Peter Exhorts the Persecuted Believers Volume 34

 Suffering for Jesus Part 4

1 Peter 3:13 And who is he that will harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good? KJV Note: NKJV= New King James Version

In the early days, weeks, months, and years of my conversion/new birth/resurrection to my Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ, I remember reading an article or watching an interview of the late Dr. Jerry Falwell in which he was questioned as to why he did not have security or body guards with him when he went to conferences or preaching engagements or elsewhere that took him away from his home Church ⛪ and city and his response at first to me was interesting and even peculiar but after spending more time ⌚ in the Word of God being taught the Word by the Author of the Word God the Holy Spirit, Dr. Falwell's answer made so much sense to me as his response to the questioner was, "I am bullet proof until my Lord Jesus Christ finishes the work He is doing through me on the earth 🌎." This is the very concept being resounded, rang out, and reverberated by the Apostle Peter to all of those early Jewish men and women converted to Christ with these words, "And who is he that will harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good?" (1 Peter 3:13) (KJV). These sons and daughters of our Lord Jesus Christ were being murdered/martyred by the unconverted/spiritually dead Jews in the city of Jerusalem and some were able to leave the city which is exactly what the Apostle Peter acknowledged concerning them in the very opening of this his first letter ✉ written to them, "Peter, an Apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia," (1 Peter 1:1) (KJV). They had been scattered because of persecution, yet Peter wanted them to know and understand as well as we true believers today and of every era and generation that despite the raging attacks from the devil 👿, his demons, and his two-legged devils that they then and we now are safe even though our Lord Jesus might allow our physical murder to take place as He did with the Apostle James, as it is written here, "Now about that time Herod the king stretched out his hand to harass some from the Church. Then he killed James the brother of John with the sword." (Acts 12:1-2) (NKJV). Herod surmised to do the same thing to the Apostle Peter, but our Lord Jesus Christ was not finished with the work that He would do through Peter, so He(Christ) saved Peter from death at that time ⌚. Why did He(Christ) not save the physical earthly life of James the brother of John? Simple answer, He was finished with the work He would do through James. The Lord Jesus is the One in control of all things and He determines when, where, and how His servants come to Him in Heaven. The little English phrase in 1 Peter 3:13 'is he that will harm' is translated by one Greek word kakoō meaning to injure; figuratively to exasperate: - make evil affected, entreat evil, harm, hurt, vex. This is one of the ways the devils seeks to come against those of us who are true born from above sons and daughters of Yahweh/Jesus/The Most High by trying to exasperate us or aggravate us or make us annoyed and frustrated during our walking/living as sojourners and pilgrims on our way home to Heaven to be with our Lord Jesus. However, as we are reminded above by the life and death of James the brother of John the devils first priority is to kill us physically, but he cannot hurt or harm or kill the real us our soul. Herod thought he was the one who determined, declared, or decided the time ⌚and place, and manner of death of James, but he did nothing that was not allowed by Christ Jesus. We true believers can know and be certain that our enemy can do NOTHING to pull us away from or apart from union with our Lord Jesus Christ as it is so eloquently written with these words by the Apostle Paul to the Church ⛪ @Rome, "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written: 'For Your sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.' Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:35-39) (NKJV). We also know who is with us everyday and everywhere and will never leave us on our own and that is our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ as it is written with these passages of Scripture, "Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the LORD your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you." (Deuteronomy 31:6) (NKJV) and "No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life; as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you nor forsake you." (Joshua 1:5) (NKJV) and "And David said to his son Solomon, 'Be strong and of good courage, and do it; do not fear nor be dismayed, for the LORD God—my God—will be with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you, until you have finished all the work for the service of the house of the LORD.'" (1 Chronicles 28:20) (NKJV) and lastly "Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, 'I will never leave you nor forsake you.'" (Hebrews 13:5) (NKJV).

Here is what Dr. John Gill had to say of 1 Peter 3:13, "And who is he that will harm you,.... Or 'can harm you'. God will not; for His eyes are upon the righteous, to protect and defend them, and, His ears are open to their cries, to avenge them; He is on their side, and He is the only lawgiver that is able to save, and to destroy. Christ will not; for when He came the first time, it was not to condemn, but to save; and when He comes a second time, though He will rule the wicked with a rod of iron, and dash them in pieces as a potter's vessel; yet His people, who are His jewels, He will spare, as a man spares his only son. Good angels will not; these rejoice at the conversion, and in the salvation of sinful men, encamp about the saints, and are ministering spirits to them: nor the devil; though he would devour, he cannot; for greater is He that is in the saints, than he that is in the world: nor can sin; for though it wars against them, it shall not have the dominion over them; and though it often breaks in upon their peace and comfort, it cannot damn and destroy their souls: nor the law; for though it pronounces guilty, and curses those that are under it, and are of the works of it, yet since Christ has fulfilled it for His people, by obeying its precepts, and bearing its penalty, the curse, it lies not against them, nor can it inflict any punishment on them: nor the men of the world; who hate and persecute the saints; these can do them no real harm; they cannot hurt their grace, which shines the brighter, being tried and proved in the furnace of affliction; they cannot destroy their peace and comfort by all the trouble they give them; all the harm they can do them is to their bodies; they can do none to their souls; and even all the evil things they do to their bodies work together for their good; and they must be very wicked men that will do harm in any respect to such as behave well in states, cities, towns, or neighbourhoods: if ye be followers of that which is good; of God, who is essentially, originally, and infinitely good, and does good to all His creatures, by imitating Him in holiness and righteousness, in kindness, mercy, and beneficence; and of Christ, the good Shepherd, following Him in the exercise of grace, as of humility, love, patience, etc. and in the discharge of duty; and of good men, the Apostles of Christ, the first Churches, faithful ministers, and all such who through faith and patience have inherited the promises, and that both in doctrine and practice; and of all good things, whatever is true, honest, just, pure, lovely, and of good report, particularly righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, and meekness. Some copies, as the Alexandrian, and others, read, 'zealots', or 'zealous of good'; of good works, as in Titus 2:14 and so the Vulgate Latin, Syriac, and Ethiopic versions."

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...


Sincerely in Christ,


Clifford D. Tate, Sr.


Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…

Peter Exhorts the Persecuted Believers Volume 33

 Suffering for Jesus Part 3

1 Peter 3:10-12 For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile: Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it. For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil. KJV Note: NKJV= New King James Version

As we continue on into our listening 👂 to the Apostle Peter command these early Jewish converts to our Lord Jesus Christ to refrain from evil words and actions among one another because of disappointments or disagreements or even the diversity of personalities' in their various flocks, we find him here now quoting the words of King David from part of his 34th Psalm. We must remember that these faithful brothers 'in Christ' were being obedient to the leading and guiding of God the Holy Spirit in them and they were not writing these letters 🔤 for any reason other than to build one another up in their 'most holy faith' (Jude 1:20) in order for their own individual spiritual good as well as that of all true believers in our Lord Jesus Christ during those early days and to Glorify Him with their lives. This too applies to each and every one of us today all of these many centuries latter, for as it is written, "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever." (Hebrews 13:8) (NKJV). Christ Jesus our Lord is unchanging, for He is no different with us than He was with them and He expects and demands from us the same things He demanded from them. So then, we find the Apostle Peter writing these words for them then and for us now and for all true believers in our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ of every era and generation of humanity before He returns and puts an end to time ⌚ which He Himself created or established for we humans to live in and under, "For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile: Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it. For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil." (1 Peter 3:10-12) (KJV). The Apostle Peter (for the most part) quoted these words exactly as they were written by King David many years before Peter was ever born in order to remind and encourage and 💪 strengthen these brothers and sisters in the faith during their time of tremendous physical and spiritual persecution from the 👿 devils demons and the human two-legged 👿 devils they were working their evil through. We must also understand that King David and the Apostle Peter had no idea what our Lord Jesus would do with the words that were ✍ through them hundreds and even thousands of years in the future, however, their purpose, their process, and their plan was to write words that would build up those that belonged to Yahweh and bring Glory to His Holy Name. Let us also remembered that these original words came from the heart of a warrior. A man (King David) who killed many men in war (in battle) during the time in human history when their were no smart 💣 bombs, no missles, no drones, but every war was fought with only swords, knives, and 🛡 shields in close face to face combat, yet David was a man after God's own heart and this acknowledgement was given to Him by God (Yahweh) Himself, so David wrote with the heart of God these words of refraining from evil, but knowing that our God is against the evil doer (as he declares in the very last part of his words in this Psalm 34), likewise King David also declared these words, "God is a just judge, And God is angry with the wicked every day." (Psalms 7:11) (NKJV). Although these early Jewish believers in our Lord Jesus Christ were being viciously, violently, and vigorously pursued by the devil 👿 through his two-legged devils, Peter wanted them to recall, remember, and respond to these words written by King David so long ago (just as he wants me and you true believer in Christ today to do likewise) and not repay evil perpetrated upon us back with our own evil, however, this has nothing to do with believers in war on the battlefield or any believer defending himself/herself in self-defense and any family from being hurt or killed. In 1 Peter 3:10, the little English phrase 'let him refrain' is translated by the Greek word pauō which is a primary verb meaning to pause; to stop, that is, restrain, quit, desist, come to an end: - cease, leave, refrain. In the original Hebrew written by King David in Psalm 34, he used the English word 'keep' translated  by the Hebrew word nâtsar meaning to guard, to protect, to maintain, to obey. In other words, we believers 'in Christ' have as our responsibility to guard our words and to stop 🛑and quit speaking words that dishonor our Lord Jesus Christ. As I declared of myself in the last study/commentary, this area for me when I am angered is a red flag 🚩that requires me much grace and much prayer, for I pray often these words also from King David, "Set a guard, O LORD, over my mouth; Keep watch over the door of my lips." (Psalms 141:3) (NKJV). In 1 Peter 3:11, the little English phrase 'Let him eschew', that which is evil 😈 is translaed by the Greek word ekklinō meaning to to deviate, that is, (absolutely) to shun (literally or figuratively), or to avoid, eschew, go out of the way. In the original Hebrew written by King David in Psalm 34, he used the English word 'Depart' translated by the Hebrew word sûr meaning to turn off (literally or figuratively); to turn aside or to withdraw. In other words again we have as our responsibility to withdraw from every, that is, to deviate from it and shun it and any person or people being used by the devil 😈 and his demons trying to lead us into evil, as it is written, "Abstain from every form of evil." (1 Thessalonians 5:22) (NKJV). God the Holy Spirit 'in us', that is, "To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory." (Colossians 1:27) (NKJV) will not force us or make us yield to His will for us, but He/Christ will grant us grace/strength 💪 when we yield our will to His will to turn away from that which is evil just as King David declares in Psalm 34:15 and as the Apostle Peter quoting him in 1 Peter 3:12. Amen!!!

Here is what the Expositors' Bible Commentary had to say of 1 Peter 3:10-12, "The psalmists knew much of such trials, and it is from the words of one of Psa_34:12-16 that St. Peter enforces his own lesson. It is a psalm full of the knowledge of the trials of God’s servants: "Many are the afflictions of the righteous"; but it is rich also in plenitude of comfort: "The Lord delivered him out of them all." The father of long ago teaches thus to his children the fear of the Lord: "He that would love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile: and let him turn away from evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and pursue it. For the eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, and His ears unto their supplication: but the face of the Lord is upon them that do evil." A glance at the Psalm will show that the Apostle has not quoted precisely; and though he has much in common with the Greek of the LXX, he does not adhere closely to that. But he gives to the full the spirit both of the Hebrew and the Greek. The life of which the Psalmist speaks is life in this world. The original explains this by making the latter clause of the verse, "and loveth many days, that he may see good." And the love is to be a noble feeling, a desire to make life worth living. Such a life must exhibit watchfulness over words and actions. The precepts begin at the beginning, with control of the tongue. Control that, and you are master of the rest. "It is a little member, but boasted great things." "The world of iniquity among our members is the tongue, which defiled the whole body". (James 3:5-6) It needs to be kept as with a bridle, and not only when the ungodly are in sight, but constantly. But the words of the Psalm contemplate a further danger. Men may give good words with the lips while the heart is full of bitterness. Then the lips are lying, and this is an evil as great as the former, and more perilous to him who commits it, because the sin does not come to the light that it may be reproved, but contrives to wear the mask of virtue. And the actions need watchfulness also. They must not only possess the negative quality of abstinence from evil, but the positive stamp of good deeds done. "By their fruits ye shall know them." And the work will be no light one. Peace is to be sought, and the Apostle uses a word which implies that a chase is needful to obtain it. St. Paul has a passage very much in the spirit of St. Peter’s teaching here, and the words of which picture distinctly the difficulties which the Christian will have to labor against: "Giving diligence to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace." (Ephesians 4:3) This tells us why our Apostle urges the pursuit of peace. It is the clasp which binds the Christian communion together. From all sorts of causes men are prone to fall apart, to break the oneness; and peace is able to hold them fast. Hence the diligence in seeking it, the earnestness of the pursuit that it may not elude us. But when all is done, when men have not been sitting with folded hands waiting and dreaming that peace would come without pursuit, but have labored for it, they do not always attain to it. "I am for peace," says the Psalmist, "but when I speak, they are for war". (Psalm 120:7) And so the disappointed struggler is directed to the sure source of consolation amid discomfiture. The Lord marks his efforts, knows their earnest purpose in spite of their ill-success. He beholds also those who have withstood them, but with far other regard. St. Peter has not quoted what the Psalmist says of their fate: "God will root out the remembrance of them from the earth." God’s righteous pilgrim is not forgotten. His prayer is heard, and will be answered for good. No shadow has come between him and God, though his lot seem very dark. Neither can the wrongdoer raise a shadow to screen himself from the all-seeing eyes. All things are naked and open before the eyes of Him with whom we have to do." Here is what Matthew Henry had to say of 1 Peter 3:10-12, "He gives an excellent prescription for a comfortable happy life in this quarrelsome ill-natured world (1Peter 3:10): it is quoted from Psalm 34:12-14. “If you earnestly desire that your life should be long, and your days peaceable and prosperous, keep your tongue from reviling, evil-speaking, and slandering, and your lips from lying, deceit, and dissimulation. Avoid doing any real damage or hurt to your neighbor, but be ever ready to do good, and to overcome evil with good; seek peace with all men, and pursue it, though it retire from you. This will be the best way to dispose people to speak well of you, and live peaceably with you.” Learn, (1.) Good people under the Old and new Testament were obliged to the same moral duties; to refrain the tongue from evil, and the lips from guile, was a duty in David's time as well as now. (2.) It is lawful to consider temporal advantages as motives and encouragements to religion. (3.) The practice of religion, particularly the right government of the tongue, is the best way to make this life comfortable and prosperous; a sincere, inoffensive, discreet tongue, is a singular means to pass us peaceably and comfortably through the world. (4.) The avoiding of evil, and doing of good, is the way to contentment and happiness both here and hereafter. (5.) It is the duty of Christians not only to embrace peace when it is offered, but to seek and pursue it when it is denied: peace with societies, as well as peace with particular persons, in opposition to division and contention, is what is here intended. 3. He shows that Christians need not fear that such patient inoffensive behavior as is prescribed will invite and encourage the cruelty of their enemies, for God will thereby be engaged on their side: For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous (1 Peter 3:12); he takes special notice of them, exercises a providential constant government over them, and bears a special respect and affection to them. His ears are open to their prayers; so that if any injuries be offered to them they have this remedy, they may complain of it to their heavenly Father, whose ears are always attentive to the prayers of his servants in their distresses, and who will certainly aid them against their unrighteous enemies. But the face of the Lord is against those that do evil; his anger, and displeasure, and revenge, will pursue them; for he is more an enemy to wicked persecutors than men are. Observe, (1.) We must not in all cases adhere to the express words of scripture, but study the sense and meaning of them, otherwise we shall be led into blasphemous errors and absurdities: we must not imagine that God hath eyes, and ears, and face, though these are the express words of the scripture. (2.) God hath a special care and paternal affection towards all his righteous people. (3.) God doth always hear the prayers of the faithful, John 4:31; 1 John 5:14; Hebrews 4:16. (4.) Though God is infinitely good, yet he abhors impenitent sinners, and will pour out his wrath upon those that do evil. He will do himself right, and do all the world justice; and his goodness is no obstruction to his doing so.

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...


Sincerely in Christ,


Clifford D. Tate, Sr.


Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…