not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing; but on the contrary, blessing [others], because ye have been called to this, that ye should inherit blessing.
Peter has just urged unity, sympathy and a humble mind. Now he applies it to the hardest case: how to answer someone who has wronged you.
No Tit for Tat
The verse names two forms of payback: the injury done and the insult spoken. Peter rules out both and puts something positive in their place.
If, sadly, someone tries to harm us, or speaks abusively against us, we are not to return evil for evil, or abuse for abuse, but on the contrary, blessing. Our practical life in the Christian circle is to be governed by our calling to inherit blessing. Sensing the grace that has so richly blessed us, we should be ready to bless others even if they have spoken abusively to us.
Refusing to hit back means leaving the case with God instead of settling it yourself.
If we are to gain the blessing in the time of suffering, we must first give up all thought of taking our case into our own hands. We must give up trying to avenge ourselves on those who oppose and abuse us unjustly. Whatever the suffering, the believer is to hold back from taking vengeance. When insulted, the flesh is always ready to insult back. When suffering unjustly, it is ready to threaten. It would love to take vengeance on all who oppose us and insult us with harsh words. The LORD cannot trust the believer to deal with those who oppose. Vengeance belongs to the LORD.
Called, Not Earning
The reason Peter gives is a calling. That sets the whole verse on the ground of grace, not achievement. Older translations render the promise as "inherit a blessing," where the ESV has "obtain a blessing."
Again the apostle charges the saints not to return evil for evil, or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary to bless, "for to this you were called, that you might inherit blessing." How sharp the contrast is between the Christian and Israel, who undertook to earn blessing by keeping the law! The apostle Paul set this before the saints in Galatia, who had made the same sad mistake. "For all who rely on works of the law are under a curse" (Gal. 3:10): not those who broke the law, but all who are pledged to that principle.
Those who were themselves rescued now carry to others what they received.
They were called out of sin, ruin and misery into blessing. So they were to be the witnesses and channels of grace in a world and a race that had fallen under curse.
Blessed to Bless
Peter has been giving instructions to servants, and to wives and husbands. Here he widens it.
The exhortation is not limited to slaves. Here we find the various relations of life practically met, and in particular the great social bond of wives and husbands... What a place for the Christian! — called to blessing, and to be a blessing.
One writer pauses on the word "blessing" here and reads it as work to be done, not a mood.
"Not returning evil for evil, or abuse for abuse, but on the contrary blessing." Blessing there means the ministry of blessing. "Knowing that you are called to this, that you should inherit a blessing." We are going to inherit it, we do inherit it, and our only business is to minister it.
The Inheritance Ahead
Peter calls the blessing an inheritance. Hardship now does not cancel it.
"You are called to this, that you should inherit a blessing" (1 Peter 3:9). What an inheritance! It is quite true that the Christian is already "blessed with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ." But along with this infinite favour he has many a sorrow and many a trial along the way, for he has not yet reached his home. Even so, God calls him to share for ever in an inheritance of perfect and unmixed blessing.
Where the Power Comes From
Knowing God has forgiven you drains the bitterness out of your answer to others.
Because my foundation is what God has done for me, I am aware of the goodness of God. If I am blessed myself (see 1 Peter 3:9), I can show love to others. Feeling that God has pardoned me takes away all bitterness from my life and from the way I act.
The standard is not an ideal but a Person.
Perfect consistency in a Christian is found only in Christ. He is the one constant standard for us. What love in Him even for the vilest and bitterest of His enemies! Called to inherit a blessing, may we not return evil for evil or abuse for abuse, but bless instead.
Summary
- Blessed — the chain starts with what God has done. He called you out of ruin into blessing; He did not put you on trial to earn it.
- Blessing — because the supply came free, blessing is what you now hand out, even to the person who insulted you.
- Blocked — two exits are shut: paying back the injury, and returning the insult. Vengeance belongs to the Lord.
- Blesser — this is not a passive mood but a ministry: we do inherit blessing, and our business is to pass it on.
- Blessing ahead — the circle closes in an inheritance of unmixed blessing. Sorrow on the road never cancels the calling.