Ed Urzi

“For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, And His ears are open to their prayers; But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil. And who is he who will harm you if you become followers of what is good?” (1 Peter 3:12-13)

Finite human beings often struggle to comprehend the person and nature of God. One way to enrich our understanding of God’s relationship to humanity involves the use of a literary tool known as an anthropomorphism. An anthropomorphism refers to a figure of speech in which human abilities (such as vision or hearing) or human emotion (such as anger or jealousy) are attributed to God.

These familiar terms can help us better comprehend and understand our Creator. The passage quoted above exemplifies this by ascribing the physical attributes of eyesight and hearing to the Lord. One Biblical scholar ties these references together in the larger context of 1 Peter chapter three…

“The Apostle Peter quotes Psalm 34 to affirm that ‘the eyes of the lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayer’ (1 Peter 3:12). Since the previous verses encourage good conduct in everyday life, in things such as refraining from speaking evil and turning away from evil and doing right, Peter is saying that God readily hears the prayers of those who live lives of obedience to him.” ₍₁₎

Peter continues with another literary device in the following verse: “Who will harm you if you are zealous for good?” (CEB). This example showcases the use of a rhetorical question as a literary tool. A rhetorical question features an obvious answer that serves to emphasize a point or validate an opinion. Unlike other types of questions, a rhetorical question does not seek to elicit information. Instead, the answer to a rhetorical question is self-evident.

The rhetorical question in 1 Peter 3:13 makes several points in light of the preceding verses. First, no one is likely to harm us if we bless others and do not return “evil for evil or reviling for reviling” (verse nine). Others are not likely to hurt us if we refrain from evil and deceitful speech (verse ten). People are unlikely to injure us if we turn from evil, do good, seek peace, and pursue it (verse eleven). Nevertheless, as one commentator observes, “Doing good will not harm anyone, but one may suffer for so doing.” ₍₂₎

Finally, we would not normally expect to find such tools in the literary toolbox of someone like Peter, a man who formerly served as a humble fisherman. Thus, this passage reminds us of what Jesus can accomplish in the lives of those who follow Him.

(1) Wayne Grudem, Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine, Second Edition (Grand Rapids, Ml: Zondervan Academic, 2020).

(2) Charles Caldwell Ryrie, Ryrie Study Bible: New American Standard Bible, 1995 Update, Expanded ed. (Chicago: Moody Press, 1995), 1981.

“For ‘He who would love life And see good days, Let him refrain his tongue from evil, And his lips from speaking deceit. Let him turn away from evil and do good; Let him seek peace and pursue it'” (1 Peter 3:10-11).

The Apostle Peter will quote extensively from Psalm 34:12-16 in verses ten to twelve. Within these verses, we find a few simple directions for getting along with others in life. Not surprisingly, those directives largely involve watching the things we say. Perhaps the greatest Biblical discourse on this subject appears in the New Testament book of James…

“Look also at ships: although they are so large and are driven by fierce winds, they are turned by a very small rudder wherever the pilot desires. Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things… For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and creature of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by mankind. But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison” (James 3: 4-5, 7-8).

A person on a ship without the control of a rudder is likely to end up in a bad place. The same can be said for the self-destructive words of a person who cannot control his or her tongue. But a person like that doesn’t live in isolation, for his or her words have an effect upon others as well. For instance, how many individuals have suffered injury because someone foolishly said the wrong thing at the wrong time? How many fights, misunderstandings, and disagreements have occurred because someone could not control his or her tongue?

Remember that Jesus said, “…out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks. The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him” (Matthew 12:34-35). Those who cannot control their tongues are like rudderless ships that eventually bring shipwreck to others.

The Biblical books of Proverbs and Ecclesiastes offer several reminders on this subject…

“The wicked are trapped by their own words, but the godly escape such trouble” (Proverbs 12:13 NLT).

“Smart people keep quiet about what they know, but stupid people advertise their ignorance” (Proverbs 12:23 GNB).

“A wise person’s heart controls his speech, and what he says helps others learn” (Proverbs 16:23 GW).

“The words of a wise person win him favor, but the words of a fool are self-destructive” (Ecclesiastes 10:12 NET).

To this, we might add one additional reminder: “Too much talk leads to sin. Be sensible and keep your mouth shut” (Proverbs 10:19 NLT).

“Do not return evil for evil or insult for insult, but instead bless others because you were called to inherit a blessing” (1 Peter 3:9 NET).

Our text from 1 Peter 3:9 echoes a portion of Jesus’ teaching from the Beatitudes…

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.

For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so?” (Matthew 5:43-47).

That brings us to the characteristics of love as described in 1 Corinthians 13:4-8…

“Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails…”

So Jesus encouraged us to “love your enemies.” This, of course, assumes that we will encounter enemies in our lives, or at least those who fail to get along with us. Jesus taught us to respond to those individuals in love, but why? Why should we avoid returning evil for evil or insult for insult? Well, the answer is hiding in plain sight within our text from Matthew 5:45: “that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.”

1 John 4:7-11 summarizes that counsel for us in the following manner…

“Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another” (NIV).

“not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing” (1 Peter 3:9).

It seems that cinematic vigilantes who seek punish evil are never in short supply. These movie characters are sometimes portrayed as men of few words who take the law into their own hands. They are often brooding loners and anti-heroes who are quick to solve problems with their fists or guns. They are men of violent action who serve as judge, jury, and executioner- and there are millions of movie-watchers who undoubtedly wish they could solve their problems in a similar manner, if only for a day.

These images stand in stark contrast to the counsel given to us here in 1 Peter 3:9: “Don’t pay back evil for evil or insult for insult…” (CEB). This represents one of the more challenging aspects of the Christian life, for it is often difficult to avoid the urge to strike back at who injure us. But such retaliatory measures often produce a negative cycle: someone hurts us, so we hurt that person back. The second person hurts us again in return, and the cycle continues.

To break that cycle, we must implement the teaching given to us here in 1 Peter 3:9: “Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing” (ESV). This aligns with Jesus’ teaching from the Sermon on the Mount…

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust” (Matthew 5:43-45).

The Gospel of Luke adds…

“Love your enemies! Do good to them. Lend to them without expecting to be repaid. Then your reward from heaven will be very great, and you will truly be acting as children of the Most High, for he is kind to those who are unthankful and wicked. You must be compassionate, just as your Father is compassionate” (Luke 6:35-36 NLT).

We’ll continue with a further look at these passages in the context of 1 Peter 3:9 next.

“Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind” (1 Peter 3:8 ESV).

Virtually everyone recognizes the importance of family loyalty. For instance, business professionals typically help their sons and daughters begin their careers. Politicians assist their relatives. Parents leave an inheritance for their children. Nevertheless, this emphasis upon family loyalty extends beyond biological or adoptive bonds.

For instance, sports teams, enthusiast groups, and alumni associations often share a family-like connection. Even mobsters and gang members look upon fellow members as “brothers.” If these associations are valid for those individuals, then the same should hold true among the members of the Christian community as well.

However, even the closest of family members will surely encounter differences from time to time. Those differences have the potential to occur within a church family as well. For instance, we may live with an irritating family member. The same may occur within a church family, too. Some family members may disagree with an authority figure within their family. That may also happen among the members of a church family.

For better or worse, biological families and church communities often share the same family dynamics. For example, some members of our church family might interact with us in unexpected ways. We might draw an unanticipated response from those whose experience differs from our own. There may be generational differences in communication styles. Some may be more or less mature, and others may hold attitudes or viewpoints that differ from our own. However, these realities do not negate our responsibility to maintain brotherly love and work to get along with one another in Christ.

The Biblical book of Romans tells us, “Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves” (Romans 12:10 NIV). This passage reminds us that we must sometimes subordinate our interests for the benefit of others. There may even be times when wisdom requires us to minimize our interaction with certain individuals in order to maintain the best possible relationship (see Acts 15:36-41 for an example).

However, we should remember that love always seeks another person’s highest good from a Biblical perspective. As we’re told in the New Testament epistle of 1 John…

“If someone says, ‘I love God,’ but hates a fellow believer, that person is a liar; for if we don’t love people we can see, how can we love God, whom we cannot see? And he has given us this command: Those who love God must also love their fellow believers.” (1 John 4:20-21 NLT).

“Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous” (1 Peter 3:8).

1 Peter 3:8 leads us into a practical discussion concerning the qualities that help identify a life that honors God. These qualities are relevant to everyone, as indicated by Peter’s opening address to “all of you.” This passage also covers five distinct areas:

• be of one mind, a phrase that implies the need to work toward a shared result. One such result involves the development of Christ-like character in our relationships with one another. That commitment is manifested in the following qualities…
• having compassion for one another, a statement that evokes an attitude of kindness and benevolence towards other members of the household of faith.
• love as brothers, an expression that encourages us to pursue the type of loving relationships that typically exist among close family members.
• be tenderhearted. This represents a mindset that is 180 degrees removed from the one given to us in the New Testament epistle of James: “Suppose you see a brother or sister who has no food or clothing, and you say, ‘Good-bye and have a good day; stay warm and eat well’—but then you don’t give that person any food or clothing. What good does that do?” (James 2:15-16 NLT).
• be courteous, a behavior that is associated with the characteristics of graciousness and respect.

These five characteristics help set God’s people apart in a world that is often cold and despondent. This doesn’t mean that every Christian will enjoy a harmonious relationship with every other Christian, but we should strive to exhibit these qualities in our relationships with others through God’s empowerment. In the words of one commentary…

“It is not expected that Christians will see eye-to-eye on everything. That would be uniformity, not unity. The best formula is contained in the well-known expression: In fundamentals, unity; in non-essentials, liberty; in everything, love.” ₍₁₎

In one sense, these instructions build upon our author’s earlier encouragement to “…love one another fervently with a pure heart” (1 Peter 1:22). Thus, it is helpful to remember that “love” is not necessarily synonymous with the external display of emotional affection. Instead, genuine love is something that originates in the will. If we always felt naturally affectionate towards one another, there would be little need for the instructions we find here in 1 Peter 3:8.

We’ll continue our exploration of this topic with a closer look at this mandate to “love as brothers” next.

(1) William Macdonald, Believer’s Bible Commentary Edited by Arthur Farstad, Thomas Nelson Publishers [pg. 2361]

“Husbands, likewise, dwell with them with understanding, giving honor to the wife, as to the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers may not be hindered” (1 Peter 3:7).

Just as wives assume a God-given role within a marriage relationship, the same is true for husbands. 1 Peter 3:7 highlights some of those responsibilities beginning with the qualities of honor, understanding, and a recognition of the couple’s joint status as “…heirs together of the grace of life.” For instance, this passage tells us that a God-honoring husband should not expect his wife to exceed her physical capabilities. He also recognizes that his failure to act upon these directives will negatively impact his own relationship with God.

For example, the husband must take the lead in identifying and meeting his wife’s needs to ensure that she is loved, honored, and secure within their relationship. He must also be mindful that his wife is a daughter of the God he serves. Therefore, he must interact with her in an appropriate and considerate manner that honors Christ.

In fact, many of the attributes of a God honoring wife apply to a God-honoring husband as well. For instance, a husband might ask the following questions of himself…

• Do I invest in my personal spiritual growth by prayerfully reading the Scriptures each day and allowing God to speak to me directly from His Word?
• Do I seek God regularly for wisdom (knowing how to respond to the variables of daily life), perception (a truthful and accurate assessment of a given situation), and discernment (the ability to see things as they really are)?
• Have I worked to develop the God-given talents, skills, abilities, and opportunities I possess?
• Does my appearance honor God, my wife, my family, and myself?
• Have I sought to rule over my wife (Genesis 3:16) instead of dwelling with her with understanding as we’re told here in 1 Peter 3:7?
• What value do I place upon my wife? Where does she appear on my priority list?
• 1 Peter 4:8 will later tell us, “…love covers a multitude of sins” (ESV). Have I ensured that my knowledge of my wife’s faults and vulnerabilities remains confidential?

Finally, we should expect sinful human beings to exhibit their shortcomings in a marriage relationship. We should not deny the existence of those faults, no matter how much we may wish to believe otherwise. When our spouses demonstrate their failings, we must accept their reality and respond in a God-honoring manner. A caring spouse will seek to help his or her partner overcome such things by implementing these instructions from 1 Peter 3:1-7.

“For this is the way the holy women of the past who put their hope in God used to adorn themselves. They submitted themselves to their own husbands, like Sarah, who obeyed Abraham and called him her lord. You are her daughters if you do what is right and do not give way to fear” (1 Peter 3:5-6 NIV).

This reference to “…do what is right and do not give way to fear ” offers a chance to consider one of life’s greatest immaterial fears: the fear of what might happen. We often encapsulate that fear in a phrase that represents one of the most helpful or destructive questions we can ask: “What if…”

On one hand, the phrase “what if” can lead us to devise innovative solutions for challenging problems. On the other hand, “what if” questions might lead us to dwell upon a myriad of negative possibilities that may come to pass. That often leads to undue stress, apprehension, and/or worry; things that God would have us avoid.

You see, the person who fixates on every negative outcome that might occur is someone who takes the focus of attention off the God who has promised to care for our needs. Two Old Testament books -the book of Psalms and the book of Proverbs- each address this subject…

“Have no fear of sudden disaster or of the ruin that overtakes the wicked, for the Lord will be at your side and will keep your foot from being snared” (Proverbs 3:25-26 NIV).

“The fear of man brings a snare, But whoever trusts in the Lord shall be safe” (Proverbs 29:25).

“Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me” (Psalm 23:4 NIV).

“The Lord is my light and my salvation— whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life— of whom shall I be afraid?” (Psalm 27:1 NIV).

To this, Jesus added the following reminder in the Gospel of Luke…

“I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more. But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after your body has been killed, has authority to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him” (Luke 12:4-5 NIV).

Thus, as one commentator reminds us, “True submission, full of faith in God, has no room for fear or terror – it does good and leaves the result to God, not man.” ₍₁₎

(1) Guzik, David, 1 Peter 3 – Submission And Suffering © Copyright – Enduring Word https://enduringword.com/bible-commentary/1-peter-3/

“For this is how the holy women who hoped in God used to adorn themselves, by submitting to their own husbands, as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord. And you are her children, if you do good and do not fear anything that is frightening” (1 Peter 3:5-6 ESV).

While it may be natural to focus upon this reference to “…Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord” in this passage, one source reminds us that Sarah also displayed a remarkable depth of character…

“In holding up Sarah as a model, Peter emphasized her good works and courageous faith (compare Heb. 11:11). She followed Abraham into some risky situations where courage and righteous living were required (Gen. 12:15; 20:2).” ₍₁₎

So how might we emulate Sarah and follow her example? There are several areas where a God-honoring woman may put these verses into practice. To assist in identifying such areas, here are some questions we might ask…

• Do I invest in my personal spiritual growth by prayerfully reading the Scriptures each day and allowing God to speak to me directly from His Word? (Hebrews 4:12).
• Do I seek God regularly for the wisdom, perception, and discernment necessary to address the challenges of everyday life? (James 1:5).
• Have I worked to develop the God-given talents, skills, abilities, and opportunities I possess? (Proverbs 31:10-31)
• Does my appearance honor God, my husband, my family, and myself? (1 Peter 3:3–5).
• Have there been areas where I have permitted the desire referenced in Genesis 3:16 to grow into an unhealthy effort to control various aspects of my marital relationship?
• What value do I place upon my husband? Where do his needs appear upon my scale of priorities? (1 Corinthians 11:3).
• A woman of discretion knows that her private conversations and intimate knowledge of her husband’s vulnerabilities and shortcomings should not be shared with others. Has that been the case in my life? (Proverbs 31:11).
• Consider the counsel offered to women in the New Testament book of Titus. Have I slandered others in my conversations, abused alcohol, or lived irreverently? (Titus 2:3).
• Continuing in the book of Titus, have I taken responsibility to teach younger generations of women and set the right example for them? If I have had many years of marital life, do I “…urge the younger women to love their husbands and children?” Or, if I am a young, unmarried woman, have I offered the right example for young girls to follow? (Titus 2:4-5).

Answers to these questions can help women of God follow Sarah’s good example in their lives.

(1) Earl D. Radmacher, Ronald Barclay Allen, and H. Wayne House, Nelson’s New Illustrated Bible Commentary (Nashville: T. Nelson Publishers, 1999), 1684.

“For in this manner, in former times, the holy women who trusted in God also adorned themselves, being submissive to their own husbands, as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord, whose daughters you are if you do good and are not afraid with any terror” (1 Peter 3:5-6).

Throughout his letter, the Apostle Peter has touched upon the concept of submission in various contexts. Those contexts involved our relationships with civil authorities, our workplace relationships, and our spousal relationships. Jesus serves as our example in this regard, for He willingly submitted to God’s plan for human redemption (1 Peter 2:21-25).

Here in verse six, Peter revisits that topic in the person of Sarah, the great Old Testament matriarch. Sarah was first known as Sarai, a name meaning “princess” (Genesis 11:29). Sarai was known by that name until God changed it to “Sarah” (or “noblewoman”) in Genesis 17:15. She was married to Abraham, the father of all who call upon God in faith. Sarah once had a memorable encounter that Peter referenced in this passage in order to make an important point…

“And [God] said [to Abraham], ‘I will certainly return to you according to the time of life, and behold, Sarah your wife shall have a son.’ (Sarah was listening in the tent door which was behind him.) Now Abraham and Sarah were old, well advanced in age; and Sarah had passed the age of childbearing. Therefore Sarah laughed within herself, saying, ‘After I have grown old, shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also?'” (Genesis 18:10-12).

Although Sarah’s reference to her husband as “lord” is undoubtedly discomfiting to some contemporary audiences, this word actually has several meanings. For instance, the word “lord” may translate to “God,” “owner,” “mister,” or “sir,” depending on the context. In this instance, the latter two designations (“sir,” or “mister”) are in view.

This tells us that Sarah employed this title as an expression of respect for Abraham. As one source adds, “In the patriarchal period, it was a polite way to address someone of higher authority or one to whose status one wished to defer…” ₍₁₎ However, that element of respect worked both ways in their marriage relationship. For instance, we’re told that Abraham deferred to Sarah on at least one occasion, a response that God later affirmed (see Genesis 21:1-12).

Thus, Peter reminded his audience that Sarah treated Abraham with the same respect she desired in return. In setting that example, Sarah lived out a principle that Jesus would later codify: “Do to others as you would have them do to you” (Luke 6:31 NIV).

(1) Craig S. Keener, The IVP Bible Background Commentary [1 Peter 3:6].