13 And who is he who will harm you if you become followers of what is good? 14 But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you are blessed. “And do not be afraid of their threats, nor be troubled.” 15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear; 16 having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed. 17 For it is better, if it is the will of God, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.
Commentary
Vs. 13 "And who is he who will harm you if you become followers of what is good?"
The Apostle's rhetorical question is not an absolute fact that when one becomes a follower of what is good, and thus obeys the Gospel, that they will not suffer, as he makes clear in verse fourteen. But rather who; as relative to the Lord Jesus Christ who has all Authority and Power (Matt 28:18-20; Rev 17:14); will harm you if you become followers of what is good? For the most anyone can do to us is destroy the body and no more (Matt 10:28). But our souls are eternally secure in Christ (John 10:27-30). Thus we are always to fear God, do good, and keep His commandments (1 John 2:3-4). Even when it means suffering for doing so (Matt 5:10; Rev 20:4). For ultimately God works out all things for good towards all who obey Him. Whether through His commandments given us through the Lord Jesus Christ, or through the lawful authorities that He has placed on earth, for the punishment of those who do evil and praise of those who do good (consider Rom 13:1-7).
Vs. 14 "But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you are blessed. “And do not be afraid of their threats, nor be troubled.”
Suffering for righteousness sake is what is commended here (Matt 5:10-12), not suffering because one continues on in their disobedience. Thus suffering that is blessed by God is suffering for living by, and upholding what God declares to be righteous in His Word (Psalm 119:160). For God's blessing rests upon all those who follow and stand up for what is righteous, just and sound as He declares it in His Word (Psalm 106:3; Matt 5:6; Luke 11:28; Rev 22:14). Now in an increasingly lawless and violent world (that has been casting aside all moral restraints for decades, and having ingrained these deprecating values in societal thinking through various mediums as acceptable behavior for all, are now setting themselves on a course of enshrining these things as justifiable in law). And as that continues to spread believers will more and more suffer for their faith and obedience to God's commandments and the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ (consider Rev 14:6-12). Because friendship with this world and it's values is a non-starter for any true follower of the Lord Jesus Christ (James 4:5). And thus when push comes to shove, all who truly believe In Jesus Christ will take their stand for Jesus Christ and God's commandments regardless of how the world views or critique's either us or them; whether by their intellect, or by their law. For we know the Power of Gospel to salvation, as well as the requirements of it (Rom 1:16-32). And thus that "Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people" (Prov 14:34).
Therefore even if we should suffer for righteousness sake we are blessed as the Apostle Peter states here (consider Isaiah 54:17). Now Peter follows that statement up with a quote from Isaiah 8:12 which he paraphrases as “And do not be afraid of their threats, nor be troubled.” For again we are to fear the Lord alone who made the heavens and earth, and all things in them. Not mankind who only distorts the image of God placed inside them by their ongoing lawlessness and unbelief. For it is the Lord Jesus Christ that every knee will bow and tongue confess, and thus we will all give an account of ourselves too (Rom 14:11; 1 Peter 4:5). Therefore the Lord alone, and His commandments in His Word is who and what we are to fear (Ecc 12:13; Isaiah 8:13). Thus neither rejection by brethren who have gone astray (as they did in Isaiah's day, see Isaiah 8:13-15; 66:3-4; Jer 5:22-31 etc.), nor the threats of those who belong too, and or defend this godless world's values and systems, will we fear. The Lord and alone is to be our dread and fear, as Jesus said (Luke 12:5). For truly God's favor and blessing rests upon all who do so (consider Psalm 34:9; 112:1; 115:13; 128:1-4 etc).
Vs. 15-17 Therefore instead of following the degenerate course of this world. We are to sanctify the Lord God in our hearts. For there is a sanctification that God does in the believer through the Holy Spirit, and there is sanctification that a believers does in their life by obeying God's Word. And here the Apostle Peter says that we are to sanctify (i.e. set apart) the Lord God in our hearts. That is God is set apart and placed above all else in ones life (Psalm 73:25). For when that happens not only are there great personal benefits, but effective and fruitful ministry takes place. Now the second half of Peters command is that in accord with sanctifying the Lord God in our hearts, we always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks us a reason for the hope that is in us, with meekness and fear (vs. 15). Thus if God is set apart in ones heart, then it stands to reason that God will initiate the second half of His command to put His child to fruitful use. And so every believer must be ready to give a defense of the Gospel to anyone, in any place, at anytime. The Apostle Paul likewise exhorted his young protegee Timothy to diligently study to show himself approved (2 Tim 2:15). For you cannot defend what you do not know! Of course this is not just an intellectual defense, but manly Spiritual. As it is the Holy Spirit working through the gifts He has placed inside the believer by which the best defense of the Word He has given to us in the Scriptures, comes forth (see 1 Cor 2:6-16).
That said, there is one last critical part that makes for a good effective witness and testimony and that is a good conscience. The Apostle Paul once said in defending the Resurrection of the dead, of the just and the unjust (see John 5:24-30), that he himself always strives to have a good conscience before God and man (Acts 24:15-16). An important lesson for us to learn as well as continue growing in. As a good word spoken in meekness and kindness is only as effective as the conscience that backs it (consider 1 Cor 9:27). For only then can it withstand the assailing and reviling of either Satan or man. As the Apostle Peter says here: "having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed" vs 16
Therefore though a believer may be openly defamed by others, having peoples minds poisoned against them by what others say behind their backs about them, what cannot be denied or hidden is their good conduct in Christ. That is the great equalizer. For unjust words may wound us for a season, but they cannot eliminate, nor deny ones good conduct In Christ. And so the Apostle Peter comes full course and closes this section by saying again: "For it is better, if it is the will of God, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil." vs. 17
Scripture Citations
The New King James Version. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982
Commentary
Vs. 13 "And who is he who will harm you if you become followers of what is good?"
The Apostle's rhetorical question is not an absolute fact that when one becomes a follower of what is good, and thus obeys the Gospel, that they will not suffer, as he makes clear in verse fourteen. But rather who; as relative to the Lord Jesus Christ who has all Authority and Power (Matt 28:18-20; Rev 17:14); will harm you if you become followers of what is good? For the most anyone can do to us is destroy the body and no more (Matt 10:28). But our souls are eternally secure in Christ (John 10:27-30). Thus we are always to fear God, do good, and keep His commandments (1 John 2:3-4). Even when it means suffering for doing so (Matt 5:10; Rev 20:4). For ultimately God works out all things for good towards all who obey Him. Whether through His commandments given us through the Lord Jesus Christ, or through the lawful authorities that He has placed on earth, for the punishment of those who do evil and praise of those who do good (consider Rom 13:1-7).
Vs. 14 "But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you are blessed. “And do not be afraid of their threats, nor be troubled.”
Suffering for righteousness sake is what is commended here (Matt 5:10-12), not suffering because one continues on in their disobedience. Thus suffering that is blessed by God is suffering for living by, and upholding what God declares to be righteous in His Word (Psalm 119:160). For God's blessing rests upon all those who follow and stand up for what is righteous, just and sound as He declares it in His Word (Psalm 106:3; Matt 5:6; Luke 11:28; Rev 22:14). Now in an increasingly lawless and violent world (that has been casting aside all moral restraints for decades, and having ingrained these deprecating values in societal thinking through various mediums as acceptable behavior for all, are now setting themselves on a course of enshrining these things as justifiable in law). And as that continues to spread believers will more and more suffer for their faith and obedience to God's commandments and the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ (consider Rev 14:6-12). Because friendship with this world and it's values is a non-starter for any true follower of the Lord Jesus Christ (James 4:5). And thus when push comes to shove, all who truly believe In Jesus Christ will take their stand for Jesus Christ and God's commandments regardless of how the world views or critique's either us or them; whether by their intellect, or by their law. For we know the Power of Gospel to salvation, as well as the requirements of it (Rom 1:16-32). And thus that "Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people" (Prov 14:34).
Therefore even if we should suffer for righteousness sake we are blessed as the Apostle Peter states here (consider Isaiah 54:17). Now Peter follows that statement up with a quote from Isaiah 8:12 which he paraphrases as “And do not be afraid of their threats, nor be troubled.” For again we are to fear the Lord alone who made the heavens and earth, and all things in them. Not mankind who only distorts the image of God placed inside them by their ongoing lawlessness and unbelief. For it is the Lord Jesus Christ that every knee will bow and tongue confess, and thus we will all give an account of ourselves too (Rom 14:11; 1 Peter 4:5). Therefore the Lord alone, and His commandments in His Word is who and what we are to fear (Ecc 12:13; Isaiah 8:13). Thus neither rejection by brethren who have gone astray (as they did in Isaiah's day, see Isaiah 8:13-15; 66:3-4; Jer 5:22-31 etc.), nor the threats of those who belong too, and or defend this godless world's values and systems, will we fear. The Lord and alone is to be our dread and fear, as Jesus said (Luke 12:5). For truly God's favor and blessing rests upon all who do so (consider Psalm 34:9; 112:1; 115:13; 128:1-4 etc).
That said, there is one last critical part that makes for a good effective witness and testimony and that is a good conscience. The Apostle Paul once said in defending the Resurrection of the dead, of the just and the unjust (see John 5:24-30), that he himself always strives to have a good conscience before God and man (Acts 24:15-16). An important lesson for us to learn as well as continue growing in. As a good word spoken in meekness and kindness is only as effective as the conscience that backs it (consider 1 Cor 9:27). For only then can it withstand the assailing and reviling of either Satan or man. As the Apostle Peter says here: "having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed" vs 16
Therefore though a believer may be openly defamed by others, having peoples minds poisoned against them by what others say behind their backs about them, what cannot be denied or hidden is their good conduct in Christ. That is the great equalizer. For unjust words may wound us for a season, but they cannot eliminate, nor deny ones good conduct In Christ. And so the Apostle Peter comes full course and closes this section by saying again: "For it is better, if it is the will of God, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil." vs. 17
Scripture Citations
The New King James Version. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982
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