1 PETER 5 (NOTES OF A READING)
[p. 274] 1 PETER 5 (NOTES OF A READING)
CAC I suppose it would hardly be elders in an official sense that are addressed here; it simply means older brethren in contrast to younger ones in verse 5. Peter himself was not an elder in an official sense. I think he takes his place among them because when he wrote the epistle he was a man advanced in years, and he addresses the elders in contrast to the younger ones in verse 5, and put special responsibility on them to care for the flock, which all of us who are getting on in years must accept — we must accept the exhortation.
Ques Why does the apostle link it with the thought of being a witness of the sufferings of Christ?
CAC Peter himself was a witness of the sufferings of Christ and a partaker of the glory. It is on that ground that he exhorts the elders to be faithful as shepherds of the flock.
Rem So that “the sufferings of the Christ” are intended to affect our spirits in regard of care for the flock.
CAC He has suffered much for the flock, as we sometimes sing,
‘We’ll sing of the Shepherd that died,
That died for the sake of the flock’. (103:1)
Well, if He suffered so much, it is a poor thing if those who have had long experience of His grace are not prepared to suffer a little.
Rem Shepherding suggests that there will always be care that is needful; it is more than just feeding.
CAC Yes, shepherding would include seeing that the wolf did not get any of the lambs.
Rem David shone in that direction.
CAC There is a principle of care and oversight set up by the Lord, and it is largely vested in brothers that are advanced [p. 275] in years. It would be a pity if any brother who had had long experience of the Lord’s shepherd care over himself was not prepared to exercise a little care over younger ones now.
Ques Would a “fellow-elder” be a step down from an apostle?
CAC Yes, but he takes his place as an elder brother; sometimes it is right to do that. Paul says, “Being such a one as Paul the aged” (Philemon 9). He appeals to Philemon on the ground of his age. He is an aged prisoner and he mentions that in order to give weight to his petition for Onesimus.
Rem It says, “Who am ... witness of the sufferings of the Christ, who also am partaker”, etc. It is a suffering pathway, and it is in the present tense; though aged, Peter is still suffering.
CAC And all this is just in contrast to the clerical spirit that would rule over the saints in an official way and regard them as its possession. It is not to be for gain to themselves, but rather to care for the saints and to have to suffer, so those who exercise oversight must be prepared for suffering. In seeking to care for others, and especially younger ones, we must not be surprised if they resent what we seek to do. We may have to suffer in that way; we will not always be acceptable. People do not always like being helped or admonished, they resent it. Is that not part of the suffering that belongs to the beautiful service of shepherding the flock? And there is an unfading crown of glory for such. Those who are faithful in looking after the flock may have to suffer, but then the unfading crown of glory is assured; the chief Shepherd will see to that. “The flock of God” is a beautiful expression; it is God’s property, not ours. It is good to think of the preciousness of the saints to God, even if they are not aware of it. We ought to cherish each lamb and sheep of the flock.
Rem The old ones are often as awkward as [p. 276] the young.
CAC They are often more awkward; old ones are more difficult to deal with. We have been reminded of late that many saints seem to be naughty at the end. So many in the Old Testament went on for a long time but became unruly at the end, like Asa and Jehoshaphat; so it is well for us to be prepared for subjection and to “bind on humility towards one another”. He does not say the elders are to be subject to the younger, he would not say that, but we are all to bind on humility.
Rem The elder is to be a model in every way, not putting on burdens like the scribes and Pharisees, which is just the opposite to this.
CAC And marked particularly by this feature of subjection and humility. There will be no trouble if we maintain that spirit. A person marked by that will never give any trouble to the brethren.
Ques What is the thought of binding it on?
CAC I think that means you intend to keep it on. We can all keep humility on for five minutes; but it is to be a permanent thing. We sometimes affect to be humble. There was a brother in Y. and he was proud of being humble. I have told him that often. There is such a thing as “voluntary humility” (Colossians 2: 18, Authorised Version). You may put it on for a certain purpose, but we are to be definitely invested with it as the real clothing we wear habitually, and it is well to do so because God resists the proud; they are an abomination to Him. But He gives grace to the humble. So if we want grace we must be humble, and if we want to be humble, we must ask grace for that; it does not come naturally to any of us. We have to own the mighty hand of God, casting “all your care upon him”. I have seen that often in people’s houses but do not remember seeing the first part of the sentence! It is very important in this case that we take it in its setting. If I humble myself under the mighty hand of God, I shall find it possible to cast my care upon Him. If I do not humble myself, it will not be possible. We have to humble ourselves [p. 277] under the mighty hand of God when things go wrong, or circumstances are against us. When we do humble ourselves under the hand of God, He can do what He likes to do. It is a pleasure to God to exalt us — not after the flesh but spiritually. It is His great delight to exalt us spiritually. It is much better to humble ourselves under the mighty hand of God than to be devoured by the devil.
Rem It seems to be in a way the alternative, because it brings in the sufferings of the brotherhood.
CAC It seems to be Satan’s object to devour anything that is of God, but he is to be resisted.
Rem Failure to be humble gives the devil opportunity in the exposure.
CAC Yes, and in times of persecution the mighty hand of God would have to be owned — saints perhaps thrown into prison or martyred, things happening that are very distressing. Well, the mighty hand of God is to be owned in all these things.
Rem Otherwise it might mean the entire overthrow, so that the devil comes in and destroys. There is salvation in the recognition that it is the mighty hand of God.
CAC And the selfsame sufferings are accomplished in the brotherhood “which is in the world”; that is, it is a general thing — not confined; saints suffering in the power of faith are all over the world. It is rather touching that he speaks in verse 13 about some in Babylon, which would rather suggest that there is faith amongst some of those who had been carried away to Babylon long years before — some who had never come back to Jerusalem — now come to be God’s elect for heavenly blessing. It would be very interesting to the remnant in Asia Minor that there were saints in Babylon; God had some elect ones in that part, showing the faithfulness of God in securing this elect company — really the flock.
Rem The Lord refers to the disciples as a little flock, “Fear not, little flock, for it has been the good pleasure of [p. 278] your Father to give you the kingdom” (Luke 12: 32). Peter seems to have the thought of the kingdom; the elect are secured for that, and the revelation of the glory.
CAC So that it is, “The God of all grace who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ Jesus, when ye have suffered for a little while, himself shall make perfect, stablish, strengthen, ground”. All is secure on the divine side. Now the saints have just to be content to suffer, knowing the suffering process tends to strengthen, ground. So that suffering is for that purpose. It is notwithstanding the sufferings that may be connected with the path. The tendency with Jewish believers would be to think, Why are all these sufferings coming upon us? Can it be right? Is this the blessing of God when we are suffering in a variety of ways? The Jews looked for the blessing of God, but Peter writes that they may be assured that the suffering path is the right one.
Ques What is the force of being made “perfect”? Does not Scripture refer to the Lord being made perfect through sufferings?
CAC Yes indeed. It would seem to show that suffering is part of the perfecting process.
Rem Verse 10 is a very powerful, elevating verse to get into our souls.
CAC Yes, it is. “This is the true grace of God in which ye stand” — this is the true, genuine thing.
Ques Would it be making perfect on the lines of refining — a purifying process?
Rem It has the thought of completing, as with the Lord.
CAC Yes, He was made perfect by being introduced into new conditions beyond death. He was perfected as to His condition; that is not flesh and blood, He is in the condition of purpose. The saints are going to be brought to that too. Really there is no perfecting for the saints except to be like Christ in glory. Well, if we are to be like Him in His glorified state, we need not be surprised if suffering enters into the process that is going on now.
Rem Psalm 119: 96 says, “I have seen an end of all perfection”.
CAC But he adds something to it: “Thy commandment is exceeding broad”. I suppose it refers to the perfection set forth in Christ, that there is a great breadth of perfection to be found in the Man who is there; that is, God’s will perfectly expressed in a glorified Christ. People who look for perfection here will be disappointed, for there is no perfection in the man who is here. But those who look for it in the right place will find it, and the beautiful thing is that the saints are going to be brought up to the divine standard, conformed to the image of His Son. Well, no one can improve on that, can they?
Rem I suppose Marcus is the writer of the gospel.
CAC I should think so.
Ques How would you understand Peter’s remark as to Silvanus, “as I suppose”?
CAC Well, I do not know that “suppose” in Scripture implies any doubt. John says, “I suppose that not even the world itself would contain the books written” (John 21: 25). It was a very well-founded supposition, was it not? I think it shows that was the account that he took of that brother, he regarded him in that light.
Ques “Peace be with you all who are in Christ”. Is that the power of the kingdom in our souls?
CAC Yes. Peter does not speak a great deal of being in Christ, it is more Paul’s line, but Peter links on with Paul in thought — there are those that are in Christ.
Rem As to the “kiss of love”, mere forms do not help; love is the great thing.
Rem “Salute one another”. It puts all the saints in touch with one another. It is a heart matter, not merely a formal matter.
Rem A handshake may be merely formal. Our handshake is to be a handshake of love; the other follows then: “Peace be with you all”.