Commentary on First Peter (85)
Posted by Vincent Cheung on July 24, 2006Other than the above, we should notice that these final words in verse 24 again emphasize the nature of Christ's saving work as one of substitution and sacrifice. That is, his wounds brought us healing. He endured pain so that we could be well. He suffered affliction to save us from destruction. This idea is central to Christian faith and living, and also to our outreach in evangelism and charity work.
Before we became Christians, we were "like sheep going astray," but now we have "returned to the Shepherd and Overseer" of our souls. Non-Christians are without spiritual direction, and they live purposeless lives as aimless and useless people. Whether they live or die, and whether they prosper or suffer, it is all meaningless and without significance. Because of the work of Christ, we have been saved from all of this, and our lives take on purpose, direction, and value.
Once again we perceive the pastoral skill of the apostle. He acknowledges the difficulties that his readers might have to face without allowing them to make excuses for sin, or to use their freedom in Christ as cover-up for evil. He consistently maintains the necessity of being conscious of God and entrusting everything to him. And he grounds his entire discourse on the person and the work of Christ. Preachers would do well to learn from his approach.
Moreover, Scripture pervades Peter's thinking. The passage is interwoven with quotations and paraphrases of Isaiah 53, where the prophet speaks of the atoning work of the Messiah, the one who was to come. Specifically, verse 22 corresponds to Isaiah 53:9, verse 23 to 53:7, verse 24 to 53:5, and verse 25 to 53:6.
In preaching, although we must always be consistent with Scripture, there is no need to provide a direct biblical quotation for every minor point that we make. This is usually impossible in the first place, since it would make the presentation so cumbersome that it becomes difficult to follow. Nevertheless, it is better to follow Peter's example in having the very thoughts, categories, and expressions of Scripture pervade our speech. This requires the man of God to study not only to make sermons, but he must so immerse himself in the Word of God that his mind becomes obsessed with it, and therefore possessed by it.