SCRIPTURE | 1 Peter 3:8–11 Now to sum up, all of you be like-minded, sympathetic, brotherly, tender-hearted, and humble in spirit; ⁹not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but giving a blessing instead, for you were called for the very purpose that you might inherit a blessing. ¹⁰For, “The one who desires life, to love and see good days, Must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit. ¹¹“He must turn away from evil and do good; He must seek peace and pursue it.

OBSERVATION | In our last study we learned some reasons why the true believer’s duty is to “not return evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but giving a blessing instead.” (Find that lesson here) Now, we will see the Lord’s details to this duty in three “must” commands.

The first reason why the true believer must return good to evil is because he “must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit.” The first detail is the Lords restriction of the tongue from speaking “evil” and “deceit.” The tongue is powerful and destructive according to James. (3:5-10) And that which can cause so much destruction “must” be kept form doing so. According to lexicons, keeping the tongue from “evil” means the true believer does not allow their mouth to utter words that are “harmful, harsh” or “immoral.”

“Deceit” is a word that conveys what we would call a white lie. The lexicons teach that deceit means to craft our words in order to bait someone to believe something contrary to what is accurate and true. So, deceit is not an outright lie, but it is a hiding of the truth and a leading of others away from the truth.  The true believer is to keep their tongue from uttering such things. This is one of the motives to respond to evil with good, when we might be tempted to speak evil or deceit in response.

The second reason why the true believer must return good to evil is because “He must turn away from evil and do good;” The second “must” command repeats the word “evil,” calling those who are motivated by a godly life, a godly love and days lived for God’s glory (3:10) to “turn away” from all that is contrary to God’s righteousness. Here “evil” is repeated as a reason why one must return good in the face of evil. He must return only good, because the true believer must himself turn away from evil and never wander down its path. Doing good and speaking good is his never-ending motivation, even in the face of being wronged.

The third reason why the true believer must return good to evil is because “He must seek peace and pursue it.” The third “must” command is the pursuit of peace. A good parallel verse is Romans 12:18.“If possible, so far as it depends on you, being at peace with all men.” Here in Romans, this command is also preceded by the same call of “never paying back evil for evil to anyone.” (12:17) The word for peace in both locations is defined as a harmonious lack of conflict and quarrels. This is to be a motive of why the true believer refrains from returning what is due to those who do them wrong. Peace is a motive that keeps the true believer from responding with evil and harsh words to those who treat them likewise. However, we must confess with Romans 12:18, that peace is set in the condition of “if possible” as peace is not always “possible,” and not always right.

We see Jesus in the face of false teachers and false religion rebuke people openly and sternly. That’s not so peaceful. Paul also casts people out of the church and “handed over to Satan” (1 Tim 1:20) those under church discipline. (Matt 18:15-20) In other words, biblical discipline, or tough love, is not always peaceful. We would hope that those who receive such tough love would repent and turn from their error, but those who do not will bring serious conflict and destroy all peace.

There is a warning in this teaching of scripture, “peace… if possible.” The danger of a motivation of peace can and has led people astray from the truth. Why? Because finding peace with those who will not repent of sin or those who twist scripture, will cause others to do the same and lead people away from God’s way. Such peace is actually the anti-Christ way and is at enmity with God and His Word.

In the case of our study peace is commanded to be sought with those who do us wrong.  Notice this is when people do something personally wrong. There is difficulty in this, because those who do us wrong have indeed sinned against the Lord as well. However, we find that God calls us to turn the other cheek, and return good for evil regarding personal offenses, as we seek and pursue peace. We don’t hold people accountable, for our own benefit. We don’t chastise people, and put them under church discipline because they have hurt us.

The conclusion maybe best to understand the command to “show a brother his faults in private,” which Jesus gave us, as a part of the act of returning good for evil. That is, we show them their sin in a gentle way (Gal 6:1-5) and we help “restore” them without anger or wrath. Now, it is all the more difficult to do in the face of a personal offense, but if done rightly and gently, such none-vindictive accountability will give God great glory.

APPLICATION | Do I keep my tongue from speaking evil and deceit? Or do I use my words to retaliate against people? Do I lure people into believing something that is not true? Do I daily and moment by moment seek what is righteous, good and holy? Do I actively seek to turn from evil? Am I seeking to keep peace for God’s glory in every interaction with others, even when they do me wrong? Do I try to create a false peace in the face of error and sin?

If you confess your sin, the Lord and Savior washes away your sins and they are no more. Repent now in the power of His grace and sin no more with your words.

PRAYER | Father, make sin utterly sinful to me. (Rom 7:13) Through the power of Your Word, make distasteful to me any word I speak that is morally wrong or that leads others to what is not true. Cause me to wince and feel the pain of the offense such words are to you. Through repentance, turn me, from evil in my responding to evil. Create in me a holy love for what is good, and a hatred for what is not. (Rom 12:9) Mold me into a peacemaker, according to Your will, so far as it depends on me, and only for the kind of peace that is possible without compromising. Do these things in me, by the power of your grace and through the love of Jesus Christ, in the work of sanctification, and for Your glory alone. Amen.