1 Peter 3:8-12 Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous: 9 Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing. 10 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: 11 Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it. 12 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.

Lose The World’s Mind – Pursue The Mind of Christ

As Christians (Christ followers), we are to be “of one mind”. As humans, we are always happy to be “of one mind” as long as it is our mind. But the “one mind” that we are called to have is “the mind of Christ”. This is what the Bible says:

1 Corinthians 2:16 For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.

Preach: We have the Word of God, the Bible (Proverbs 30:5). “Every Word of God is pure: He is a Shield unto them that put their trust in Him”. We have the Holy Spirit of God indwelling us. “Even the Spirit of Truth; Whom the world cannot receive” (John 14:17). The Christian – born again of the Spirit – is given access to the mind of Christ.

The devil will do all he can to get us to rely on OUR mind or on the mind of THE WORLD. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you (James 4:7).

We as believers are to “with one mind and one mouth glorify God” (Romans 15:6). The Church must share the mind of Christ. The mind of Christ cannot be achieved without this key: “It is written”. We must head toward the Scriptures. This is where Jesus went in His teachings.

Jesus did not come to this earth and develop a new doctrine,
but to establish a New Covenant.

The Old Covenant required that people hear and heed the Law of God in their own power. God promised that – when the New Covenant came – that things would be different. God told His Israel:

Jeremiah 31:31-34 Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah: 32 Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the LORD: 33 But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people. 34 And they shall teach no more every man his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.

The distinctive feature of the New Covenant over the Old Covenant is NOT that God’s Law is abrogated – for Jesus said “Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled” (Matthew 5:18). The key difference in the New Covenant is that God will write His Law in our hearts. The New Covenant believer is indwelt by the Holy Spirit of God. “If any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of His” (Romans 8:9). It is the Holy Spirit that guides us into all truth (John 16:13). Every believer under the New Covenant is indwelt with God.

Spirit Indwelt People Are To Pursue The Mind Of Christ

1 Peter 3:8 Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous:

Word Study: Believers are to “having compassion one of another”, the Greek συμπαθής sympathḗs, {pronounced soom-path-ace’}, which means “to be sympathetic toward, to feel the suffering of another, to be empathetic”. Every human is connected to another human. No one lives in a vacuum! Christians in particular should be empathetic toward the condition of others in the Church. The Bible says that in the Church:

1 Corinthians 12:18-20, 24-26 (ESV) But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. 19 If all were a single member, where would the body be? 20 As it is, there are many parts, yet one body. 24 God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, 25 that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. 26 If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together.

Compassion asks “What do YOU need?”, not “What do I want?”

Our world suffers from a lack of compassion. The devil says that things matter. God says that people matter. All people matter. Every life matters. The Christian who has experienced the mercy and grace of God should appreciate the value of every human life. God made every person on purpose. Sadly, many in the United States and around the world have lost the sense of the preciousness and value of life. The American Psychological Association in a recent article entitled “Worrying Trends In U.S. Suicide Rates” notes:

“The suicide rate increased 33 percent from 1999 through 2017, from 10.5 to 14 suicides per 100,000 people (NCHS Data Brief No. 330, November 2018). Rates have increased more sharply since 2006. Suicide ranks as the fourth leading cause of death for people ages 35 to 54, and the second for 10- to 34-year-olds. It remains the 10th leading cause of death overall.”

Word Study: Jesus came to heal the sick, to save the lost, to reach humanity with the message of God’s Love. We are to be compassionate toward others – especially our fellow believers. How does one show compassion? We “love as brethren”. This is the Greek compound word φιλάδελφος philadelphos, which means “show familial love toward others”. Treat others – particularly those in your local Church – as family. This concept is echoed throughout the Scripture:

Romans 12:10 (ESV) Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.

1 Thessalonians 4:9 (ESV) Now concerning brotherly love you have no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love one another,

Contextual Study: In this world we use one word for “love” – and it’s “L-O-V-E”. In the Bible, however, there are numerous words for “love”. In the Hebrew (Old Testament) we find:

– HESED, which means “lovingkindness”
– AHAB, which means “love”
– DOD, which refers to “romantic love”

In the New Testament Greek the words for “Love” are:

+ EROS, which refers to “romantic love”
+ PHILEOS, which is love between friends or brothers
+ STORGE, which is love within the family (brother to brother, child to parent)
+ AGAPE, which is to do good toward others, to be beneficial or benevolent

You are not required to “like” anyone in the family of God, but you are to “love them as family”, to treat them with the same respect you expect.

Word Study: Let’s go further. As family members in the Kingdom of God, we are told “be pitiful, be courteous”. The word “pitiful” is the Greek εὔσπλαγχνος eúsplanchnos, {pronounced yoo’-splangkh-nos}, which means “to be tender hearted toward another person, sympathetic”. The Pharisees never had pity on others. When Jesus went into the Synagogue and saw a man with a withered hand, our Lord had pity on him and healed him. How did the Pharisees respond?

Mark 3:2 (ESV) … they watched Jesus, to see whether {Jesus} would heal {the man with the withered hand} on the Sabbath, so that they might accuse him.

How hard hearted this is, and how hypocritical. Jesus asked them, “Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do harm, to save life or to kill?” The Pharisees were without pity, without compassion. When, in another Synagogue Jesus met a woman who had been bent over and disabled to 18 years (Luke 13:10-17), Jesus healed that woman. The Bible says:

Luke 13:14-17 (ESV) the ruler of the synagogue, indignant because Jesus ahad healed on the Sabbath, said to the people, “There are six days in which work ought to be done. Come on those days and be healed, and not on the Sabbath day.” 15 Then the Lord answered him, “You hypocrites! Does not each of you on the Sabbath untie his ox or his donkey from the manger and lead it away to water it? 16 And ought not this woman, a daughter of Abraham whom Satan bound for eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath day?” 17 As he said these things, all his adversaries were put to shame, and all the people rejoiced at all the glorious things that were done by {Jesus}.

If you can feed your animals, or get your ox out of the ditch on the Sabbath, surely God would allow the healing of one of His people on that same day. Self righteousness is not only misguided, but it is often discourteous. The “ruler of the synagogue”, if he had a genuine grievance, could have taken Jesus to the side to quietly address the matter.

We are to have pity on others, to be courteous and kind in all that we say and do. Jesus set a high standard of love for His people. The Royal Law our King gave us is:

John 13:34 (ESV) A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.

Love, compassion, courtesy, empathy for others are marks that a person is genuinely saved. Christians should love as Christ loved!

A mean spirited, bitter person is not saved. Christ is not in their hearts, and their destination is not glory with God in Heaven. The Scripture says:

1 John 4:11-12, 19-21 (ESV) Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 12 No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us. … 19 We love because he first loved us. 20 If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. 21 And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother.

The Darkness Can Only Be Defeated With The Light Of Christ

If Christ has touched your hearts, He has also certainly touched your tongues, your hands, and your feet! We read:

1 Peter 3:9 Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing.

We are called as Christians to not return blow for blow, evil for evil. Under the Old Covenant God had a system called “Lex Talionis”, or the Law of Tooth and Nail. In those days there were no police nor military to recompense evil. When someone committed a capital offense, God gave the nearest living relative the authority to bring justice to the offending party.

Leviticus 24:19-20 (ESV) If anyone injures his neighbor, as he has done it shall be done to him, 20 fracture for fracture, eye for eye, tooth for tooth; whatever injury he has given a person shall be given to him.

Under the New Covenant, Jesus removed this
provision from the Law for the believer.

Matthew 5:38-45 (ESV) “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ 39 But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. 40 And if anyone would sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. 41 And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. 42 Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you. 43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.

The focus of the Church Age is to expand the Kingdom of God through whosoever will, to lead the lost to Christ. When we do God’s will and honor our Jesus, the Lord God blesses our lives. God extends our lives when we honor Jesus by loving others as Jesus did. We read:

1 Peter 3:10-12 (ESV) 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 {δόλος dólos, [pronounced dol’-os], meaning “trickery, deceitfulness, to catch someone with a snare or bait}: 11 Let him eschew (ἐκκλίνω ekklínō, [pronounced ek-klee’-no]) evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it. 12 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.

Those who “love life”, that is, the ones who regard life to be a great gift not to be wasted are the same ones who “see good days” or enjoy life. How do they do this? They do this by controlling their attitude by first controlling their tongues. The Apostle is actually quoting from The Hebrew Hymnbook, from…

Psalm 34:12-16 (ESV) What man is there who desires life and loves many days, that he may see good? 13 Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking deceit. 14 Turn away from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it. 15 The eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous and his ears toward their cry. 16 The face of the Lord is against those who do evil, to cut off the memory of them from the earth.

Those who have the most blessed lives control their tongue and lips. They refuse to do the evil, but instead pursue Christ in their daily walk. When God’s Children do well, that is, love as Jesus loved, then God the Father will oversee us as He did His Son while He walked this earth. Beloved, you need to

Choose your attitude, and choose your actions. Do not let your environment or your feelings choose your actions. Do good, as Christ did good and does good.

The Enduring Word Commentary notes:

“Jesus did not command us to like our brothers and sisters in Christ. But we are commanded to love them; and once we start loving them we will start liking them. … Doing good is often difficult because as a general rule, evil is rewarded immediately and the reward of doing good is often delayed. But the rewards of good are better and far more secure than the rewards of doing evil.”

How Do I Respond If The Good I Do Is Repaid With Evil?

1 Peter 3:13-14 And who is he that will harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good? 14 But and if ye suffer for righteousness’ sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled;

If you are a Christian, then you need to expect that you will be persecuted, hated, slandered, despised, thought of as weird or abnormal, and shunned. The darkness has never loved the light of God. The darkness did not come into the Garden of Eden as a Teddy Bear, or a cute Deer, but as a venomous Serpent. The Devil hates the Kingdom of God, and will do whatever He can to destroy it. Jesus told us:

Matthew 10:28 … do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell

As long as we are doing Christ’s work in Christ’s way, God will protect us and guide us through the various attacks we no doubt will suffer. The Psalmist said:

Psalm 118:6 (ESV) The Lord is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me?

Rather than focus on the attacks or the inevitable “what ifs” that Satan will attempt to put in your minds, we are told to draw closer to our God. We are to:

1 Peter 3:15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:

Draw near to God, to His light, when you are being persecuted. Our Lord Jesus was persecuted for preaching the truth. We ourselves will be persecuted for speaking the truth. Speak the truth anyway. Jesus told us:

Matthew 5:10-12 (ESV) Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. 12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Jesus told us that “ ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours” (John 15:20). It is true that “through many tribulations we must enter the Kingdom of God” (Acts 14:22).

1 Peter 3:16-17 Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ. 17 For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing.

When trials come your way, examine yourselves, to whether you are in the faith or not” (2 Corinthians 13:5). If you are in the faith serving Jesus Christ, then keep on doing that. If you are NOT serving God, but selfishly meeting your own needs and desires, then STOP IT! We are told:

“it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer
for well doing, than for evil doing”

When we do evil, evil has its own punishment. The Bible tells us that “The wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23). When we move into darkness, we suffer the death that is unique to darkness. But when we “walk in the light as {God the Father} is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.” (1 John 1:7). The suffering we receive for doing good is but temporal, and finishes with a great blessing in Heaven. The suffering we receive for doing evil may last us a lifetime, and will rob us of eternal rewards.

Unjust Suffering Endured Will Lead To Victory

When you or I live as Jesus did, will there be times when our love and kindness is rebuffed and thrown back in our faces? Yes, that can happen. That happened with Jesus. Our Lord Jesus “once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God”. But there are many who reject Him and His Cross.

1 Peter 3:18 For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:

Jesus died on the Cross “that he might bring us to God”. He did this for “whosoever will”. And yet, many will reject Christ and die in their sins. In the next few verses we will read one of the most difficult texts of Scripture. Every commentary and Bible Scholar I have consulted have a different view of this text. We read:

1 Peter 3:18-20 For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit: 19 By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison; 20 Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.

The Apostle ties the ministry of Jesus Christ to the ministry of the Prophet Noah. After Jesus died on the Cross, He was “quickened {made alive} by the Spirit”. When Jesus died on that Cross, the world thought He was gone for good. In that three day interval our Lord “went and preached unto the spirits in prison”. Who are these “spirits”, and where is this “prison”? We do not know. What is this “prison”? It is a holding place that is not Heaven. We know from the context that these “spirits” were disobedient and stood against the preaching of Noah for 120 years while he built the Ark. God saved the eight souls who obediently got on the Ark, but the others all died under the judgment of the flood. When Jesus died on Calvary, He went and preached to these “spirits”, telling them He was the Messiah that was promised, the reason that the Ark was commissioned. Though we are left with many blanks, what we learn from this is that love transcends anything that evil can do. Love lives on, and preaches long after we leave this earth. Love makes the difference.

If you are saved, you are saved because Jesus loved you anyway. If others will be saved, we must share the glorious message that Jesus loves them still, and Jesus loves them anyway. May others come to the glorious Christ in faith, believing on Him, so that they might be saved. The darkness cannot be fought with darkness. We must walk with Christ in the Light. For God’s glory. Amen and Amen!