1 Peter, Chapter 5, verses 1-4
1 He exhorteth the elders to feed their flocksMatthew, Chapter 16, verses 13-19
13 The people's opinion of Christ, 16 and Peter's confession of him16
16:13 And Jesus coming - There was a large interval of time between what has been related, and what follows. The passages that follow were but a short time before our Lord suffered. Mar 8:27; Luk 9:18.
16:14 Jeremiah, or one of the prophets - There was at that time a current tradition among the Jews, that either Jeremiah, or some other of the ancient prophets would rise again before the Messiah came.
16:16 Peter - Who was generally the most forward to speak.
16:17 Flesh and blood - That is, thy own reason, or any natural power whatsoever.
16:18 On this rock - Alluding to his name, which signifies a rock, namely, the faith which thou hast now professed; I will build my Church - But perhaps when our Lord uttered these words, he pointed to himself, in like manner as when he said, Destroy this temple, Joh 2:19; meaning the temple of his body. And it is certain,that as he is spoken of in Scripture, as the only foundation of the Church, so this is that which the apostles and evangelists laid in their preaching. It is in respect of laying this, that the names of the twelve apostles (not of St. Peter only) were equally inscribed on the twelve foundations of the city of God, Rev 21:14.The gates of hell - As gates and walls were the strength of cities, and as courts of judicature were held in their gates, this phrase properly signifies the power and policy of Satan and his instruments.Shall not prevail against it - Not against the Church universal, so as to destroy it. And they never did. There hath been a small remnant in all ages.
16:19 I will give thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven - Indeed not to him alone, (for they were equally given to all the apostles at the same time, Joh 20:21-23) but to him were first given the keys both of doctrine and discipline. He first, after our Lord's resurrection, exercised the apostleship, Act 1:15. And he first by preaching opened the kingdom ofheaven, both to the Jews, Act 2:14etc , and to the Gentiles, Act 10:34etc Under the term of binding and loosing are contained all thoseacts of discipline which Peter and his brethren performed as apostles: and undoubtedly what they thus performed on earth, God confirmed in heaven. Mat 18:18.
5
5:1 I who am a fellow - elder - So the first though not the head of the apostles appositely and modestly styles himself.And a witness of the sufferings of Christ - Having seen him suffer, and now suffering for him.
5:2 Feed the flock - Both by doctrine and discipline.Not by constraint - Unwillingly, as a burden. Not for filthy gain - Which, if it be the motive of acting, is filthy beyond expression. O consider this, ye that leave one flock and go to another, merely because there is more gain, a large salary!Is it not astonishing that men can see no harm in this? that it is not only practised, but avowed, all over the nation?
5:3 Neither as lording over the heritage - Behaving in a haughty, domineering manner, as though you had dominion over their conscience. The word translated heritage, is, literally, the portions. There is one flock under the one chief Shepherd; but many portions of this, under many pastors. But being examples to the flock - This procures the most ready and free obedience.