1 Peter 4:7-9 teaches that because there will soon come a day when God will judge all men, believers need to focus on activities that have eternal value such as wisdom, prayer, love for each other, and hospitality for other believers.
In 1 Peter 4:7-91 Peter 4:7-9 commentary, commentary Peter asserts that the day of judgment is drawing near as context for his prior admonition that believers should live “according to the will of God” (1 Peter 4:61 Peter 4:6 commentary). A primary purpose of Peter’s writing is to encourage believers to make their lives on earth count for eternity by living as faithful witnesses, following the example of Jesus. Peter reminds us that The end of all things is near; therefore, be of sound judgment and sober spirit for the purpose of prayer (v. 7).
Peter also writes of the looming judgment (The end of all things is near) in other parts of his letters. It is a major theme and shapes Peter’s perspective on how to live out obedience in this present life:
1 Peter 1:71 Peter 1:7 commentary speaks of the “revelation of Jesus Christ,” referring to His second coming
1 Peter 2:121 Peter 2:12 commentary speaks of the deeds of believers being evaluated in the “day of visitation” of Jesus
1 Peter 4:17-181 Peter 4:17-18 commentary speaks of the extreme importance of God’s judgment, and the seriousness with which it should be treated
1 Peter 5:41 Peter 5:4 commentary speaks of Jesus (the “Chief Shepherd”) appearing to give rewards to those who are faithful stewards
2 Peter 1:112 Peter 1:11 commentary speaks of the “entrance into the eternal kingdom” being “abundantly supplied” through being diligent in living out our calling as stewards of God
2 Peter 2:92 Peter 2:9 commentary speaks of the “day of judgment” in context of prior judgments God made, such as His judgment of Sodom and Gomorrah
2 Peter 3:72 Peter 3:7 commentary speaks of the “day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men”
2 Peter 3:102 Peter 3:10 commentary speaks of the current earth passing away and the “day of the Lord” (the day of judgment) coming unsuspecting (“like a thief”)
2 Peter 3:112 Peter 3:11 commentary exhorts believers to live in “holy conduct” in light of the coming judgment.
In his second letter, Peter addresses the criticism that there has been a constant claim that God will come and judge the world, but people say, “Where is the promise of His coming?” (2 Peter 3:42 Peter 3:4 commentary). Peter answers by saying two things a) God is outside of time; to Him “one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years is like one day” (2 Peter 3:82 Peter 3:8 commentary) and b) God has deferred His coming so that more people will come to faith and not perish (2 Peter 3:92 Peter 3:9 commentary). Just as God delayed judgment for over a hundred years in the days of Noah, He is deferring judgment in the current era (as of this writing).
The end is near, and has been for two thousand years. But in the scope of eternity, that is just a blip of time. It is because the end is near that Peter makes three present-day applications. The first application from living with the constant reality that we are close to the end is the importance of prayer. Therefore (because the end is near) be of sound judgment and sober spirit for the purpose of prayer (v. 7).
If our prayers are going to be effective, first we must be of sound judgment, meaning to be able to think in a reasonable, serious manner in light of the circumstances. Second, we must be of sober spirit, implying to be free from every form of mental distraction in order to be well balanced and self-controlled (1 Peter 1:131 Peter 1:13 commentary, commentary1 Peter 5:81 Peter 5:8 commentary).
When Jesus prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane the night before His crucifixion, He asked the disciples to “keep watch” with Him (Matthew 26:38Matthew 26:38 commentary). The Greek word “gregoreo” translated “keep watch” is rendered elsewhere as “be on the alert” (Matthew 25:13Matthew 25:13 commentary, commentary1 Peter 5:81 Peter 5:8 commentary). The Greek word translated sober in the phrase sober spirit is paired with “be on the alert” (“gregoreo”) in the next chapter, when speaking of resisting Satan (1 Peter 5:81 Peter 5:8 commentary).
It seems likely that in making this admonition to his disciples, Peter was remembering Jesus’s admonition to him that night in the Garden.
Jesus had exhorted Peter (and other disciples) to stay awake and to commune with God. Instead of staying alert, Peter fell asleep (Matthew 26:38-40Matthew 26:38-40 commentary). Jesus told Peter and the others:
“Keep watching [‘gregorio’] and praying that you may not enter into temptation; the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak” (Matthew 26:41Matthew 26:41 commentary).
The end was near for Jesus, and He soberly watched and prayed that He might not enter temptation. He could have called a legion of angels to rescue Him, but chose instead to do the will of His Father (Matthew 26:53Matthew 26:53 commentary, commentaryLuke 22:42Luke 22:42 commentary).
To be clear-headed and undistracted mentally are essential elements for the purpose of prayer. The expressions for the purpose of is the translation of the Greek preposition “eis” which in this context is used to denote purpose. The word prayer is a general word used of a petition addressed to God (1 Peter 3:71 Peter 3:7 commentary). The original word for prayer is plural and can could be translated “prayers.”
Peter fell into temptation, denying Jesus three times; this was a failure that made him terribly disappointed (Matthew 26:75Matthew 26:75 commentary). It seems likely he is exhorting others not to make the same mistake he made. He desires that they remain sober and be on the alert in their prayers in order not to fall into temptation.
In addition to prayer, Peter makes a second application from living close to the end of all things, above all keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins (v.8).
The expression above all indicates that love is a priority above everything else (1 Corinthians 13:131 Corinthians 13:13 commentary, commentaryJohn 13:34John 13:34 commentary). Because loving others is a priority, believers are instructed to keep fervent in their love for one another. The idea behind the expression keep fervent is maintaining an unwavering devotion (Acts 12:5Acts 12:5 commentary). This unwavering devotion in this context is in your love for one another (1 Peter 1:221 Peter 1:22 commentary).
The word love is the Greek “agape” referring to the love of choice. We can choose to love the right thing or the wrong thing. In 1 John 2:15-161 John 2:15-16 commentary, commentary John admonishes believers not to love (“agape”) the things that are in the world. Peter exhorts believers to choose to loveone another like Christ loved us. Christ chose to follow His Father’s will and die for us. As a result, His blood covered our sins (Revelation 1:5Revelation 1:5 commentary). In like manner, we are to choose to love others in a manner that our love will cover a multitude of sins.
The sacrificial love of Christ places the needs of others above our own comfort or desires. This selfless love is directed towards one another, meaning fellow believers in the body of Christ (1 Peter 1:221 Peter 1:22 commentary). This is consistent with the new command Jesus gave His disciples:
“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another.” (John 13:34John 13:34 commentary)
In giving this admonition above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, Peter might have been remembering this commandment to “love one another” which he heard in the presence of Jesus.
The end of this age is near, but there is another reason for maintaining this unwavering devotion of love for one another. It is because love covers a multitude of sins. This does not mean love paid the penalty for sins, only Christ’s death did that; Jesus died once, for all (Romans 6:10Romans 6:10 commentary).
Rather, love furthers human connection and teamwork, and halts contention and strife. As Paul said in Galatians 5:13-15Galatians 5:13-15 commentary, commentary walking in the Spirit and loving one another creates a culture of mutual service while walking in the flesh creates a culture where people “bite and devour one another.”
What covering a multitude of sins includes is the willingness to forgive the sins of others. Peter most likely recalls the following conversation with Jesus:
“Then Peter came and said to Him, ‘Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him? Up to seven times?’ Jesus said to him, ‘I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven’” (Matthew 18:21-22Matthew 18:21-22 commentary).
Other Scriptures confirm this truth (Proverbs 10:12Proverbs 10:12 commentary, commentaryJames 5:20James 5:20 commentary, commentary1 Corinthians 13:51 Corinthians 13:5 commentary).
We can infer that Peter is passing along three major lessons he learned during his time walking on earth with Jesus.
In addition to prayer and love, Peter reveals a third application for believers as the end of this age approaches, Be hospitable to one another without complaint (v. 9).
The idea involved in being hospitable is opening up your home for ministry (1 Timothy 3:21 Timothy 3:2 commentary, commentaryTitus 1:8Titus 1:8 commentary, commentaryRomans 12:13Romans 12:13 commentary, commentaryHebrews 12:2Hebrews 12:2 commentary). This infers a spirit of giving, focusing on the needs of others. It is interesting here that Peter focuses on sharing our time and space rather than our finances. Connecting this command to be hospitable to one another with having fervent love for one another, we can infer that a material part of fervent love is sharing our time with our presence.
It is likely that during this era these believers met regularly in one another’s homes. We see this in mentions throughout the New Testament (Romans 16:5Romans 16:5 commentary, commentary1 Corinthians 16:191 Corinthians 16:19 commentary, commentaryColossians 4:15Colossians 4:15 commentary, commentaryPhilemon 1:2Philemon 1:2 commentary).
A part of this admonition might be for each of the believers to express generosity in opening up their homes to facilitate the fellowship of the assembling of believers to gather. The New Testament is adamant that living as faithful witnesses is a “team” activity and we ought to assemble regularly for the purpose of stirring one another up to good works, knowing that the day of judgement is approaching (Hebrews 10:24-25Hebrews 10:24-25 commentary).
This home ministry is to be focused on one another, referring to fellow believers as indicated by the context (1 Peter 1:221 Peter 1:22 commentary. 4:8). It is also to be done willingly and joyfully without complaint. The meaning of without complaint refers to expressing displeasure by grumbling (Philippians 2:14Philippians 2:14 commentary, commentaryActs 6:1Acts 6:1 commentary, commentaryJohn 7:12John 7:12 commentary). This is similar to Paul’s assertion that “God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Corinthians 9:72 Corinthians 9:7 commentary).
Peter’s point is that when believers are living with the end in mind, they will focus their time and effort on things that matter for eternity, such as prayer, love, and hospitality. This eternal perspective makes doing this something that is joyful rather than drudgery. To live with the end in mind is to live in such a way as to please God in all things, knowing that all believers will be judged by Him and receive rewards for our faithfulness, or loss of rewards for lack thereof (2 Corinthians 5:102 Corinthians 5:10 commentary).
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1 Peter 4:7-9 meaning
In 1 Peter 4:7-91 Peter 4:7-9 commentary, commentary Peter asserts that the day of judgment is drawing near as context for his prior admonition that believers should live “according to the will of God” (1 Peter 4:61 Peter 4:6 commentary). A primary purpose of Peter’s writing is to encourage believers to make their lives on earth count for eternity by living as faithful witnesses, following the example of Jesus. Peter reminds us that The end of all things is near; therefore, be of sound judgment and sober spirit for the purpose of prayer (v. 7).
Peter also writes of the looming judgment (The end of all things is near) in other parts of his letters. It is a major theme and shapes Peter’s perspective on how to live out obedience in this present life:
In his second letter, Peter addresses the criticism that there has been a constant claim that God will come and judge the world, but people say, “Where is the promise of His coming?” (2 Peter 3:42 Peter 3:4 commentary). Peter answers by saying two things a) God is outside of time; to Him “one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years is like one day” (2 Peter 3:82 Peter 3:8 commentary) and b) God has deferred His coming so that more people will come to faith and not perish (2 Peter 3:92 Peter 3:9 commentary). Just as God delayed judgment for over a hundred years in the days of Noah, He is deferring judgment in the current era (as of this writing).
The end is near, and has been for two thousand years. But in the scope of eternity, that is just a blip of time. It is because the end is near that Peter makes three present-day applications. The first application from living with the constant reality that we are close to the end is the importance of prayer. Therefore (because the end is near) be of sound judgment and sober spirit for the purpose of prayer (v. 7).
If our prayers are going to be effective, first we must be of sound judgment, meaning to be able to think in a reasonable, serious manner in light of the circumstances. Second, we must be of sober spirit, implying to be free from every form of mental distraction in order to be well balanced and self-controlled (1 Peter 1:131 Peter 1:13 commentary, commentary 1 Peter 5:81 Peter 5:8 commentary).
When Jesus prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane the night before His crucifixion, He asked the disciples to “keep watch” with Him (Matthew 26:38Matthew 26:38 commentary). The Greek word “gregoreo” translated “keep watch” is rendered elsewhere as “be on the alert” (Matthew 25:13Matthew 25:13 commentary, commentary 1 Peter 5:81 Peter 5:8 commentary). The Greek word translated sober in the phrase sober spirit is paired with “be on the alert” (“gregoreo”) in the next chapter, when speaking of resisting Satan (1 Peter 5:81 Peter 5:8 commentary).
It seems likely that in making this admonition to his disciples, Peter was remembering Jesus’s admonition to him that night in the Garden.
Jesus had exhorted Peter (and other disciples) to stay awake and to commune with God. Instead of staying alert, Peter fell asleep (Matthew 26:38-40Matthew 26:38-40 commentary). Jesus told Peter and the others:
“Keep watching [‘gregorio’] and praying that you may not enter into temptation; the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak”
(Matthew 26:41Matthew 26:41 commentary).
The end was near for Jesus, and He soberly watched and prayed that He might not enter temptation. He could have called a legion of angels to rescue Him, but chose instead to do the will of His Father (Matthew 26:53Matthew 26:53 commentary, commentary Luke 22:42Luke 22:42 commentary).
To be clear-headed and undistracted mentally are essential elements for the purpose of prayer. The expressions for the purpose of is the translation of the Greek preposition “eis” which in this context is used to denote purpose. The word prayer is a general word used of a petition addressed to God (1 Peter 3:71 Peter 3:7 commentary). The original word for prayer is plural and can could be translated “prayers.”
Peter fell into temptation, denying Jesus three times; this was a failure that made him terribly disappointed (Matthew 26:75Matthew 26:75 commentary). It seems likely he is exhorting others not to make the same mistake he made. He desires that they remain sober and be on the alert in their prayers in order not to fall into temptation.
In addition to prayer, Peter makes a second application from living close to the end of all things, above all keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins (v.8).
The expression above all indicates that love is a priority above everything else (1 Corinthians 13:131 Corinthians 13:13 commentary, commentary John 13:34John 13:34 commentary). Because loving others is a priority, believers are instructed to keep fervent in their love for one another. The idea behind the expression keep fervent is maintaining an unwavering devotion (Acts 12:5Acts 12:5 commentary). This unwavering devotion in this context is in your love for one another (1 Peter 1:221 Peter 1:22 commentary).
The word love is the Greek “agape” referring to the love of choice. We can choose to love the right thing or the wrong thing. In 1 John 2:15-161 John 2:15-16 commentary, commentary John admonishes believers not to love (“agape”) the things that are in the world. Peter exhorts believers to choose to love one another like Christ loved us. Christ chose to follow His Father’s will and die for us. As a result, His blood covered our sins (Revelation 1:5Revelation 1:5 commentary). In like manner, we are to choose to love others in a manner that our love will cover a multitude of sins.
The sacrificial love of Christ places the needs of others above our own comfort or desires. This selfless love is directed towards one another, meaning fellow believers in the body of Christ (1 Peter 1:221 Peter 1:22 commentary). This is consistent with the new command Jesus gave His disciples:
“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another.”
(John 13:34John 13:34 commentary)
In giving this admonition above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, Peter might have been remembering this commandment to “love one another” which he heard in the presence of Jesus.
The end of this age is near, but there is another reason for maintaining this unwavering devotion of love for one another. It is because love covers a multitude of sins. This does not mean love paid the penalty for sins, only Christ’s death did that; Jesus died once, for all (Romans 6:10Romans 6:10 commentary).
Rather, love furthers human connection and teamwork, and halts contention and strife. As Paul said in Galatians 5:13-15Galatians 5:13-15 commentary, commentary walking in the Spirit and loving one another creates a culture of mutual service while walking in the flesh creates a culture where people “bite and devour one another.”
What covering a multitude of sins includes is the willingness to forgive the sins of others. Peter most likely recalls the following conversation with Jesus:
“Then Peter came and said to Him, ‘Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him? Up to seven times?’ Jesus said to him, ‘I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven’”
(Matthew 18:21-22Matthew 18:21-22 commentary).
Other Scriptures confirm this truth (Proverbs 10:12Proverbs 10:12 commentary, commentary James 5:20James 5:20 commentary, commentary 1 Corinthians 13:51 Corinthians 13:5 commentary).
We can infer that Peter is passing along three major lessons he learned during his time walking on earth with Jesus.
In addition to prayer and love, Peter reveals a third application for believers as the end of this age approaches, Be hospitable to one another without complaint (v. 9).
The idea involved in being hospitable is opening up your home for ministry (1 Timothy 3:21 Timothy 3:2 commentary, commentary Titus 1:8Titus 1:8 commentary, commentary Romans 12:13Romans 12:13 commentary, commentary Hebrews 12:2Hebrews 12:2 commentary). This infers a spirit of giving, focusing on the needs of others. It is interesting here that Peter focuses on sharing our time and space rather than our finances. Connecting this command to be hospitable to one another with having fervent love for one another, we can infer that a material part of fervent love is sharing our time with our presence.
It is likely that during this era these believers met regularly in one another’s homes. We see this in mentions throughout the New Testament (Romans 16:5Romans 16:5 commentary, commentary 1 Corinthians 16:191 Corinthians 16:19 commentary, commentary Colossians 4:15Colossians 4:15 commentary, commentary Philemon 1:2Philemon 1:2 commentary).
A part of this admonition might be for each of the believers to express generosity in opening up their homes to facilitate the fellowship of the assembling of believers to gather. The New Testament is adamant that living as faithful witnesses is a “team” activity and we ought to assemble regularly for the purpose of stirring one another up to good works, knowing that the day of judgement is approaching (Hebrews 10:24-25Hebrews 10:24-25 commentary).
This home ministry is to be focused on one another, referring to fellow believers as indicated by the context (1 Peter 1:221 Peter 1:22 commentary. 4:8). It is also to be done willingly and joyfully without complaint. The meaning of without complaint refers to expressing displeasure by grumbling (Philippians 2:14Philippians 2:14 commentary, commentary Acts 6:1Acts 6:1 commentary, commentary John 7:12John 7:12 commentary). This is similar to Paul’s assertion that “God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Corinthians 9:72 Corinthians 9:7 commentary).
Peter’s point is that when believers are living with the end in mind, they will focus their time and effort on things that matter for eternity, such as prayer, love, and hospitality. This eternal perspective makes doing this something that is joyful rather than drudgery. To live with the end in mind is to live in such a way as to please God in all things, knowing that all believers will be judged by Him and receive rewards for our faithfulness, or loss of rewards for lack thereof (2 Corinthians 5:102 Corinthians 5:10 commentary).