obedient – Ministry of Grace Church

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1 Peter 3:6 – Sarah’s Example

Posted on January 4, 2017 by Will

as Sarah was obedient to Abraham, calling him sir, whose daughters you are doing good and fearing no terror.

Truth to Learn

Sarah is Peter’s example of a wife who is submissive to her husband.

Behind the Words

The word translated “obedient” is the Greek word, hupakouō, which literally translates to “hear under.” It is the picture of a student attentively learning from a teacher.

The word “sir” is from kurios which means, “lord, master, or sir.” It does not show Sarah as an abject slave of Abraham, calling him “master,” so much as it shows her as giving respect to him as the family spiritual head, calling him “sir.”

“Fearing” is from the Greek word, phobeō, from which we get the English word “phobia,” which means “to fear.” This is the word used when we are commanded to “fear God.” It carries with it the sense of “to be in awe of” or “to revere.”

Meaning Explained

In the previous verses Peter has been talking about wives voluntarily ranking themselves under their husbands, specifically unsaved husbands, with the view in mind of being a witness that may result in the salvation of their husbands. The whole purpose is to minister for the glory of God.

Peter then gets very specific about the type of outward adornment that is appropriate for the wife, which is itself less important than the inner adornment of a humble and quiet spirit, which is precious in the sight of God.

He then uses the women of ancient time as an example of this inner adornment and now cites Sarah as the supreme example of this type of spirit in her adornment and submission to God through her submission to Abraham.

Remember that Peter started this particular treatise in chapter 2 with instruction on how to be built up as a spiritual house. How we behave with respect to government, our own bosses, and even how we conduct ourselves within our own family are an indication of how we are allowing ourselves to be used in the construction of this spiritual building.

He finishes this section on the behavior of wives with a word of encouragement that by behaving in this manner you wives are demonstrating that you are the spiritual daughters of Sarah. He caps it off by saying that wives who behave in this manner are doing well if it is done in fear without alarm.

But ladies, if your husband is treating you in such a way as to cause you to fear him, whether he claims to be saved or not, then this verse is not addressed to you. You are not commanded to be his doormat and certainly not expected to take abuse from your husband, either physical or emotional.

Application

Western society today does not like this message. The message of the world is to stand up for yourself and do your own thing. If your “thing” is to be faithful to God and to be obedient to Him, then you women are to place yourselves under your husband’s authority. But, if you’re more focused on yourself than on God, you can ignore Peter’s message. It’s up to you.

In God's service, for His glory,

1 Peter 1:14 – Obedient Non-conformists

Posted on October 14, 2016 by Will

as obedient children, not conforming to the former lusts, as in your ignorance;

Truth to Learn

Leave your past in the past and humbly follow God’s leading.

Behind the Words

The word translated “obedient” is the Greek word hupakoē, which is made up of hupo (or hypo), meaning “under” and a form of akouo, meaning “to hear.” Hence, it literally means “to hear under,” that is “to listen to the instruction of someone over you, like a parent or a teacher.” But it means more than just passive listening, it implies obedience to what was taught to you.

“Conforming” is translated from suschēmatidzō, a compound word made up of sun, meaning “together with” and schemētidzō, meaning “to make a pattern.” Hence, this word refers to “someone making something to match with a pattern.” It is expressed here in the middle voice, indicating the action is being done by the subject (yourselves), to the subject.

The word translated “lusts” is epithumia, which is made up of epi, meaning “upon” or “over” and a form of thumos, meaning “a strong emotion or desire.” Hence, this word refers to an overly strong desire or emotion.

Meaning Explained

Peter is continuing the thought from the previous verse about being prepared for action and focusing on the reward that is to come. Now he is saying be attentive and submissive, and don’t pattern your life around the former lusts that used to entrap you. First off, he says we need to be obedient. Regarding obedience, the Apostle John said:

And by this we know that we have known Him, if we keep His commandments. He who says, I have known Him, and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoever keeps His Word, truly in this one the love of God is perfected. By this we know that we are in Him. (1 John 2:3-6)

Then, Peter tells us not to conform to our former lusts. Here’s another caution the Apostle Paul gave about conforming:

And do not be conformed to this world [system], but be transformed by the renewing of your mind … (Romans 12:2)

About these lusts, the Apostle James said:

But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust. Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death. (James 1:14, 15)

So you see, Peter is telling us that we are in the midst of spiritual warfare, and we need to follow the commands given by our Father. And, our actions need to demonstrate that we have changed since we got saved and that we truly are children of God. Peter will finish the rest of this thought in the next verse.

Application

Are you daily preparing yourself for spiritual warfare? Are you in the midst of the battle? Or have you settled back into satisfying your own desires instead of submitting to God?

In God's service, for His glory,

Ephesians 6:5 – Obedient to Masters

Posted on February 15, 2016 by Will

Servants, be obedient to those who are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of heart, as to Christ;

Truth to Learn

Christians are to be respectful and obedient to their bosses.

Behind the Words

“Servants” is from the Greek word doulos, which refers to “someone who, either voluntarily or involuntarily, is in a position of servitude to someone else and whose will is completely submitted to that of his or her master.”

The word translated “obedient” is hupakouō. In verse one of this chapter, we learned that this literally means “to hear under.” As used here it means “to listen attentively and obey.”

The word “masters” is translated from kurios, meaning “a person who is in a position of authority over you.”

“Fear” is from the Greek word phobos, which is related to the verb phebomai, which means “to flee from.” In Greek writing, Phobos has several nuances of meaning including: honor, respect, reverence, fear, or terror.

Tromos is the word translated “trembling.” It generally refers to “trembling of the body as a result of extreme fear.” When combined with phobos (as it is here), it is a reference to “great timidity or profound reverence, respect, or dread.”

The word translated “singleness” is haplotēti. This word is derived from a (a particle of connection or union) and the base of plekō, meaning “to braid together.” Thus, haplotēti refers to the characteristic of not being divided, but being a single unit.

Meaning Explained

In the Roman society in which this letter was written, slaves made up between twenty and forty percent of the population. Slaves were considered to be the legal property of their owner and they had no rights within Roman society. Most slaves were owned by individuals, but some were owned by the Roman people. Some of these public slaves did menial work while others did skilled office work such as accounting and secretarial duties.

A person became a slave in one of three ways: people who were defeated and captured by the Roman army, a Roman father had the right to sell his children into slavery, or a person could voluntarily surrender himself into slavery. In addition to bond slaves, there were household servants (Greek word oiketēs) who worked within a household but were not owned by the master of the house

The Apostolic teaching of the first century does not declare that slavery is wrong; however, within the church all members are considered equal. Paul’s teaching here and in Colossians 3:22 was specifically directed at bond slaves, but the Apostle Peter says the same thing to household servants in 1Peter 2:18.

Both Paul and Peter taught that servants and slaves were to be respectful and obedient to their masters, recognizing that they were under the authority of their master in the same way that all Christians are under Christ’s authority.

Application

All Christians are to be respectful and obedient to those who are in authority over them. Whether your boss is kind or mean, honest or devious, being sincerely obedient to him or her is the same as being obedient to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

In God's service, for His glory,

Ephesians 6:5 – Obedient to Masters

Posted on March 13, 2012 by Will

Bondservants, be obedient to those who are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in sincerity of heart, as to Christ;

Truth to Learn

Christians are to be respectful and obedient to their bosses.

Behind the Words

“Bondservants” is from the Greek word doulos, which refers to “someone who, either voluntarily or involuntarily, is in a position of servitude to someone else and whose will is completely submitted to that of his or her master.”

The word translated “obedient” is hupakouō. In verse one of this chapter, we learned that this literally means “to hear under.” As used here it means “to listen attentively and obey.”

The word “masters” is translated from kurios, meaning “a person who is in a position of authority over you.”

The word translated “sincerity” is haplotēti. This word is derived from a (a particle of connection or union) and the base of plekō, meaning “to braid together.” Thus, haplotēti refers to the characteristic of not being divided, but being a single unit.

Meaning Explained

In the Roman society in which this letter was written, slaves made up between twenty and forty percent of the population. Bond slaves were considered legal property of their owner and they had no rights within Roman society. Most slaves were owned by individuals, but some were owned by the Roman people. Some of these public slaves did menial work while others did skilled office work such as accounting and secretarial duties.

Application

In God's service, for His glory,

Romans 15:18 – Give Him Credit

Posted on May 12, 2011 by Will

Romans 15:18 – Give Him Credit

For I will not dare to speak of any of those things which Christ has not accomplished through me, in word and deed, to make the Gentiles obedient—

Truth to Learn

God gets all the credit for what is accomplished through us.

Behind the Words

The word “dare” is translated from talmaō, meaning “to have courage or boldness, to dare.”

“Obedient” is translated from the Greek noun hupakoē, which is made up of hupo, meaning “under” and akouō, meaning “to hear.” So, literally this word means “to hear under,” that is, “someone who listens attentively to what is being taught and puts into practice what is heard.”

Meaning Explained

Paul has just talked about the things that he can boast about in Christ Jesus. He does not dare, or presume, to speak of those things which Christ had done through the ministry of others. He only concerns himself with the way the Lord had used him to win the Gentiles to obedience, both through what he said and through what he did, by the messages he preached and by the miracles he performed (through the Holy Spirit).

Notice that Paul is not boasting about what he personally has done but what God has done through the ministry he has been called to. If he had anything to boast about personally it would be the fact that he responded to God’s call, made himself available to God, and worked long and hard at the tasks that God called him to do. But Paul does not brag about what he has done, simply about what God has done through him. Paul recognizes that he has done nothing; God has done it all.

We could all take a lesson from Paul on this point. We tend to get puffed up about the things that we have accomplished in our ministry, not recognizing that God is the one who deserves credit for it all. One day all Christians will stand before the judgment seat of Christ:

For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad. (2Corinthians 5:10)

Our rewards will be in the form of crowns that we will receive for the good things we have done for God in this life. We will then have the opportunity to cast those crowns at His feet in recognition of the fact that He is the one deserving of the recognition, not us:

the twenty-four elders [representing all believers] fall down before Him who sits on the throne and worship Him who lives forever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying: “You are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and by Your will they exist and were created.” (Revelation 4:10-11)

Application

Since we will give all the credit to God someday, let’s get in the habit now of giving Him all the credit for what we have accomplished. Our Christian works of service are all about Him, not about us. After all, He is worthy!

In God’s service, for His glory,

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1 Peter 3:18 – Obedient Suffering

Posted on January 29, 2009 by admin

1 Peter 3:18

For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit,

Truth to Learn

Jesus Christ suffered! He suffered quietly, for your sake.

Behind the Words

The word translated “once” is hapax, meaning “one time.” This declares that Christ suffered only one time for all sins.

“Being put to death” is translated from thanatoō, which means “to kill.” It is expressed here in the perfect tense, implying past completed action with a continuous ongoing effect, but the emphasis is on the ongoing effect (for you and me).

Meaning Explained

Peter has told us in a number of different ways that it’s a good thing for us to suffer unjustly. He has also said that not only is it pleasing to God but sometimes it is what God has determined. He now tells us that our Father, who has adopted us, is not asking us to do anything which his own Eternal Son has not already done. According to this verse, Christ suffered for sins. Did He commit any sins? No! So whose sins did He suffer for? Obviously, He suffered for yours and mine and for those of all mankind from the beginning of time until the great judgment day. Is that fair? No, but it is what God determined.

But why would God determine that to happen? Peter answers this in the following part of this verse, “that He might bring us to God …” God determined that this was the way that He could make himself approachable by sinful mankind. Christ Himself can now bring us to the Holy Father. In theological terms this is known as “substitutionary” death. That is, the one who did not deserve to die did so as a substitute for us. And, since He didn’t need the death applied to his account to pay for His sins (since He didn’t have any), his death was applied to our accounts as payment for our sins.

Now, for just a moment, let’s look at this from Christ’s perspective. He didn’t have to die. He didn’t have to go through the agony and suffering that He did, nor was He personally desirous of doing so. Here’s what He prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane just before being taken by the crowd to be tried, tortured, and crucified (Matt 26:36-39),

Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane. And He said to the disciples, “Sit here while I go and pray there.”

And He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee with Him, and He began to be sorrowful and very heavy. Then He said to them, “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Wait here and watch with Me.”

And He went a little further and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me. Yet not as I will, but as You will.”

Christ knew what was coming and He didn’t want to go through with it, but He willingly did so because He knew that God the Father wanted Him to do it. He was obedient, even unto death.

Application

Now compare the suffering that you may currently be going through, or that you may go through in the future, with His suffering. He was willing to do so for the Father … and for you. Are you willing to do so for Him? Even though it isn’t fair?

In God’s service, for His glory,

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