1 Peter, Chapter 2, verses 21-25
20 patiently suffering for well doing, after the example of Christ1 Peter, Chapter 3, verses 1-9
1 He teacheth the duty of wives and husbands to each other, 8 exhorting all men to unity and love3
3:1 If any - He speaks tenderly. Won - Gained over to Christ.
3:2 Joined with a loving fear of displeasing them.
3:3 Three things are here expressly forbidden: curling the hair, wearing gold, (by way of ornament,) and putting on costly or gay apparel. These, therefore, ought never to be allowed, much less defended, by Christians.
3:4 The hidden man of the heart - Complete inward holiness, which implies a meek and quiet spirit. A meek spirit gives no trouble willingly to any: a quiet spirit bears all wrongs without being troubled. In the sight of God - Who looks at the heart. All superfluity of dress contributes more to pride and anger than is generally supposed. The apostle seems to have his eye to this by substituting meekness and quietness in the room of the ornaments he forbids. "I do not regard these things," is often said by those whose hearts are wrapped up in them: but offer to take them away, and you touch the very idol of their soul. Some, indeed only dress elegantly that they may be looked on; that is, they squander away their Lord's talent to gain applause: thus making sin to beget sin, and then plead one in excuse of the other.
3:5 The adorning of those holy women, who trusted in God, and therefore did not act thus from servile fear, was,
- Their meek subjection to their husbands:
- Their quiet spirit, "not afraid," or amazed: and
- Their unblamable behaviour, "doing" all things "well."
3:6 Whose children ye are - In a spiritual as well as natural sense, and entitled to the same inheritance, while ye discharge your conjugal duties, not out of fear, but for conscience' sake. Gen 18:12.
3:7 Dwell with the woman according to knowledge - Knowing they are weak, and therefore to be used with all tenderness. Yet do not despise them for this, but give them honour - Both in heart, in word, and in action; as those who are called to be joint - heirs of that eternal life which ye and they hope to receive by the free grace of God. That your prayers be not hindered - On the one part or the other. All sin hinders prayer; particularly anger. Anything at which we are angry is never more apt to come into our mind than when we are at prayer; and those who do not forgive will find no forgiveness from God.
3:8 Finally - This part of the epistle reaches to Pe1 4:11.The apostle seems to have added the rest afterwards.Sympathizing - Rejoicing and sorrowing together. Love all believers as brethren. Be pitiful - Toward the afflicted. Be courteous - To all men. Courtesy is such a behaviour toward equals and inferiors as shows respect mixed with love.
3:9 Ye are called to inherit a blessing - Therefore their railing cannot hurt you; and, by blessing them, you imitate God, who blesses you.
2
2:21 Hereunto are ye - Christians. Called - To suffer wrongfully. Leaving you an example - When he went to God.That ye might follow his steps - Of innocence and patience.
2:22 In all these instances the example of Christ is peculiarly adapted to the state of servants, who easily slide either into sin or guile, reviling their fellowservants, or threatening them, the natural result of anger without power.He committed himself to him that judgeth righteously - The only solid ground of patience in affliction. Isa 53:4, Isa 53:6, Isa 53:7, Isa 53:9.
2:23 In all these instances the example of Christ is peculiarly adapted to the state of servants, who easily slide either into sin or guile, reviling their fellowservants, or threatening them, the natural result of anger without power.He committed himself to him that judgeth righteously - The only solid ground of patience in affliction.
2:24 Who himself bore our sins - That is, the punishment due to them. In his afflicted, torn, dying body on the tree - The cross, whereon chiefly slaves or servants were wont to suffer.That we being dead to sin - Wholly delivered both from the guilt and power of it: indeed, without an atonement first made for the guilt, we could never have been delivered from the power.Might live to righteousness - Which is one only. The sins we had committed, and he bore, were manifold.
2:25 The bishop - The kind observer, inspector, or overseer of your souls.