9/30/2013
1. STRESS AT WORK: SHOWING RESPECT (1 PETER 2:18-20)
18 Servants, be submissive to your masters with all respect, not only to those who are good and gentle, but also to those who are unreasonable.
This was another notion of the Jews, that because they were the seed of Abraham, they ought not to be the servants of any; and particularly such as were believers in Christ thought they ought not to serve unbelieving masters, nor indeed believing ones, because they were equally brethren in Christ with them; hence the Apostle Peter, here, as the Apostle Paul frequently elsewhere, inculcates this duty of servants to their masters;…
John Gill
These persons might have been slaves, or might not. The word would apply to them, whether they were hired, or whether they were owned as slaves.
(from Barnes' Notes, Electronic Database. Copyright (c) 1997 by Biblesoft)
skol-ee-os'
From the base of G4628; warped, that is, winding; figuratively perverse: - crooked, froward, untoward. Strong’s
19 For this finds favor, if for the sake of conscience toward God a man bears up under sorrows when suffering unjustly.
· Peter does not stress the virtue of doing good, but rather that of patiently receiving evil as long as the believer is conscious of doing God's will.
· Peter implies that God gives him the necessary strength to bear the suffering, God extends to him the grace and mercy to do so, and that God is in control of every situation.
…for the cause of God and truth, and for the sake of things appertaining to God, and that make for his glory:…
John Gill
20 For what credit is there if, when you sin and are harshly treated, you endure it with patience? But if when you do what is right and suffer for it you patiently endure it, this finds favor with God.
NASB
…is agreeably to his will, and grateful in his sight, what he is well pleased with, is reckoned grace with him; and though it is his own grace, and of his own bestowing, he will reward it with glory.
John Gill
· In our society today, oppression takes place in the form of either verbal abuse or unethical rules and dishonest practices in their place of work.
· Quite often they cannot voice their grievances for fear of losing their source of income.
· Furthermore, such oppression is subtle and generally difficult to prove.
2. STRESS FROM INJUSTICE: FOLLOWING JESUS (1 PETER 2:21-23)
21 For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps,
Ye were called to a state of suffering when ye were called to be Christians;
(from Adam Clarke's Commentary, Electronic Database. Copyright (c) 1996 by Biblesoft)
He alleviates the grievousness of servanthood, while he shows plainly that Christ died also for servants, that they should bear so much more patiently this inequality between men who are of the same nature: moreover setting before them Christ the Lord of lords for an example, he signifies that they cannot but seem too subdued, who show themselves more grieved in the bearing of injuries, than Christ himself who was most just, and most severely of all afflicted, and yet was most patient.
(from Geneva Notes, PC Study Bible formatted electronic database Copyright © 2003 Biblesoft, Inc. All rights reserved.)
· Looking to Jesus, the Christian renews his attitude and disposition regarding suffering unjustly.
· We can only follow Christ in the manner in which He endured unjust suffering.
22 who committed no sin, nor was any deceit found in His mouth; 23 and while being reviled, He did not revile in return; while suffering, He uttered no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously;
NASB
In this connection the meaning is, that we are to be careful that, if we suffer, it should be without committing any crime. We should so live, as the Saviour did, as not to deserve to be punished, and thus only shall we entirely follow his example.
(from Barnes' Notes, Electronic Database. Copyright (c) 1997 by Biblesoft)
· Peter could personally testify to the sufferings of Jesus.
· He was present in the courtyard of the high priest when Jesus was tried by the Sanhedrin.
· Peter was acquainted with the trial before Pontius Pilate; the chief priest and elders accused Jesus of many things but He made no reply.
· Peter knew that when Jesus hung on the cross He suffered without any complaint.
· Jesus knew that His sufferings were Divinely ordained.
· He was fully aware of God's righteous judgment against sin.
· For this reason, Jesus entrusted Himself and His cause to God, the righteous Judge.
3. STRESS FROM FORGIVENESS: LIVING RIGHTLY (1 PETER 2:24-25)
24 and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed.
[We are healed] literally, it is healed to us; or healing has happened to us. The healing here referred to, is spiritual healing, or healing from sin. Pardon of sin, and restoration to the favor of God, are not unfrequently represented as an act of healing. The figure is derived from the fact that awakened and convicted sinners are often represented as crushed, broken, bruised by the weight of their transgressions, and the removal of the load of sin is represented as an act of healing.
(from Barnes' Notes, Electronic Database. Copyright (c) 1997 by Biblesoft)
25 For you were continually straying like sheep, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Guardian of your souls.
NASB
· Intelligence is not one of the sheep's characteristics; a sheep depends completely on the daily care of the shepherd.
· When anyone turns to the Shepherd, it means that Christ has already found them.
It is applied in the New Testatment to those who are appointed to watch over the interests of the church, and especially to the officers of the church. Here it is applied to the Lord Jesus as the great Guardian and Superintendent of his church;
(from Barnes' Notes, Electronic Database. Copyright (c) 1997 by Biblesoft)
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