But let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or as a meddler in other people's matters.
Truth to Learn
Suffering for righteousness is pleasing to God. Suffering for wrongdoing is not pleasing to anyone.
Behind the Words
“Evildoer” comes from the Greek word kakopoios, which is a compound of kakos, meaning “bad or evil” and poieĊ, meaning “to make or to do.” So, kakopoios means one who does bad things.
The expression “a meddler in other people’s matters” comes from the single Greek word allotrioepiskapos. This, again, is a compound word that combines allotrios, meaning “those things which belong to someone else” and episkiopos, meaning “an overseer.” Hence, this word means “someone who is overseeing someone else’s matters” or “someone who sticks their nose in other people’s business.”
Meaning Explained
After a number of verses intended to comfort us in our times of trial and suffering, Peter now interjects a solemn warning lest we think that any type of suffering is glorifying to God.
Peter mentions four types of actions for which suffering does not bring glory to God. Two of them are specific crimes and the other two are more general in nature. The first two things he identifies are murder and theft. Certainly none of us would seriously consider murder as a reasonable action because it is so horrific and final. Stealing, on the other hand, is a different matter. We tend to categorize stealing two ways: intentionally taking something that doesn’t rightfully belong to us and “borrowing” or using something that isn’t ours but that the rightful owner will never miss or doesn’t need if we don’t return it. If the matter were truth telling we would call this latter one a “white lie,” so I’ll refer to it here as a “white theft.” Unfortunately for us, in God’s book there is no difference between a white theft and any other kind. If we get caught in the act and suffer for it we do not bring glory to God.
The other two things that Peter mentions for which we should never suffer are being an evil-doer and being a meddler. Evildoer is pretty broad in scope and includes all those things that we do that aren’t pleasing to God. Lest we try to split hairs here, Peter is not saying that we shouldn’t get caught, but that we shouldn’t do these types of things. If we don’t do these things, we won’t have to suffer for them.
The fourth thing that Peter tells us not to suffer for is “a meddler in other people’s matters.” I’m sure we all know or have known someone like that. This should never be the case with a Christian. After all, we have enough to do just to keep our own sin nature in check without looking into or trying to fix anyone else’s problems.
So, to put today’s verse in perspective, let me summarize what Peter is telling us. If we suffer for righteousness sake, we are blessed and we bring glory to God, but it does not glorify God when we suffer for our sins.
Application
I know that some of you are suffering right now as the result of a number of different issues. Remember, that’s pleasing to God – as long as it’s the result of having done what is right!
In God's service, for His glory,
Copyright © 2017 Will Krause. All rights reserved