1 Peter 3:8-12 – Christian behavior at its best

Peter concluded his call for Christian behavior by summing up what he had said about respect and relationships. He outlined five critical qualities to a healthy interpersonal relationship.

Firstly, he calls them to exist harmoniously. This is a call to a peaceful existence. Believers must be co-operative despite personal differences to bring about harmony. Secondly, he asked them to be sympathetic. Being sympathetic requires believers to feel with others in their experiences, especially in pains. Thirdly, he told them to be brotherly. Since believers are related by the precious blood of Christ, there ought to be a kinship that would unite them in God’s love. Fourthly, each must show kindheartedness. There must be affection and compassion for each other within the family of believers. Finally, believers must be humble in spirit. This would make the interests of others before personal interest.

Wanting believers to live at the optimal level, Peter urged them not to seek revenge and return evil for the evil done to them. They should instead be the ones who bless others. This was exactly what the Lord Himself had demonstrated in His life. The basis of this argument is found in the latter half of verse 9: to inherit God’s blessing. Peter’s point is this: By being people who bless, believers would have acted in the will of God. In so doing, they would invite blessing from the Lord.

In verses 10-12, Peter then quoted from Psalm 34:12-16 to clarify and support the point that he had already shared in verses 8-9.  As we conclude, let us hear what the Psalmist has to say:

¹²Who is the man who desires life and loves length of days that he may see good?

¹³ Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking deceit.

¹⁴ Depart from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.

¹⁵ The eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous and His ears are open to their cry.

¹⁶The face of the Lord is against evildoers, to cut off the memory of them from the earth.