EXHORTATION TO ELDERS (Part 2)

1 Peter 5:1-4 The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed: Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock: And when the Chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.

In Part 1 of this lesson, the apostle Peter exhorts elders of the body of Christ to assume the duties and responsibilities as shepherds of their flock, that is, the members of their specific congregation. In this capacity, they were told to feed the flock of God which is among you. As we continue to examine the lesson text, we find that elders are, not only to act as shepherds that feed their flocks, but they are also to be overseers of their congregation. Just as good shepherds are physically watchful and vigilant over their sheep, so are elders to be devoted to the spiritual purity of each member of the congregation which they oversee. Spiritual purity is established by teaching God's word as found in the inspired pages of the bible. Once it is established, elders are to maintain this spiritual purity within their congregation.

God's word is not to be changed or altered; it is not to be added to, subtracted from, nor is concession to be made to any of its doctrinal principles. Elders, to avoid changing or polluting the word of God, must exercise vigilance. Watchfulness, by elders, is necessary to prevent compromising God's word that may be caused by erring members or teachers from within the congregation. In his writing, Peter warns Christians that there shall be false teachers among you (2 Peter 2:1).

There are many, also, that teach error instead of truth that are outside the body of Christ. Here again, elders must exercise vigilance in order to keep a child of God from being led astray by false doctrines. Paul taught the Ephesian brethren to beware of such errant teachers. He says that as children of God, they were not to be tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive (Eph. 4:14). Finally, notice Paul's exhortation to the elders of the church at Ephesus, Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which He hath purchased with His own blood. For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock (Acts 20:28-29).

Peter, not only exhorts elders to teach and assume the responsibilities as overseers of the church, he also tells them how this is to be done, and what their attitude and motivation should be, to properly discharge the duties required as elders of the body of Christ. Although not given here, the qualifications of elders can be found in 1Timothy 3:1-7 and in Titus 1:5-9. Peter says that the office of an elder is to be taken very seriously. It is to be assumed, not by constraint, but willingly. To Timothy, Paul wrote, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work (1 Tim. 3:1). The position of elder is to be desired as a labor of love. It is not to be considered a heavy burden or an oppressive yoke that is hard to bear.

Neither is the position of an elder to be sought for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind. As noted in 1Timothy 3:3, an elder is not to be greedy of filthy lucre. In some versions of the bible, filthy lucre is translated lover of money. When combined with filthy, the word lucre, or money, carries with it the idea of ill-gotten gain that results from covetous greed. The office of an elder is not to be desired for personal gain. Love for God, Jesus Christ, and his body, the church, are to be the motivations for desiring the office of an elder. To labor readily and cheerfully in a work, is to have a ready mind. Finally, elders are not to be lords over God's heritage, but, rather, ensamples to the flock. Like a good shepherd knows, it is almost impossible to drive sheep, but they can easily be led.

To those elders that desire, attain, and discharge the duties and responsibilities of the eldership, Peter reinforces their good work with these words of comfort and consolation. And when the Chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.