1 Peter 3:9 Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.
When we face persecution and difficulty, our natural (worldly) response is to fight back. We do this for several reasons. One is simply self-preservation. Every animal will respond with some type of self-preserving response when threatened. Protecting ourselves is a required response in many situations. When we can protect ourselves, we should. What Peter writes here especially speaks to those who are suffering persecution or are in difficult relationships (marital, job, and so on). When we face suffering, with God’s help we can respond like Jesus–namely, with love. Responding to an insult with another insult only makes matters worse. What does Peter mean by “insult”? Our insults can be so subtle that may be almost imperceptible except to the person who receives them. They can be like little jabbing knives that eventually cause a person to bleed to death. People can feel even the tiniest of pin pricks. So an insult can prick someone and cause pain.
Only through God’s grace and our humility can we repay evil with blessing. It will require that we put aside our own agendas and allow God’s love to flow through us. This may lead to physical or emotional harm done upon us. As Peter points out in chapter 2, this type of response led to Jesus’ own death. His death speaks loudly as a testimony of his faithfulness and obedience to the Father.
Peter says that this type of response is the calling of believers. He must be reflecting on the teachings of Jesus. Jesus talked to his disciples a lot about bearing up under persecution and ridicule. No one wants to experience insult or injury. We need God’s help through this. As Jesus said in Matthew 5:11-12, there is a blessing that awaits those who suffer for his name. We may experience this blessing in this life, but even if we don’t, there is an eternal blessing awaiting us. Living a life of love like this is one of the loudest testimonies we can give. People take notice of someone who is kind when insulted. Such a response puts water on the fires of temper and anger and may lead to the other party experiencing guilt for their temper or actions. Through this conviction, the Holy Spirit can speak to people about their need to repent.
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