An Exhortation to the Elders (1 Pet. 5:1-4)

Wayne Galloway
05/05/15 - N/A

Series: Additional Studies

Introduction:

1.  James A. Garfield, twentieth President of the United States, resigned as an elder of the church of Christ in 1881 to take office.  It is reported on that occasion he said, “I resign the highest office of the land to become President of the United States.” 2.  He was 19 years old when he was converted and began preaching eight years later in 1853.  He ended his first sermon saying, “Jesus will come again, not as a babe in helplessness… but as King of kings and Lord of lords.” 3.  It is the people of God that are the priority of the Lord.   Overseers share the same love for the people of God as their King and so the people of God are their priority too. 4.  In 1 Pet. 5:1-4 Peter exhorts elders with these words:  “Therefore, I exhort the elders among you, as your fellow elder and witness of the sufferings of Christ, and a partaker also of the glory that is to be revealed, shepherd the flock of God among you, exercising oversight not under compulsion, but voluntarily, according to the will of God; and not for sordid gain, but with eagerness; nor yet as lording it over those allotted to your charge, but proving to be examples to the flock.  And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.” 5.  This passage does two things.  The primary focus is on the admonition itself (vs. 2-4).  But  Peter also reflects on his qualifications as exhorter in verse 1.  That is where I want us to focus our attention.

Discussion:

I.  Suffering is the background against which the exhortation is given.

A.  This paragraph is sandwiched between 4:12-19 and 5:6-11.

1.  Both of these paragraphs deal with suffering.

2.  Not suffering as a result of some sickness or disease as we often think of suffering.

3.  Not suffering as the result of some sin that we have committed (4:15).

4.  But suffering as a Christian.

5.  Who better to help us respond to suffering than our leaders?

a.  It is our leader Jesus Christ who has set the example in suffering (1 Pet. 2:21-25).

b.  He models before us what it means to “entrust our souls to a faithful Creator” (1 Pet. 4:19).

B.  The Lord has dominion and even though we suffer our confidence is in Him (1 Pet. 5:11).

C.  The challenge of suffering presents us with stress we may not know how to handle.  We may be stunned, confused and even knocked off our track of confidence in the Lord.  Ladies and gentlemen don’t forget where you are headed.  Don’t forget what is important.  Don’t loose confidence in the Lord.  With the changing cultural conditions in our society we are experiencing challenges that we have never before experienced.  Intolerance.  Legal demands.  Being considered “stupid.”  Ostracized.  Marginalized.  Etc.

D.  Our elders are the ones who must lead us through to the end.  Thus Peter exhorts them.

II.   Peter exhorts the elders as a “fellow elder.”

A.  This term is unique in the N.T. but is similar to a number of other compound words used by Paul.

1.  Fellow worker (Rom. 16:3; 9, 12; Phil. 2:25; 4:3; Col. 4:11; 1 Thess. 3:2; Philemon 1, 24).

2.  Fellow solder (Phil. 2:25; Philemon 2).

3.  Fellow slave (Col. 1:7; 4:7).

4.  Fellow prisoner (Rom. 16:7; Col. 4:10; Philemon 23).

B.   The term places Peter at the same level as the other elders.  It stresses his identification with them, his understanding with them, his empathy with them.

1.  His exhortation is not based on authoritarian demand but understanding.

2.  Elders operating from a dictatorial stance violate the very principles of Scripture.

a.  They violate the example of Jesus who came “not to be served but to serve and to give His life a ransom for many” (Matt. 20:28).

b.  They violate 1 Pet. 5:3 which says they are not to “lord over the flock.”

3.  Such a dictatorial stance in the face of suffering is insensitive to those who are suffering.

4.  One does not exhort with brutality but with understanding.

5.  So Peter exhorts the elders as a fellow elder.  He speaks with the humility that he calls on others to have (1 Pet. 5:5-6).

III.  He exhorts them as a “witness of the sufferings of Christ.”

A.  Peter heard Jesus’ predictions of His crucifixion.  He was there in the upper room when Jesus took the cup and said, “This is My blood of the covenant which is poured out for the forgiveness of sins” (Matt. 26:28).  He was there in the garden when Jesus prayed, “Let this cup pass from Me” (Matt. 26:39).   He witnessed the betrayal by Judas and the arrest.  Peter promised loyalty (Matt. 26:33).  Then denied Him hours later (Matt. 26:69ff).  He was there for the crucifixion.  I don’t know how close, but this was not something that took place outside of general awareness.

B.  But there is another sense in which Peter is a witness of the “sufferings of Christ.”

1.  He was a witness of the sufferings that the Christians were experiencing (1 Pet. 4:12-16).

2.  In Acts 4 he and John had been threatened by the Jewish Sanhedrin.  He and others of the apostles were imprisoned in Acts 5.  Stephen had been stoned to death (Acts 6-7).  Saul was ravaging the church, entering house after house, and dragging off men and women and putting them in prison (Acts 8:3).

C.  Yes, he was a witness.  He had experienced what we would call “terrorism” against his brothers and sisters.  He had experienced it himself.

D.  When such comes to us, how will we respond?  Will we falter and fail?  Will we deny the Lord to save our own skin?  Will we entrust ourselves to the Lord, recognize His dominion, and exhort our brothers and sisters to do the same?  Will we die cursing our persecutors or forgiving them like our Lord and our brother Stephen?

E.  If our faith is shallow… if our convictions are weak… If we have no understanding… we cannot lead others through such suffering.

IV.  He exhorts them as “a partaker of the glory that is to be revealed.”

A.  What is this “glory that is to be revealed”?

1.  Later in this text he refers to the coming of the Chief Shepherd, and their receiving the “unfading crown of glory” (v. 4).

2.  In 4:13 he has indicated that identification with Christ in His suffering will lead to joy at the revelation of His glory.

B.  In Rom. 8:16-25 Paul speaks of the children of God being glorified with Christ.

C.  2 Tim. 2:8-11 reflects on how Paul endured suffering as a looked to eternal glory.  He speaks of this in light of our living with Christ and reigning with Him.  I take this to be fully realized in the final resurrection.

D.  It is this hope that moves us through suffering.  It is interesting to observe that Peter sees himself as already “a partaker of the glory to be revealed.”  Thus the “already, not yet” emphasis that we have seen before in Scripture.  While the glory of the resurrection is not yet fully experienced we are even currently partakers of it.  It is just that sure.

E.  “Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you” (1 Pet. 5:6-7).

F.  “After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you.  To Him be dominion forever and ever” (1 Pet. 5:10-11).

Conclusion:

1.  Elders shepherd the flock through suffering. 2.  Do it with eagerness. 3.  Don’t do it with selfishness. 4.  Lead with empathy, lead with understanding, lead with confidence in the Lord and you will receive the “unfading crown of glory.”