This will be a fun study today, I hope you will enjoy it as much as I enjoyed bringing it to you. 1Pet.5 and verse 1 reads.
1Pet.5:1] The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed:
The word exhort simply means to comfort. The word partaker is G2844, Koinonos in the Greek and it means; A sharer that is an associate. A partner, a comrade, a companion. Peter also is letting us know that he was witness to the miracles and crucifixion of Jesus Christ.
1Pet.5:2] Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;
Not by force, but by willing minds. Not for the money, but for the Spirit. Remember when Jesus told Peter “Feed my lambs, feed my sheep”. Let’s go to John 21 and get a broader perspective of what actually was said. John 21 and picking it up with verse 12 reads.
John 21:12] Jesus saith unto them, Come and dine. And none of the disciples durst ask him, Who art thou? knowing that it was the Lord.
[13] Jesus then cometh, and taketh bread, and giveth them, and fish likewise.
Jesus had just told them to fish off the right side of the boat, and they just hauled in 153 fishes. Jesus didn’t need their fish, he already had some on the Bar-b-cue.
John 21:14] This is now the third time that Jesus shewed himself to his disciples, after that he was risen from the dead.
[15] So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs.
A lot was said in that verse, let’s begin with Simon Peter. Simon means “Hearing”, ears to hear. Peter means “Rock”, Jesus would build his church on Peter; the foundation. Jonas means “Dove”, symbolic of the Holy Spirit. Then Jesus would ask Peter “Do you Love me?”. I want you to take this to heart yourselves, because of what is about to be said. Then comes “feed my lambs”, these are the young of the flock. Sometimes we need to come down to their level to teach, a very hard thing for one of God’s Elect to do, yet very important, they need milk.
John 21:16] He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep.
Feed them as they grow in the word, gradually bring them up to the meat of God’s word as they grow in it..
John 21:17] He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.
A third time that might have made Peter think of the three times he denied him. But, again feed my sheep, teach with patience and kindness, they belong to the LORD.
John 21:18] Verily, verily, I say unto thee, When thou wast young, thou girdedst thyself, and walkedst whither thou wouldest: but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not.
[19] This spake he, signifying by what death he should glorify God. And when he had spoken this, he saith unto him, Follow me.
Jesus just told Peter how he would die, it’s not written in the Word, but historically it is written that he was crucified upside down. This was by his choice because he thought not to be worthy of dying as Christ died. The hands stretched out on the cross written here in John correlates with the end of verse 1 “Partakers of his glory that shall be revealed.” Hence, “Follow me”. Back to 1Pet.5 and verse 3 reads.
1Pet.5:3] Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.
Do not lord over the flock of God’s children, he takes that very personally. But, be examples for them.
1Pet.5:4] And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.
Our chief Shepherd is Jesus Christ, let’s go to Psalms 23, and it reads.
Psa.23:1] The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
[2] He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.
His sheep are well fed with the word of God, and we drink of that Living Water.
Psa.23:3] He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
For his name’s sake, we are called by his name, Christians.
Psa.23:4] Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
As we walk through this wicked world, he has sent us his Comforter, the Holy Spirit is with us.
Psa.23:5] Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
Here is where his lambs and sheep are fed, it is a promise to those called by his name, Christians. Christ means anointed one. Our cup “runneth” over with His blessings.
Psa.23:6] Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.
This is our crown, our inheritance, and it is life everlasting with the LORD. What an awesome promise from God for us in these end times written over 3,000 years ago. Back to 1Pet.5 and verse 5 reads.
1Pet.5:5] Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.
Be humble and respect your elders in the church. The Lord gives grace to the humble and admonishes the proud. Remember that was Satan’s downfall.
1Pet.5:6] Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:
Jesus taught this in Mat.23:12 and it reads.
Mat.23:12] And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.
Back to 1Pet.5 and verse 7 reads.
1Pet.5:7] Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
God loves you, let him show it. Let him be the yoke of your burdens.
1Pet.5:8] Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
[9] Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.
This word sober is sincere. Catch that, the devil (Satan) is always about, especially against the elect. But never forget Luke 10:19, and it reads.
Luke 10:19] Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.
We take comfort that God is always with us, so long as we are in his word. Back to 1Pet.5 and verse 10 reads.
1Pet.5:10] But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.
Perfect is mature. When doing God’s work, we should never fear for he is with us. He will give us strength, he will give us eyes to see and ears to hear, as we grow in his word.
1Pet.5:11] To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
All glory belongs to Yahaveh. Who was, and is and is to come. Come Lord Jesus, come.
1Pet.5:12] By Silvanus, a faithful brother unto you, as I suppose, I have written briefly, exhorting, and testifying that this is the true grace of God wherein ye stand.
We stand in unmerited favor, his grace.
1Pet.5:13] The church that is at Babylon, elected together with you, saluteth you; and so doth Marcus my son.
Peter is saying, from this church where he is at, calling it Babylon. Meaning Jerusalem, they are persecuting the Christians at this time there. In Rev.11:8 it is referred to as Sodom and Egypt, where they crucified our Lord meaning, this could only be Jerusalem. Note, Marcus is Mark John, the writer of the gospel of Mark.
1Pet.5:14] Greet ye one another with a kiss of charity. Peace be with you all that are in Christ Jesus. Amen.
This was a great book written by Peter and there is one more to come. The second book will get a lot deeper into these end times with knowledge and I can’t wait. God bless you and let’s go to his throne.
Father, we thank you for your word and ask that you bless all that love you in Jesus’s precious name, Amen.
KJV along with The New Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of The Bible