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Honor, Love, and Fear Lead to Love
June 11, 2022
In his first letter, Peter exhorts the reader to follow the laws and regulations of the governing authorities for the Lord’s sake, and he added that it made no difference what office the person held. Peter explained there is a benefit for those who are called to do well, to follow the laws and regulations of the governing authorities because this silences the naysayers in our life, and that as we follow the laws and regulations of the governing authorities we do so as the servants of God. Of course, there is this understood concept that whenever the laws and regulations of the governing authorities contradict what God requires, we always listen to God. It is with this backdrop we are told to honor all men, love the brotherhood, fear God, and honor the king.
1 Peter 2:13-17
Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme;
Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well.
For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men:
As free, and not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of God.
Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king.
Imagine that the concept of honoring all men, loving the brotherhood, fearing God, and honoring the nation’s leader is linked to following the laws and regulations of the governing authorities. We live in a time where there are wars and rumors of wars, where conspiracy theories abound, and people seem to be losing confidence in their governments. With all of that, we are still to follow the laws and regulations of the governing authorities for the Lord’s sake.
Until Jesus Christ returns to earth as Lord of lords and King of kings, to displace man’s system of government, we are to live within man’s system of government and follow its laws and regulations to further the Kingdom of God and God’s righteousness. There is no benefit for us at this time to do otherwise, except for when laws and regulations contradict the teachings of the Bible. A notable example of when we will not follow laws and regulations would be the mark of the beast as told to us in the Book of Revelation.
Revelation 13:11-18
And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon.
And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed.
And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men,
And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live.
And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed.
And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads:
And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.
Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six.
Aside from those times when laws and regulations contradict what is written in the Bible, we are to be subject to the laws and regulations of the governing authorities as we honor all men, love the brotherhood, fear God, and honor the nation’s leader.
In first Peter two verse seventeen, honor is translated from timao, Strong’s Greek word 5091, meaning to revere, honor, value. This word is used in many instances throughout the New Testament and when we honor all men, and the king, it is the same Greek word used for when we honor our parents. Imagine how the perspective and situations of this world would change if we gave to others, including those who were in positions of civil authority, the same type of honor that we should be giving to our parents? How society would interact with each other, would begin to change for the better.
In answering the scribes and Pharisees regarding ceremonial handwashing, Jesus told them that even though they knew to honor their mothers and fathers, their practices belied the truth. He added that it is possible to hypocritically honor with lip service, but not holding that honor in our hearts.
Matthew 15:1-9
Then came to Jesus scribes and Pharisees, which were of Jerusalem, saying,
Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat bread.
But he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition?
For God commanded, saying, Honour thy father and mother: and, He that curseth father or mother, let him die the death.
But ye say, Whosoever shall say to his father or his mother, It is a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me;
And honour not his father or his mother, he shall be free. Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition.
Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying,
This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.
But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.
Who we honor and what we say must be reflective of who we are. There can be no phoniness in bestowing honor to others. When we are told to honor all people, there can be nothing phony about that. It’s easy to honor people who also honor us. It’s harder to honor people who try to dishonor us. We are to honor all people.
When Jesus encountered a self-righteous person who tried to curry favor with Jesus, Jesus had to remind this person that only God is good and all of us need to keep the commandments. This person wanted Jesus to explain exactly what commandments needed to be kept to gain eternal life, and Jesus summarized the commandments, including the command to honor mothers and fathers. After hearing this list, this self-righteous person declared that check, all of these he had already been doing. Jesus then replied that all that remained for this person was to sell what he had and to become a disciple of Jesus, and that wasn’t an answer this person was expecting.
Matthew 19:16-22
And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?
And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.
He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness,
Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet?
Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.
But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.
The honor that Peter wrote of in his first letter that we are to have for all men and the king, is something we need to extend to Jesus Christ and God the Father. Even though we are told in Peter’s letter to fear God, we are to also honor Jesus and God the Father. Notice what is recorded for us in John.
John 5:19-23
Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise.
For the Father loveth the Son, and sheweth him all things that himself doeth: and he will shew him greater works than these, that ye may marvel.
For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth them; even so the Son quickeneth whom he will.
For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son:
That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him.
To the Jews who sought to detract from Him, Jesus replied that even though they sought to dishonor Him, Jesus sought to honor God the Father.
John 8:48-51
Then answered the Jews, and said unto him, Say we not well that thou art a Samaritan, and hast a devil?
Jesus answered, I have not a devil; but I honour my Father, and ye do dishonour me.
And I seek not mine own glory: there is one that seeketh and judgeth.
Verily, verily, I say unto you, If a man keep my saying, he shall never see death.
As we honor all men and our nation’s leader, we do so for the honor of God, not our honor. Even when the other people, the all men and our nation’s leader are ego centric and presume they are worthy of honor, we still honor them because in so doing we also honor God. It is when we honor when we ourselves are dishonored that we align ourselves to the expectations of life with God. It is when we follow Jesus, we are servants of Jesus and it is when we are servants of Jesus that God the Father will honor us.
John 12:23-26
And Jesus answered them, saying, The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified.
Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.
He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.
If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour.
The greatest honor we will have is when we are born sons of God in the Kingdom of God. The honor bestowed upon us by God the Father will be much different than any honor that mankind can bestow on us. In writing to the Ephesians, Paul wrote that when we honor our parents, we are following the first commandment that comes with a promise, in this case of long life. Conversely, parents are not to lord over their children as people who provoke anger in their children.
Ephesians 6:1-4
Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right.
Honour thy father and mother; which is the first commandment with promise;
That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.
And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.
In writing to Timothy, Paul wrote that among the “all men” we are to honor as we honor the king, are widows who have no family support. These widows are to be given the same type of honor we have for our parents. The Greek word used for honor given to widows is the same Greek word that Jesus used to explain the honor He and God the Father should be given.
1 Timothy 5:3-16
Honour widows that are widows indeed.
But if any widow have children or nephews, let them learn first to shew piety at home, and to requite their parents: for that is good and acceptable before God.
Now she that is a widow indeed, and desolate, trusteth in God, and continueth in supplications and prayers night and day.
But she that liveth in pleasure is dead while she liveth.
And these things give in charge, that they may be blameless.
But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.
Let not a widow be taken into the number under threescore years old, having been the wife of one man,
Well reported of for good works; if she have brought up children, if she have lodged strangers, if she have washed the saints' feet, if she have relieved the afflicted, if she have diligently followed every good work.
But the younger widows refuse: for when they have begun to wax wanton against Christ, they will marry;
Having damnation, because they have cast off their first faith.
And withal they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house; and not only idle, but tattlers also and busybodies, speaking things which they ought not.
I will therefore that the younger women marry, bear children, guide the house, give none occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully.
For some are already turned aside after Satan.
If any man or woman that believeth have widows, let them relieve them, and let not the church be charged; that it may relieve them that are widows indeed.
Honor is not an award we give, but a way of life that reflect the calling we have been given. When we give honor to others, it is to be honor that would be worthy of the Kingdom of God, Jesus Christ, and God the Father.
Sometimes timao, the Greek word used for honor, is translated as valued. When Judas betrayed Jesus for thirty pieces of silver, when the life of Jesus was valued at thirty pieces of silver, Jesus was honored, or valued at thirty pieces of silver.
Matthew 27:3-10
Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders,
Saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. And they said, What is that to us? see thou to that.
And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself.
And the chief priests took the silver pieces, and said, It is not lawful for to put them into the treasury, because it is the price of blood.
And they took counsel, and bought with them the potter's field, to bury strangers in.
Wherefore that field was called, The field of blood, unto this day.
Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet, saying, And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of him that was valued, whom they of the children of Israel did value;
And gave them for the potter's field, as the Lord appointed me.
Judas valued money more than Jesus and gave money honor when Jesus should have been given honor. The death and resurrection of Jesus Christ is an invaluable gift we have all been given. Judas did not see it that way and sadly we all know people who through their words and actions show us they have no value in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. What is more important to each of us is not the others who through their words and actions show they have no value in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, it is our own words and actions that are of urgent importance to us.
In first Peter two verse seventeen, we are also told to love the brotherhood. Love as used in this verse is translated from Strong’s Greek Word 25, agapao. The very same Greek word was used by Jesus when he taught that we are to love our neighbors and those who curse us, despitefully use us, and persecute us. It is when we are able to do this we know we are on the road to perfection.
Matthew 5:43-48
Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.
But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.
For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?
And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so?
Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.
The love for the brotherhood that we are to have is based on the same Greek word for the love we are to have with the Lord our God and our neighbor.
Matthew 22:34-40
But when the Pharisees had heard that he had put the Sadducees to silence, they were gathered together.
Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying,
Master, which is the great commandment in the law?
Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
This is the first and great commandment.
And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.
The love that we are to have for the brethren could be as personally challenging for us as the love we have for those who hate us, despitefully use us, or even persecute us and as deep as the love we are to have for the Lord our God and our neighbor. One way that we know we have love for God and Jesus Christ is by keeping the commandments. The love we have for God and Jesus Christ is beyond the love we have for the brethren and is also beyond the honor we have for other people.
John 14:19-24
Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also.
At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.
He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.
Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world?
Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.
He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me.
Notice how John words this concept in First John.
1 John 5:1-3
Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him.
By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments.
For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.
Jesus taught His disciples a commandment, to love each other as Jesus loved us, that by doing what Jesus commands we become the friends of Jesus. Do we have this type of love for brethren?
John 15:12-17
This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.
Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.
Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.
Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you. These things I command you, that ye love one another.
In writing to the Romans, Paul wrote that all things work together for good to those who are called, to those who love God. The same Greek word is used here.
Romans 8:28-30
And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.
Within families, husbands are to be a living sacrifice for their wife, and by extension, themselves, and their children. The love husbands are to have for their wives is based on the same Greek word.
Ephesians 5:25-33
Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;
That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,
That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.
So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself.
For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church:
For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.
For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.
This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.
Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband.
Love is something we have for Jesus Christ and God the Father. The world we live in is not Their equal, and is not worthy of the same type of love. This world will never give us eternal life, but God the Father through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ will give us eternal life as we do the will of God.
1 John 2:15-17
Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.
In first Peter two verse seventeen it is God Whom we are fear. Fear is taken from the word phobeo, Strong’s Greek word 5399 meaning to be in awe of, or to be exceedingly afraid of. It is from this word we derive the word phobia in the English language. In Ephesians 6:33 which we read earlier today, when a wife reveres her husband, the word phobeo is used, and this awe that a wife is to have is joined to a husband who is a living sacrifice for his wife and children. That living sacrifice comes first. In Revelation we are told to fear God and give glory to Him.
Revelation 14:6-7
And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people,
Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.
Jesus taught his disciples to fear God who has control over our access to eternal life, but that we should not fear man who has no control over our access to eternal life.
Luke 12:4-7
And I say unto you my friends, Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do.
But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him.
Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God?
But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows.
In Luke, Jesus taught that we are not to fear that God intends to keep us from the Kingdom, because it is God’s intention to give us the Kingdom of God. Between now and then we must ensure we value the Kingdom of God, not the wealth we have, and when we give of our wealth, it is in the form of alms, given to support people in need. Be wary when you hear a message that co-opts this passage to coerce giving to a church or ministry.
Luke 12:32-34
Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.
Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth.
For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
Cornelius, recorded for us in the Book of Acts, was a gentile who feared God, whose family also feared God, through acts of prayer to God and giving alms to the people, again to the people not a church or ministry.
Acts 10:1-8
There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of the band called the Italian band,
A devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God alway.
He saw in a vision evidently about the ninth hour of the day an angel of God coming in to him, and saying unto him, Cornelius.
And when he looked on him, he was afraid, and said, What is it, Lord? And he said unto him, Thy prayers and thine alms are come up for a memorial before God.
And now send men to Joppa, and call for one Simon, whose surname is Peter:
He lodgeth with one Simon a tanner, whose house is by the sea side: he shall tell thee what thou oughtest to do.
And when the angel which spake unto Cornelius was departed, he called two of his household servants, and a devout soldier of them that waited on him continually;
And when he had declared all these things unto them, he sent them to Joppa.
At work we are to follow workplace rules and regulations, knowing this is yet another way how we show respect for God. As we follow workplace rules and regulations we do so knowing we are doing this out of respect for God as if God were our boss. Similar to following laws and regulations of civil authorities, we should not follow workplace rules and regulations that contradict what is taught in the Bible. Most workplaces have rules that allow for filing grievances and complaints, and working within these workplace rules when there is a concern is still following workplace rules and regulations.
Colossians 3:22-25
Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God:
And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;
Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.
But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done: and there is no respect of persons.
Sometimes the word phobeo is translated as be, and in one of these instances we see the connection between being of good cheer and being not afraid. An example of this is found in Matthew.
Matthew 14:22-27
And straightway Jesus constrained his disciples to get into a ship, and to go before him unto the other side, while he sent the multitudes away.
And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone.
But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary.
And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea.
And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear.
But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.
When Jesus was transfigure on the mount, he told Peter, James, and John who were with Him to not be afraid, with the word for afraid also translated from phobeo.
Matthew 17:1-7
And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart,
And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light.
And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him.
Then answered Peter, and said unto Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias.
While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.
And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their face, and were sore afraid.
And Jesus came and touched them, and said, Arise, and be not afraid.
Eventually the fear or respect that we have for God should become love. When fear remains, love is not made perfect. If we want to be made perfect in love, there is no room for fear. We will come to a place where we love God and other people.
1 John 4:17-21
Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.
There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.
We love him, because he first loved us.
If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?
And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.
We honor all men and our nation’s leader. We love the brethren. We fear God, and then the fear, whether you think of that fear as fear, respect, or awe, the fear that we have evolves to love. The act of creation was an act of love. God’s plan of salvation for each of us is an act of love. The death and resurrection of Jesus Christ is an act of love. When God teaches us through the writings of Peter to Honor all men, to love the brotherhood, to fear God, and to honor the king, we are being taught the very beginning of love. It is up to each of us to be made perfect in love knowing there is no more place for fear.
All verses are from the King James Version.
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