The Apostle Peter has the welfare of the people of God in mind in the writing of this entire epistle. The people to whom he is writing have suffered a great deal and he seeks to give them encouragement. Their suffering may endanger their spiritual life and he seeks to strengthen this life. They do not know the reason for the sufferings and Peter seeks to show them that the Lord who is permitting this suf­fering is still in control over all things. They must use this time of suffering for the welfare of their spiritual life. They must live close to their Lord and render Him obedience in all relationships of life. Christ has suffered for them and they should be ready to suffer for His name's sake.

A Difficult Task⤒🔗

Peter now addresses himself to the elders in the various churches organized in the region to which he is writing. These elders will have a difficult task to perform among people who are in the spiritual state in which these find themselves. They will have to deal with people whose faith has been shaken.

These elders must now use the word which the Apostle has sent to the churches and by means of this word guide the people in the way in which they are to go. Peter refers to himself as a fellow-elder. True, he is an Apostle of the Lamb, but he is also a fellow-elder with them. They are intrusted with the spiritual care of the church in which they hold office and he is intrusted with this care of all the churches. He understands the nature of their work. He places himself on the same plane with them because they have the same concerns. Nor should the elders in the various churches feel that Peter's words come from someone in a "superior" position who is far removed from the scene. No, he is living with them as they carry out their duties.

Of Vital Interest to Peter←⤒🔗

Peter tells them that he was an eye-witness to the sufferings of Christ. He saw his Lord in His deepest agony. He was suffering there, in Gethsemane and on the cross, for the redemption of His people. One who has seen the suffering of the Savior will never forget it and will neither forget the purpose of that suffering!

That church was so precious to Christ and is also to His Apostles! Let these elders remember, therefore, that he not only shares their office but that he was also an eye-witness to the deed whereby His church was purchased. These facts make him so vitally interested in the spiritual welfare of those who were purchased with His blood.

The sufferings of Jesus Christ, which Peter had seen, made an indelible impression on the mind of the Apostle. How often doesn't he refer to it? The believer can indeed glory in the cross, but it must also have been a very painful experience to those who were eye-witnesses of it. Not only does Peter have the memory of that suffering, he is also a par­taker of the glory which shall be revealed. That glory, which is still to come, was purchased by the suffering.

As Appointed Shepherds←⤒🔗

The elders are now exhorted to tend, to care for, to shepherd the flock of God. Peter had been instructed by his Lord, when he was restored to office, to feed His lambs, to tend His sheep, and to feed His sheep (John 21:15-17). That was, therefore, the duty of an Apostle and is also the duty of every elder.

The elders are placed as shepherds over a flock. They are to see to it that there is food for the sheep and that the sheep are kept in safety. This is the relationship which our Lord Himself had with His people — He was the good Shepherd. It is the rela­tionship which is used as an illustration time and again in the Scriptures (Cf. Psalm 23, Isaiah 40:11, etc.) It is a relationship which reveals the total dependence of the believer on his God, and the loving concern of God for His people.

The elders must keep in mind that it is the flock of God! They are not owners, but neither may they serve as hirelings! God is Owner. He appoints shepherds. This is "the fine line" which every shepherd must walk. Grace is needed to do this work in a manner which is acceptable to Him.

Guidelines Prescribed←⤒🔗

For this reason the Apostle now lays down various guidelines for such shepherds. They must not do their work grudgingly, but willingly. It will demand more of them than they think they possess. It will demand arduous work and many hours. There may never be the spirit of an­tagonism to the work. Nor must it be done because it is expected but because it is a privilege. They must pattern their work after the Good Shepherd. He did it not because He had to but because He wanted to!

Surely, the work of a shepherd must not be done for monetary gain because such a one would immediately reveal that he is indeed a hireling. It seems as though this problem was very real in the early church — Peter referred to it before. Judas is the example of those who did the work of the chief Shepherd for shameful gain. How great is the judg­ment on that attitude! No, they must do the work eagerly — being of a ready mind. The shepherd must give himself to the work to which he is called with his whole soul. Nothing may be kept back. It must be done as unto the Lord. Another employer must honor certain bounds beyond which he may ask no more. The Lord who calls to His service allows for no bounds. He demands everything! The work which is to be done can never be satisfied with less.

Even though he devotes all his time to the flock and its welfare is on his mind day and night, there is still the question of his attitude toward the flock over which he is placed. Being in the employ of the Lord of all is indeed an honor. Being set over the flock of God is a great responsibility. The tempta­tion is present that such a shepherd will think more highly of himself than he ought to think. Therefore Peter warns them not to "lord it over the charge allotted to you." They must not drive the sheep, they must tend and lead them. The sheep are not there for the shepherd but, the shepherd is there for the sheep! When sheep, who by nature are easily led astray and show little intelligence when they have strayed, need correction, it must not be done in a domineering manner. The shepherd has authority, but it is an authority which must imitate the Chief Shepherd. He went after those who strayed. He fed those who were hungry and had infinite patience with those who did not understand. Though He was Lord — He did not lord it over them!

Instead of lording it over them, these shepherds are to be examples for the flock to follow. They themselves are sheep of the flock of Jesus Christ! Surely, they must know the ways of sheep and should have learned how to tend them from their great Teacher. They have followed the Good Shepherd and He had been very patient with them. They must now set an example to the flock entrusted to them.

Awesome Responsibilities←⤒🔗

When the Chief Shepherd comes again He will claim His sheep and will demand an accounting from those whom He had appointed shepherds over His flock. He bought this flock with the price of His own blood and is very con­cerned how the "shepherds" have behaved toward this flock. Therefore the exhortation of the Apostle is so important. The shepherds will be judged ac­cording to what they have done with the "property" of Jesus Christ. However, they will not have to fear this day of accounting if they have been faithful and have obeyed the word of the Apostle. No, instead of fear, they will be able to look forward to that day with eager anticipation. To them will be given the victor's crown. These crowns in the Greek-Roman world consisted of a wreath of leaves. The crown itself had no value but it was symbolic of victory or of the prize. Such a crown would quickly fade as the leaves dried. However, the Chief Shepherd will give to His true shepherds an unfading crown. It will be a crown of glory which they will be able to wear eternally!

The demands placed on the shepherds are many and varied because they have an awesome respon­sibility. Yet, when their work is done in the spirit of service to their Lord and Savior, they will see that the crown of glory is a reward of grace and not of merit. But, the Apostle also addresses the sheep. He speaks of those who are younger. There has been some difference of opinion regarding those who are meant by this term, but it seems logical to believe that the term is the opposite of "elders" and that hereby the sheep are meant in distinction from the shepherds. These also have responsibilities to meet. They are to be subject to the elders. The elders, the shepherds, seek the welfare of the flock. They should "render to the elders all honor, encourage­ment, and obedience in the Lord" (Form for Ordina­tion). Their "sheep mentality" must give way to the guidance of God's servants. When the sheep are in subjection to the shepherds, the shepherds will not have "to lord it over them." It will make their work easy and far more pleasant.

With Humility←⤒🔗

Peter calls on all of them to clothe or gird themselves with humility toward one-another. They must follow the example of Christ. He put on the garment of humility and washed the feet of the disciples. This is the spirit which must be found in the church of Christ. By this command He does not wipe out the distinction between shepherd and sheep, as some seem to think; but, even in their different capacities, they are to be clothed with humility. This is a mark of God's people. They live by grace, and all they have and all they are they owe to Him.

Pride has no place in the kingdom of God. Pride caused the angels to fall and pride has been the earliest sin of man. Sin has room for pride, but God doesn't. He resists the proud and has brought them low time and again. He cannot tolerate it even in a heathen such as Nebuchadnezzar but humiliates him to the extreme. What can a man boast of? All he can call his own is his sine

Humility does not have earning power in itself. It is an attitude which grows out of faith and the prop­er relation to the living God. God is opposed to the pride of men. It is inconsistent for a sheep to be proud over against the Shepherd or even toward other sheep. However, He gives grace to the hum­ble. Those who recognize their dependence on Another will receive an abundance of grace so that their every need is supplied.

Questions for Discussion:←⤒🔗

1. Elders are to rule the church of God. How is this rule qualified by calling them shepherds of His flock?

2. The Apostles had been eye-witnesses of the suffering of Jesus. This motivated them in all their work. How can those who are to be shepherds of the flock of God in later times receive proper motivation? Explain.

3. How can the delicate balance between the authority which is given to shepherds and their loving care of the people of God be main­tained?

4. What is the reward given to those who work in His vineyard according to His will? Is it ade­quate?

5. Why is pride such a grievous sin? Explain.