1 Peter 5
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The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed:
2 Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;
3 Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being examples to the flock.
4 And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.
5 Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.
6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:
7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
9 Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.
10 But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.
11 To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
12 By Silvanus, a faithful brother unto you, as I suppose, I have written briefly, exhorting, and testifying that this is the true grace of God wherein ye stand.
13 The church that is at Babylon, elected together with you, saluteth you; and so doth Marcus my son.
14 Greet ye one another with a kiss of charity. Peace be with you all that are in Christ Jesus. Amen.
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Commentary
Peter begins this chapter with clear counsel to church administrators and leaders, using his eye witness experience of the sufferings of Christ as his credential. “Don’t lord it over God’s heritage,” he advises, “instead, cheerfully tend your ‘flock’ as a shepherd would his sheep.”
Sometimes we hesitate to speak of rewards for right doing, but Peter doesn’t hesitate (v.4), reminding us that the coming crown of glory will never fade away. He encourages the younger members of the congregations to which he is writing to submit to those older in years and with more experience, but then states, in essence, “All of you submit to one another and be clothed in humility” (v.5).
“Cast all your care upon Him, for He cares for you” (v.7). Many years ago, with three toddlers vying for space on my lap at church, the woman behind me scribbled this verse on a scrap of paper and passed it to me. It’s remained one of my all- time favorite promises in Scripture.
Once again, Peter reminds his hearers of the great controversy theme—a real adversary named Satan seeks to frighten believers into abandoning their faith and to turn them away from his nemesis, Christ Jesus. Resist! Remain steadfast! Be vigilant!
Cindy Tutsch
Associate Director (retired), Ellen G. White Estate
United States
