1 Peter 3 Devotional

Answering Insult with Blessing

“For Christ also suffered for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit,”1 Peter 3:18 (BSB)

Peter begins with the closest relationships. Wives are to submit to their husbands, so that any who refuse to believe may be won over without words by their conduct (3:1-2). Husbands are to honor their wives as fellow heirs of the gift of life, and Peter warns that failing to do so hinders their prayers (3:7). Then he widens the circle to everyone: do not repay evil for evil or insult for insult, but bless, because you were called to inherit a blessing (3:9).

Why would anyone answer cruelty with blessing? Peter's answer is the cross. Christ suffered for sins once for all, the righteous one for the unrighteous, to bring us to God (3:18). We did not earn our place by being better than those who hurt us. We were brought near by someone who suffered in our place. That frees believers to suffer for doing good without fear (3:14), and to explain their hope gently and respectfully when asked (3:15). Blessing those who insult us is not weakness. It is passing on what was first given to us.

To think about: Is there someone who has wronged you whom you could bless this week, in word or in action?