First Epistle of Peter
SUFFERING FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS SAKE
Scripture Reading: 1 Peter 3:13 (KJV)
"And who is he that will harm you"
As a general rule if you do someone good, he will not do you harm. And often one who means to do harm is disarmed by the good done to him.
Jacob and Esau are a good illustration. By his deceit, Jacob brought down upon himself the wrath of Esau. After years of absence in Padan-aran, Jacob was returning to Canaan with his wives, children and possessions. Jacob heard that Esau was coming to meet him with four hundred men. "Then Jacob was greatly afraid and distressed" (Gen. 32:7). Jacob did two wise things. First, he prayed to the Lord confessing his utter unworthiness, but pleading God's protection. Then, in order to appease Esau, he sent ahead of him as a present: "two hundred she goats and twenty he goats, two hundred ewes and twenty rams, thirty milch camels with their colts, forty kine, and ten bulls, twenty she asses and ten foals" (Gen. 32:14 and 15). And Esau was appeased.
"if ye be followers of that which is good?"
Our safety lies in the Lord, but also in ourselves. First, if we live righteously His eyes are on us for good and His ears are open to our prayers. Who then can do us evil apart from His will? There is an "if" in our verse. "And who is he that will harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good?" This is an added condition that must be preserved if we are to avoid trouble in the world. Perhaps some early persecutors would have been disarmed if more Christians had been "zealous of good works".
The word "followers" could be translated "imitators". Our English word "mimic" is derived from this Greek word "minos". We should be imitators of that which is good or as some have translated it, "imitators of that good one". We read of the Lord Jesus that He "went about doing good" (Acts 10:38). If we were more like Him we would be well pleasing to the Lord and more acceptable to those in the world as well. Of course, there are exceptions to this rule, as the next verse explains.
Scripture Reading: 1 Peter 3:14 (KJV)
"But and if ye suffer"
If we continually live righteous lives, seek to do good, seek to be a blessing we are not likely to get into trouble, but yet there is a possibility that we may. Sometimes our righteousness and goodness shows up the sin of another, in which case trouble may come our way. Further, our just actions may frustrate the wicked designs of another, again causing trouble to come our way.
The Lord Jesus suffered for righteousness sake. They hated Him because His spotless life showed up their guilt. Furthermore, He was not slow to condemn them for sin. This often angers those who do not belong to Christ. Many have a religion, but are not truly children of God. This was so of the Scribes and Pharisees during Christ's time on earth. When He told them that all their religion availed nothing, they were angered beyond words and so Christ suffered. We may have to suffer for the same reasons.
"happy are ye"
The word "happy" could be translated "greatly blessed" or "well off". Why is that? Because the Lord will see to it that a child of God is rewarded for suffering. We read in Matthew 5:12 that such should "Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven". It is not a loss to suffer for Christ's sake, but great gain. So when we suffer for His sake we can leave ourselves in His hand knowing that to lose here in a temporal way is to gain eternally. If one is really living for the Lord and looking to Him, nothing can rob him of eternal joy.
However, if we suffer for our own wrongs instead of righteousness, we need not look for blessing. The Lord does not promise to be with us or reward us for such suffering. Instead, we will have to bear the folly of our ways.
The Lord may reward us in this life if we are willing to suffer for righteousness' sake. Joseph was an example of that. His brethren hated him because his righteousness condemned their sin. He was also favored by his father and Joseph told his father of their sins. Then, when Joseph told them of his dreams, they could not stand it and sold him into Egypt. This slave boy later sat on the throne of Egypt and became a benefactor to his brethren, as well as many others.
Daniel is another example of the same truth. He suffered because of his righteousness, but by it gained rather than lost. His three friends refused to bow to Nebuchanezzar's idol and were put into the fiery furnace, but the Lord was with them and brought them out to be exalted higher than ever.
The story is told of a young Christian man who worked for a paper supply house. An order came in for a certain grade of paper. The manager said, "Send them one number lighter; they'll never know the difference and we will make more profit." The young Christian said he could not conscientiously do it and was discharged that very day. This discouraged him because good jobs were hard to find. A short time later a local bank called him and he was offered a position. He questioned them as to why and how they called for him for such a position. "The manager at your former position recommended you as an honest, conscientious young man in whom we could place complete confidence."
"and be not afraid of their terror"
The rest of this verse and the first part of the next are a quotation from Isaiah 8:12 and 13. "Afraid" and "terror" are the same words in the original. It could be translated, "Be not terrified by their terror". A truly trusting Christian will not be easily frightened or greatly troubled by the threats and rage of a persecutor. Even if it leads to suffering bodily harm, he knows he is in the hands of the Lord and that nothing will happen apart from God's will. If we fear and quake under their terror, we are not truly trusting and our joy in the Lord will be destroyed.
It is interesting to note in connection with Isaiah 8:13: "And let him be your fear, and let him be your dread". Peter quotes the first of the verse, but not this last part. We are not to fear anything that man can do unto us, but we are to fear the Lord. We are to fear displeasing Him, doing things contrary to His will.
"neither be troubled"
We are not only to be unafraid, but even "unruffled" or "agitated". Of course, only as we look to the Lord and seek His help will we be able to do this in time of persecution. He alone can give us courage and quietness of heart. Many have gone to the stake praising the Lord. Others, while waiting for the lions to devour them, have sung hymns of praise to the Lord. Many have said like Stephen, "Lay not this sin to their charge." They have entrusted their bodies, as well as
their souls, unto the Lord.
