Free Bible Commentary
“First Peter 5:5-7”
Categories: First Peter“You younger men, likewise, be subject to your elders; and all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, for GOD IS OPPOSED TO THE PROUD, BUT GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE. 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.”
---End of Scripture verses---
For elders to shepherd the flock effectively it is important for “younger men” to “be subject” to them (verse 5). Submission is not a thing that God coerces out of anyone, and it must be given willingly by Christians to leaders in a local congregation as well. It takes a healthy dose of humility to willingly surrender your will to another person in matters of judgment, and this is especially true when it comes to “younger men”. Elders must exercise oversight voluntarily with eagerness (verse 2), but it is equally important that church members voluntarily and eagerly volunteer their obedience to them according to God’s will.
As children of God and disciples of our servant Savior, all Christians should “clothe” ourselves “with humility toward one another.” The imagery is that of an outer garment tied around the waist, much like the one that Jesus removed in that upper room just before He got down on His knees and washed His disciples’ dirty feet (John 13:1-5; 12-17). To clothe ourselves with humility is to wear the mantle of Jesus who lived the entirety of His life in service to others and obedience to the will of His Father in heaven.
Humility is not merely bringing ourselves low in our own estimation but also elevating others to a place of importance and God to a place of preeminence in our minds. God is opposed to the “proud” or “arrogant” but extends His good graces to those who are humble in mind and spirit (Proverbs 3:34). The Apostle Paul encourages us to, “Be of the same mind toward one another; do not be haughty in mind, but associate with the lowly. Do not be wise in your own estimation” (Romans 12:16). It is only God’s “mighty hand” that can “exalt” us at the proper time, but that will only happen if we demote ourselves in the meantime.
As arrogance is an inhibitor to faith, so is “anxiety” (verse 7). In fact, it might appropriately be said in many cases that anxiety is the opposite or absence of faith. If we find ourselves frequently worrying about what tomorrow might bring, it is as if we are saying that we do not trust God to make good on His promises to always be with us, provide for us and take care of us. So, cast your anxieties upon Him. Give your worries over to Him. They are weighing you down and He is more than capable of shouldering those burdens for you. But you have to let them go and give them up. Fretting about something never helped anything. Worry about nothing, pray about everything, be thankful to God for all that He does for you (Philippians 4:6-7).
Please read 1 Peter 5:8-11 for tomorrow.
Have a blessed Lord’s Day!
-Louie Taylor
