Lesson 12 · September 16, 1893
Instructions to the Church.—1 Peter 5:1-6
Review Questions.—(a) What comes upon the people in the last days? (b) How should we regard the trial? (c) With whom do we thus become partakers? (d) To what solemn time does this lesson bring us? (e) In whom are our souls safe?
1. The Elders—Duties and Privileges. Verses 1-4
- 1.What class does the apostle especially exhort?
- 2.Of what does he say he was a witness?
- 3.Of what was he a partaker? Note 1.
- 4.What does he enjoin upon elders?
- 5.By what motive should they be moved?
- 6.What spirit should actuate them?
- 7.How should their authority or oversight be exercised? Note 2.
- 8.If faithful in their work what will be their reward?
- 9.When will it be given?
2. The Flock—Duties and Privileges. Verses 5, 6
- 1.What is the duty of the younger? Note 3.
- 2.What is the duty of all to one another?
- 3.With what should they be clothed?
- 4.How does God regard the proud and humble?
- 5.What is therefore our duty?
- 6.What will God do to those who humble themselves?
Notes
1. A Partaker of the Glory That Shall Be Revealed.—God's glory is in his character (see ). That character, that glory, will be seen in all its transcendent loveliness when the King appears in his beauty (); but men may know him here (), by faith they may now appropriate his righteousness (), and have the beauty of the Lord upon them (). And so Peter in this life partook of the glory which shall be revealed, not only in Christ but in us ().
2. Neither As Being Lords over God's Heritage.—There is a strange and striking contrast between that church which claims to find her primal head in Peter, and in which is the highest development of the mystery of iniquity, and the instruction given by the Lord through Peter to the true church of Christ. In the apostate church we have lords many, who do little else but lord it over the souls of God's heritage, and when they held the power, they lorded over their bodies; and all of the persecutions of the Dark Ages have come because men professing to be ministers of Christ have lorded it over God's heritage in their lust of power and filthy lucre. The apostle presents the duty of the true elder; let him heed the instructions, and not content himself with being better than others. Feed the flock of God with the Word (), which is able to build them up (); doing willingly even as the Master, having compassion (), not for gain of lucre but gain of souls, ensamples to the flock in all soberness, humility, and faithfulness. (See ; .)
3. Submit—Be Subject.—Of course under God. God is first. His requirements are paramount. But the faithful man of God upon whom in the providence of God is placed burdens in the church, God will sustain, and through him will give instruction to the flock, which may not be disregarded or despised except at peril to the soul. As the elder must watch for souls as they that must give an account (), so it is a corresponding duty of the church to heed the faithful admonitions, warnings, and instruction which God gives through the elders. See ; . The dignity and position of the elder is to be respected for Christ's sake (), and no accusation is to be received against him except at the mouth of two or three witnesses (). Subject one to another.—See ; ; . Humility.—A most precious grace, because teachable. See ; ; .
Bible texts in this lesson
1 Peter 5:1-4 · 1 Peter 5:5 · 1 Peter 5:6 · Exodus 33:18 · Exodus 33:19 · Exodus 34:5-7 · Isaiah 33:17 · John 17:3 · Romans 3:21 · Romans 3:22 · Psalms 90:17 · Romans 8:18 · 1 Peter 2:2 · Acts 20:32 · Mark 6:34 · 1 Timothy 3:1-7 · Titus 1:5-9 · Hebrews 13:17 · Hebrews 13:7 · Hebrews 13:8 · 1 Thessalonians 5:12 · 1 Thessalonians 5:13 · 1 Timothy 5:1 · 1 Timothy 5:19 · Philippians 2:3 · Romans 12:10 · Ephesians 5:21 · Matthew 5:3 · Isaiah 57:15 · Isaiah 66:2 · James 4:10
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