Hope that is alive.

2.     No matter how fiery the trials are that we go through, God is still Sovereign…still in control.  He is always there to help us when we trust Him and stand firm in our faith.

3.     We are to live as pilgrims on this journey through the world we live in by submitting to divine authority and godly leadership.  This world is not our home, we are only passing through.  We cannot make the journey safely without trusted Leadership.

The four lasting lessons we can learn from I Peter is:

1.     When our faith becomes weak, JOY can strengthen us.

2.     Endurance is the key that stabilizes us.

3.     Resisting satan in the name of Jesus shields us.
4.  Abiding love surrounds and supports us.

In all of these lessons we see that God strengthens us, stabilizes us, shields us, and supports us.  Peter’s first letter has done much to encourage us in our times of suffering.  God IS Sovereign, He is in control.  We must submit to Him and seek after Him, and we will find Him to be all He has promised to be.  As I wrap up this study of I Peter, I am reminded of  His promise in Jeremiah 29:11-14:

For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. In those days when you pray, I will listen. If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me. I will be found by you,” says the Lord. 

Shalom.