SCRIPTURE | 1 Peter 3:8–10 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.
OBSERVATION | In verse 8 we studied how the Lord teaches His chosen people to be devoted to each other in mutual submission. In verse 9 we learned not to seek our own justice for wrongs against us, but to give blessings in place of evil and reviling. Now, in verse 10 through 12 the Lord uses the Holy Scripture of Psalm 34 verses 12 through 16 to teach us both why and how we are to live this way. This is an example to us the effective power of the Word of God, as even God uses His own Word to effect change in His people.
We begin with the word “for.” This is God’s marker that what is coming is the reason of why. Here it is why we are to bless those who curse us, instead of returning evil for evil.
“For the ONE WHO DESIRES LIFE, TO LOVE AND SEE GOOD DAYS…” this creates an exclusive condition for us, the reader, who is to return good for evil. That is, we have before us motivating qualities of the true believer.
First, if you “desire life,” which is a God-fearing life, an eternal and not temporary life. This is the desire of the life that is the way of the Lord and not the way of the worldlings.
Second, if you desire “to love,” which is a faith filled obedience that first and foremost “love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind,” (Matt 22:37) and then “love your neighbor as yourself.” (Matt 22:39)
Third if you desire to “see good days…” as the “good” that God defines as good and not our wicked hearts or humanity in general. This is the moral goodness we are taught in Holy Scripture. For it is those who love moral righteousness, who will find heaven to be a “good” home full of “goodness” because all will be perfectly right in holy obedience to our Lord.
So, this is a twofold reasoning. One, it is the true believer who fits these three qualifiers that, two, will also see those “desires” as motivation to give a blessing even when they are wronged. (v.8-9) In our next study we will see how the Lord details this duty of the true believer with three commands.
APPLICATION | How am I doing? Do I respond to evil with evil? Or do I return a blessing when reviled and good when wrong is done to me? Do I desire the life of godly and holy living that gives God greater and greater glory? Do I love God absolutely and entirely first and foremost, and in a lesser way love other as myself? Do I want to see days of holiness and righteousness? If not, it is time to repent and have a mind like Christ (1 Cor 2:16). Here is why you should return good for evil, but how will you do it in your life?
PRAYER | Father, forgive me for returning evil for evil. I know that others deserve such a response, but you call me to turn my cheek and love even my enemies. (Matt 5:39, 44) Today, show me how to do good to those who do me wrong. Turn my heart in this way through the power of your Word, through the power of a desire for a godly life, a godly love, and to see godly days. For Your glory alone. Amen.
