1 Peter 5:1-14
To Elders and Young Men
1To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder, a witness of Christ's sufferings and one who also will share in the glory to be revealed: 2Be shepherds of God's flock that is under your care, serving as overseers—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to serve; 3not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. 4And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.
5Young men, in the same way be submissive to those who are older. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because,
"God opposes the proud
but gives grace to the humble."
6Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. 7Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
8Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 9Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.
10And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. 11To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.
Final Greetings
12With the help of Silas, whom I regard as a faithful brother, I have written to you briefly, encouraging you and testifying that this is the true grace of God. Stand fast in it. 13She who is in Babylon, chosen together with you, sends you her greetings, and so does my son Mark. 14Greet one another with a kiss of love. Peace to all of you who are in Christ.
St. Peter in his second epistle addresses the elders and young men about Christian living...Peter was an eyewitness to Jesus and His ministry...St. Peter had seen the Transfiguration on the Sacred Mountain (Matthew 17:1-13)...He say the glory of God...We can learn from what he has been taught (directly) by our Messiah...Peter tells the elders, he too now is an elder and is a witness of Jesus' sufferings...He tells the elders to be shepherds of God's flock that is under their care...They need to serve as overseers to the flock...The elders are to do this not because they have to or they must, but because they are willing...God wants the elders not to greedy for money, but eager to serve God and help the flock...When they help others, they are not to lord over them and act arrogant and prideful...They need to be humble when working with those looking for the truth...For when the Chief Shepherd appears, the elders will receive their crown of glory that will never fade away...
Also, St. Peter addresses the young men...He tells the youthful men to be submissive to the elders...God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble (Proverbs 3:34), so they also should clothe themselves in humility...If we humble ourselves before God, He will lift us up in His time...When we are anxious, we should cast it upon Him, because He cares for us...We need to be self-controlled and alert...We need to be on guard because the evil one prowls everywhere like a lion, and is always looking for someone to devour...We must resist the evil one...We must run from evil...We must seek good, not evil, that we may live (Amos 5:14)...
Our Father is the God of all grace...He gives us eternal glory, when He sent His Son to save us...We must suffer and work through this life and if we hold onto our faith for the Father and the Son, then He will make us strong, firm and steadfast...
In St. Peter's final greetings he mentions Silas a faithful brother and apostle...Peter also mentions John Mark, who he treats as a son...Mark and Silas, two brothers of faith and friends of St. Peter, were teaching the good news of Jesus Christ...
If we are not alert and on guard the evil one will tempt us quickly and we may not realize what has just happened...If we have self-control, we have better control of our passions and desires...They will be less likely to cause trouble, temptations, or sin in our lives...Jesus still is our Chief Shepherd, our Good Shepherd...Humility, taught to both the elders and youths, brings harmony...Humility is an attribute that looks outwardly...Pride brings division and is an attribute that looks inwardly...Jesus teaches us to love God and love thy neighbor...For us to follow Him, we must search for these things, such as faith, hope, and love outwardly, and not look inwardly for the important things...