1 Peter 5
To the elders and the flock
5 To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder and a witness of Christ’s sufferings who also will share in the glory to be revealed: 2 be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, watching over them – not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve; 3 not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. 4 And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.
5 In the same way, you who are younger, submit yourselves to your elders. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility towards one another, because,
‘God opposes the proud
but shows favour to the humble.’
6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. 7 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
8 Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.9 Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.
10 And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. 11 To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.
Final greetings
12 With the help of Silas, whom I regard as a faithful brother, I have written to you briefly, encouraging you and testifying that this is the true grace of God. Stand fast in it.
13 She who is in Babylon, chosen together with you, sends you her greetings, and so does my son Mark. 14 Greet one another with a kiss of love.
Peace to all of you who are in Christ.
REFLECTION: In verses 1-4, Peter calls the elders to self-examination. Peter, as a fellow elder, knows the temptation to “pursue dishonest gain” or grumbling because of the many duties of an elder. Here we see him calling for a heart check – to serve eagerly with a willing heart, setting an example to those you serve. In verse 4 he reminds them of the everlasting glory which is promised to us and how much greater it is than pursuing earthly fame as an elder.
Verse 5 speaks to those who are under the elder’s service and calls them to submission.
Verses 5-9 further describe the relationship of the elders and their flock. Peter knows that for the church to work as God intended, it must have noble-hearted leaders and submissive followers. At the root of a healthy church, there are humble people. Peter calls everyone in the church, elders and members, to humble themselves for the sake of unity. When the church is serving one another with love, it is easier to resist the enemy and stand firm in the faith (v9).
Satan would love nothing more than to turn the church against each other. He would love our anxieties and duties to overwhelm us so much that we cannot “be alert and of sober mind.” Peter echoes Jesus’ offer of freedom from anxiety (v7). Often our anxiety is caused by 1) having too great a view of things of this world. 2) having too small a view of God and His promise of peace. God stands ready and willing to take our burdens from us if we will give them to Him. When we don’t cast our anxiety on Him, we show a lack of trust the He has the power to overcome our burdens (and that He has already overcome them!).
Peter ends this chapter (and his letter) with a prayer for the church. He prays that they will continue to persevere and progress toward understanding God’s grace in their lives. He encourages them with the promise that the all-powerful God will restore them and strengthen them in their sufferings.
CHALLENGE: We must examine our own hearts in search of pride. Is there selfishness that gets in the way of unity and serving others in love? Is there something I am pridefully holding onto that I haven’t cast before God’s throne? The challenge is not to rid ourselves of pride (we can’t!), but to cast it before Jesus’ feet as one who died for the sin of pride in our life and has given us His righteousness. Because He humbled himself, we are empowered to humble ourselves with the promise and hope of eternal glory with Christ.