1 Peter 5

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Peter 5

In which the apostle gives particular directions, first to the elders, how to behave themselves towards their flock (1 Pet. 5:1-4); then to the younger, to be obedient and humble, and to cast their care upon God, 1 Pet. 5:5-7. He then exhorts all to sobriety, watchfulness against temptations, and stedfastness in the faith, praying earnestly for them; and so concludes his epistle with a solemn doxology, mutual salutations, and his apostolical benediction. read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Peter 5:1-4

Here we may observe, I. The persons to whom this exhortation is given?to the presbyters, pastors, and spiritual guides of the church, elders by office, rather than by age, ministers of those churches to whom he wrote this epistle. II. The person who gives this exhortation?the apostle Peter: I exhort; and, to give force to this exhortation, he tells them he was their brother-presbyter or fellow-elder, and so puts nothing upon them but what he was ready to perform himself. He was also a witness... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Peter 5:5-7

Having settled and explained the duty of the pastors or spiritual guides of the church, the apostle comes now to instruct the flock, I. How to behave themselves to their ministers and to one another. He calls them the younger, as being generally younger than their grave pastors, and to put them in mind of their inferiority, the term younger being used by our Saviour to signify an inferior, Luke 22:26. He exhorts those that are younger and inferior to submit themselves to the elder, to give due... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Peter 5:8-9

Here the apostle does three things:? I. He shows them their danger from an enemy more cruel and restless than even the worst of men, whom he describes, 1. By his characters and names. (1.) He is an adversary: ?That adversary of yours; not a common adversary, but an enemy that impleads you, and litigates against you in your grand depending cause, and aims at your very souls.? (2.) The devil, the grand accuser of all the brethren; this title is derived from a word which signifies to strike... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Peter 5:10-14

We come now to the conclusion of this epistle, which, I. The apostle begins with a most weighty prayer, which he addresses to God as the God of all grace, the author and finisher of every heavenly gift and quality, acknowledging, on their behalf, that God had already called them to be partakers of that eternal glory, which, being his own, he had promised and settled upon them, through the merit and intercession of Jesus Christ. Observe, 1. What he prays for on their account; not that they... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - 1 Peter 5:1-4

5:1-4 So, then, as your fellow-elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as a sharer in the glory which is going to be revealed, I urge the elders who are among you, shepherd the flock of God which is in your charge, not because you are coerced into doing so, but of your own free-will as God would have you to do, not to make a shameful profit out of it, but with enthusiasm, not as if you aimed to be petty tyrants over those allotted to your care, but as being under the obligation to be... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - 1 Peter 5:1-4

When we turn to the Christian Church we find that the eldership is its basic office. It was Paul's custom to ordain elders in every community to which he preached and in every church which he founded. On the first missionary journey elders were ordained in every church ( Acts 14:23 ). Titus is left in Crete to ordain elders in every city ( Titus 1:5 ). The elders had charge of the financial administration of the Church; it is to them that Paul and Barnabas delivered the money sent to... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - 1 Peter 5:1-4

Peter sets down in a series of contrasts the perils and the privileges of the eldership; and everything he says is applicable, not only to the eldership, but also to all Christian service inside and outside the Church. The elder is to accept office, not under coercion, but willingly. This does not mean that a man is to grasp at office or to enter upon it without self-examining thought. Any Christian will have a certain reluctance to accept high office, because he knows only too well his... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - 1 Peter 5:1-4

One thing in this passage which defies translation and is yet one of the most precious and significant things in it is what we have translated "petty tyrants over those allotted to your care." The phrase which we have translated those allotted is curious in Greek; it is ton ( Greek #3588 ) kleron ( Greek #2819 ), the genitive plural of kleros ( Greek #2819 ) which is a word of extraordinary interest. (i) It begins by meaning a dice or a lot. It is so used in Matthew 27:35 which... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - 1 Peter 5:1-4

One of the lovely things about this passage is Peter's attitude throughout it. He begins by, as it were, taking his place beside those to whom he speaks. "Your fellow-elder" he calls himself. He does not separate himself from them but comes to share the Christian problems and the Christian experience with them. But in one thing he is different; he has memories of Jesus and these memories colour this whole passage. Even as he speaks, they are crowding into his mind. (i) He describes himself... read more

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