Honor All, Respect All (1 Peter 2:1-3)
Gary McManus, 01/29/2023Part of the New Life series, preached at a Sunday Morning service
January 29, 2023 Respect All, Honor All
1 Peter 2:1-3, 17
Pastor trusts that he is “preaching to the choir” today. This topic shouldn’t be preached in any church. Pastor blames the internet and social media,
but respect is in short supply in this country.
Is the political polarization caused by the loss of Bible
basics? We now profile people of a different opinions
as enemies! Even if a person IS your enemy, they are
due respect—if we claim the name of Jesus. Jesus followers know this verse, 1 Peter 2:17: HONOR ALL.
And it is in the IMPERATIVE mood—it is a command.
DO IT. HONOR ALL.
The Bible versions are split on the word used for translation:
"Respect all. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Respect the emperor."
"Honor all. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor."
“Respect. . .respect” or “honor. . .honor” are the same Greek word.
Pastor began this exercise focusing on the word “respect.”
But, before 1 Peter 2, look at Romans 13:7
“Pay all of them their dues, . . .honor to whom honor is due.” You might answer, “My enemy is not due respect.” Notice all of the Apostle Paul's examples. . .taxes. . .revenue (custom duties, import taxes).
All of Paul’s examples are always due. Therefore honor and respect are ALWAYS due to EVERYONE.
The Greek reads it more like this:
“Render to all / their dues (also imperative):
taxes. . .revenue. . .respect. . .honor
Honor; is the same word 1 Peter 2 used.
1 Peter written by Jewish Christians for Jewish Christian churches. They knew the Old Testament.
Paul’s Gentile congregations did NOT know the Old
Testament.
With a knowledge of the Old Testament we begin to
understand the basis of this respect that the Apostles COMMAND us to demonstrate and show.
Genesis 1, Genesis 1:26-27; WE are created in the image and likeness of God. That includes all of our human enemies. Everyone in all political parties.
Genesis 1:31. . .the creation of humans, male and female was very good. So, everyone is due respect and honor because they are made in the image and likeness of God. That would be enough but there is more!
Rick Warren, The Purpose Driven Life: “You are not an accident. Your birth was no mistake or mishap and your life is no fluke of nature. Even if your parents didn’t plan you, God did.” (Warren, p. 22)
(Isaiah 44:2, Psalm 138:8, Psalm 39:15-16, Jeremiah 1:5) Even our enemies have value in God’s eyes.
And each person is unique, even identical twins.
We have similarities but we are each unique.
We are all loved uniquely by God because each of us is unique.
Apparently, God likes that we are all individuals
AND God, apparently likes WHEN we are all individuals.
(See Acts 4:26, Esther 4:14 and Jonah 3:1)
God values us WHEN we are.
God values us because of our “tribe”
You are valuable to God because of your descent in the family tree—whether you like your tribe or not.
(Pastor has had some crazy cousins.)
And everything so far has not included Jesus.
Let’s look at the New Testament.
Jesus followers, we are to respect and honor all also.
We honor and respect disciples because of Jesus Christ who died for them. (Ephesians 1:4, Revelation 13:8) Jesus taught we are worthy of the Father’s care.
(Matthew 10:29-31, Luke 12:24)
Finally, Christians honor and respect all Christians because we are all adopted.(Romans 8:15, Romans 8:23, Romans 9:4, Romans 4:5, Ephesians 1:5)—adopted as sons to inherit. . .Matthew 25:34, also James 2:5. See 1 Peter 3:9. Sadly many brothers and sisters do NOT know this sermon.
This is not a new command. Honor all!
Now you know why. Amen.
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