Seeds for 05/06/2024 - 1 Peter 2:13-15
Scripture:
Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human authority: whether to the emperor, as the supreme authority, or to governors, who are sent by Him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right. For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people. Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as God’s slaves. Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, fear God, honor the emperor.
Observation:
Instructions to submit to earthly authorities are among the more challenging in the New Testament. Governing authorities have proven both just and unjust at various times and in various situations. Moreover, all are fallible human beings. So, what are we to make of this exhortation from Peter to his audience.
An important principle in reading New Testament letters is to remember that they are written to address particular scenarios. They are generally not “systematic” but “situational.” This isn’t license to play fast and loose with what’s written, but it is a recognition that the Biblical authors tailored their advice and instruction to the particulars of their audience’s situation. When we are needing specific advice, we begin best with our general guiding principles. We don’t end there, however. We press on to specific application to the particulars of the presenting issue. The same holds true for Paul, Peter, James, John, etc. in NT letters.
So, how does this help us begin to read these verses well? Remember, we need not feel compelled to explain everything in a passage in order to gain something of value each time we read it.
First, there is a God-given purpose for human governmental authorities. There may be more functions, but Peter is giving us two: (1) to punish wrongdoing, and (2) to promote doing right. We’ve seen governments both fall short of this purpose and even outright fail. Still, whenever they get these two functions right, they are serving a godly purpose. For Christians in government, this is good square-one guidance.
Second, God wants Christians to recognize and focus on the impact of their actions in influencing society. Peter just told us this in verse twelve:
Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day He visits us.
This exhortation is a continuation of that core teaching. Peter applies this idea to his readers’ relationship to the governing authorities in their setting.
As the saying goes, “Your actions are speaking so loudly, I can’t hear a word you are saying.” Likewise, Peter says, actions can reach people in a way that words simply cannot. The cardinal rule of writing stories is “show, don’t tell.” This seems to be Peter’s cardinal rule for hushing up “the ignorant talk of foolish people.” Do not only tell about the goodness of God, demonstrate it.
Application:
What else might the Holy Spirit be speaking with you about in the text today?
Prayer: Lord, shape me by your Word so that my life may display your goodness and silence your detractors. Amen.
“But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.” (Matthew 13:23)
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