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1st Peter 2:17 Peter said: “Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God.
Honor the king” (1 Peter 2:17 NKJV). Honor all people.
Honor all people means honor every nation. As Jesus said, “Go therefore and make
disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:19 ESV).
And honor all people means honor every creature in every nation. As Jesus said, “Go into all the world, and
preach the gospel to every creature” (Mark 16:15). God does not show partiality. Peter said, “Truly I understand that God
shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is
right is acceptable to him” (Acts 10:34-35 ESV). And if we are to be like God [which is what
God wants (Romans 8:29)], then we must show no partiality either. As Paul said, “In the presence of God and of
Christ Jesus and of the elect angels, I warn you to keep these instructions
without prejudice, doing nothing on the basis of partiality” (1 Timothy 5:21
NRSV). Love the brotherhood.
Those who do the will of God make up a brotherhood. As Jesus said, “For whoever does the will of
my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother” (Matthew 12:50
ESV). And in the same letter where Peter
says to “Love the brotherhood,” he also says, “Having purified your souls by
your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another
earnestly from a pure heart” (1 Peter 1:22 ESV). Likewise, John said that Jesus said, “A new commandment I
give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are
to love one another. By this all people
will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another"
(John 13:34-35 ESV). And Guy N. Woods
said, “There is a tradition that John, in his old age, was accustomed to arise
from his seat in the Lord’s day assemblies and to say, ‘Little children, love
one another.’ He never forgot the
admonition of the Lord.” Fear God.
Solomon said, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of
knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction” (Proverbs 1:7 ESV). And he said, “Though a sinner does evil a
hundred times and prolongs his life, yet I know that it will be well with those
who fear God, because they fear before him” (Eccles. 8:12 ESV). And he said, “The end of the matter; all has
been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of
man. For God will bring every deed into
judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil” (Eccles. 12:13-14
ESV). And Jesus said, “Do not fear those who kill the body but
are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destory both
soul and body in hell” (Matthew 10:28 NASB).
And He said, “I say to you, My friends, do not be afraid of those who
kill the body and after that they have no more that they can do. But I will warn you whom to fear: fear the
One who, after He has killed, has authority to cast into hell; yes, I tell you,
fear Him!” (Luke 12:4-5 NASB). Honor the king.
Just a few verses before Peter said, “Honor the king,” he
said, “Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human institution,
whether to a king as the one in authority, or to governors as sent by him for
the punishment of evildoers and the praise of those who do right” (1 Peter
2:13-14 NASB). Likewise, Paul told the Romans, “Let every person be
subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from
God, and those that exist have been instituted by God” (Romans 13:1 ESV). And he told Timothy, “First of all, then, I
urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for
all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a
peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way” (1 Tim. 2:1-2 ESV). And he told Titus, “Remind them to be
submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every
good work, to speak evil of no one” (Titus 3:1-2 ESV). So don’t speak evil of George W. Bush or
Barack Obama. Rather, pray for
them. Submit to them. And honor them. --Jake King |