For it is better, if it is the will of God, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil

The Scripture here regarding the submission of wives to husbands is consistent with the writings of Paul. The two reasons given is that by the gentle and quiet spirit and submissive conduct will be a strong testimony to lead others to Christ and is also pleasing to God.

Husbands are called to honor their wives and be understanding. The benefits of doing is such that the husband can have an effective prayer life. Finally we are all called to love one another, and not taking revenge when they hurt us. The benefit of this is so we can inherit the blessings. We are called to bear the suffering if we are unjustly persecuted because of our faith in Jesus. Since Jesus suffered unjustly, there is no reason for us to be exempt from it.




1 Peter 3
Submission to Husbands

1 Wives, likewise, be submissive to your own husbands, that even if some do not obey the word, they, without a word, may be won by the conduct of their wives, 2 when they observe your chaste conduct accompanied by fear. 3 Do not let your adornment be merely outward—arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel— 4 rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God. 5 For in this manner, in former times, the holy women who trusted in God also adorned themselves, being submissive to their own husbands, 6 as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord, whose daughters you are if you do good and are not afraid with any terror.

A Word to Husbands

7 Husbands, likewise, dwell with them with understanding, giving honor to the wife, as to the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers may not be hindered.

Called to Blessing

8 Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous;[a] 9 not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing. 10 For

“He who would love life
And see good days,
Let him refrain his tongue from evil,
And his lips from speaking deceit.
11 Let him turn away from evil and do good;
Let him seek peace and pursue it.
12 For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous,
And His ears are open to their prayers;
But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”[b]


Suffering for Right and Wrong

13 And who is he who will harm you if you become followers of what is good? 14 But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you are blessed. “And do not be afraid of their threats, nor be troubled.”[c] 15 But sanctify the Lord God[d] in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear; 16 having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed. 17 For it is better, if it is the will of God, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.

Christ’s Suffering and Ours

18 For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us[e] to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit, 19 by whom also He went and preached to the spirits in prison, 20 who formerly were disobedient, when once the Divine longsuffering waited[f] in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight souls, were saved through water. 21 There is also an antitype which now saves us—baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 22 who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, angels and authorities and powers having been made subject to Him.

Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king.

Speaking to believers, Peter urged us to lay aside malice, deceit, hypocrisy, envy, evil talk and instead to grow in maturity. This indicates that believers are still like non-believers in terms of having unholy thoughts and desires, in other words believers are not perfected just yet. However, like Jesus, although we are rejected by the world, we are precious to God like precious stones. In addition believers are considered as a royal priesthood.

Although faced with the same temptations and lusts as other people, believers are called to abstain from the unholy things. This is so that the accusers will be silenced by the conduct of the believers if they cannot find faults. This may even lead non-believers to recognize God and glorify Him.


God's people are called to submit to the civil authorities because that is the will of God. The authorities are put in place by God to punish evildoers. Believers are free but they are servants of God. The advice is the same for believers toward their masters. In fact, we are called to accept unjust suffering at the hands of our masters because this is commendable to God and is what Yshua had went through in order to redeem us.






1 Peter 2

1 Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking, 2 as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby,[a] 3 if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious.

The Chosen Stone and His Chosen People

4 Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious, 5 you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 6 Therefore it is also contained in the Scripture,

“Behold, I lay in Zion
A chief cornerstone, elect, precious,
And he who believes on Him will by no means be put to shame.”[b]
7 Therefore, to you who believe, He is precious; but to those who are disobedient,[c]

“The stone which the builders rejected
Has become the chief cornerstone,”[d]
8 and

“A stone of stumbling
And a rock of offense.”[e]
They stumble, being disobedient to the word, to which they also were appointed.

9 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; 10 who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.

Living Before the World

11 Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul, 12 having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation.

Submission to Government

13 Therefore submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake, whether to the king as supreme, 14 or to governors, as to those who are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and for the praise of those who do good. 15 For this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men— 16 as free, yet not using liberty as a cloak for vice, but as bondservants of God. 17 Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king.

Submission to Masters

18 Servants, be submissive to your masters with all fear, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the harsh. 19 For this is commendable, if because of conscience toward God one endures grief, suffering wrongfully. 20 For what credit is it if, when you are beaten for your faults, you take it patiently? But when you do good and suffer, if you take it patiently, this is commendable before God. 21 For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us,[f] leaving us[g] an example, that you should follow His steps:

22 “Who committed no sin,
Nor was deceit found in His mouth”; [h]
23 who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously; 24 who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed. 25 For you were like sheep going astray, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer[i] of your souls.

I will surely assemble all of you, O Jacob

This is a specific proclamation against the evildoers. They are described as people who are so evil that they would plot their evil schemes even when they are in bed at night. They will act out their evil schemes by usually oppress others or coveting their possessions.

The Lord has planned for the evildoers and He warns them there will be a day where they will weep bitterly. God also warns against the futility of false prophesying, ultimately the will of God will be done. However, God also repeated His promise which He said in many other parts of Scripture, that He will gather the remnant of His people again and restore Israel.



Micah 2
Woe to Evildoers

1 Woe to those who devise iniquity,
And work out evil on their beds!
At morning light they practice it,
Because it is in the power of their hand.
2 They covet fields and take them by violence,
Also houses, and seize them.
So they oppress a man and his house,
A man and his inheritance.
3 Therefore thus says the Lord:

“Behold, against this family I am devising disaster,
From which you cannot remove your necks;
Nor shall you walk haughtily,
For this is an evil time.
4 In that day one shall take up a proverb against you,
And lament with a bitter lamentation, saying:
‘We are utterly destroyed!
He has changed the heritage of my people;
How He has removed it from me!
To a turncoat He has divided our fields.’”
5 Therefore you will have no one to determine boundaries[a] by lot
In the assembly of the Lord.


Lying Prophets

6 “Do not prattle,” you say to those who prophesy.
So they shall not prophesy to you;[b]
They shall not return insult for insult.[c]
7 You who are named the house of Jacob:
“Is the Spirit of the Lord restricted?
Are these His doings?
Do not My words do good
To him who walks uprightly?
8 “Lately My people have risen up as an enemy—
You pull off the robe with the garment
From those who trust you, as they pass by,
Like men returned from war.
9 The women of My people you cast out
From their pleasant houses;
From their children
You have taken away My glory forever.
10 “Arise and depart,
For this is not your rest;
Because it is defiled, it shall destroy,
Yes, with utter destruction.
11 If a man should walk in a false spirit
And speak a lie, saying,
‘I will prophesy to you of wine and drink,’
Even he would be the prattler of this people.



Israel Restored

12 “I will surely assemble all of you, O Jacob,
I will surely gather the remnant of Israel;
I will put them together like sheep of the fold,[d]
Like a flock in the midst of their pasture;
They shall make a loud noise because of so many people.
13 The one who breaks open will come up before them;
They will break out,
Pass through the gate,
And go out by it;
Their king will pass before them,
With the Lord at their head.”

For I Desire Mercy and not Sacrifice

A call to repentance is given to encourage the people to return to God. It reminds the people that although they are broken by God, yet God will receive them again. God will heal, bind, revive and raise them up to be His people once more.

However God again expresses displeasure at Judah and Israel because their repentance was fleeting. God mentions he prefers mercy than to have offerings. They have violated their covenant with God. They are described as evildoers, murderers, robbers, lewd. Israel have been defiled and played the harlot, while Judah still have a destiny to be fulfilled.



Hosea 6
A Call to Repentance

6 Come, and let us return to the Lord;
For He has torn, but He will heal us;
He has stricken, but He will bind us up.
2 After two days He will revive us;
On the third day He will raise us up,
That we may live in His sight.
3 Let us know,
Let us pursue the knowledge of the Lord.
His going forth is established as the morning;
He will come to us like the rain,
Like the latter and former rain to the earth.


Impenitence of Israel and Judah

4 “O Ephraim, what shall I do to you?
O Judah, what shall I do to you?
For your faithfulness is like a morning cloud,
And like the early dew it goes away.
5 Therefore I have hewn them by the prophets,
I have slain them by the words of My mouth;
And your judgments are like light that goes forth.
6 For I desire mercy and not sacrifice,
And the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.
7 “But like men[a] they transgressed the covenant;
There they dealt treacherously with Me.
8 Gilead is a city of evildoers
And defiled with blood.
9 As bands of robbers lie in wait for a man,
So the company of priests murder on the way to Shechem;
Surely they commit lewdness.
10 I have seen a horrible thing in the house of Israel:
There is the harlotry of Ephraim;
Israel is defiled.
11 Also, O Judah, a harvest is appointed for you,
When I return the captives of My people.

Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace

Amid the gloom prophesies, this chapter reveals the Hope who is the Son, and the Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. It mentions the "Galilee of the Gentiles" pointing to our Lord Jesus who spent much time in Galilee and the salvation which is to reach the Gentiles. He will be a light shining out of the darkness where the people are in. This is the revelation of the Messiah who will be from the line of David and His Kingdom will be everlasting. The zeal or passion of the LORD will ensure this.

The second part continues with the prophecy of the destruction of Israel and Samaria. It seems that nothing can save them from the judgement at that time. The severity of their wickedness is such that no mercy will be granted even to the widows and fatherless - groups of people whom the LORD usually reminds us to care for - because they have all become hypocrites and evildoers. Their prophets and leaders have lied and caused them to fall. And so God's anger is not turned away.



Isaiah 9
The Government of the Promised Son

1 Nevertheless the gloom will not be upon her who is distressed,
As when at first He lightly esteemed
The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali,
And afterward more heavily oppressed her,
By the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan,
In Galilee of the Gentiles.
2 The people who walked in darkness
Have seen a great light;
Those who dwelt in the land of the shadow of death,
Upon them a light has shined.
3 You have multiplied the nation
And increased its joy;[a]
They rejoice before You
According to the joy of harvest,
As men rejoice when they divide the spoil.
4 For You have broken the yoke of his burden
And the staff of his shoulder,
The rod of his oppressor,
As in the day of Midian.
5 For every warrior’s sandal from the noisy battle,
And garments rolled in blood,
Will be used for burning and fuel of fire.
6 For unto us a Child is born,
Unto us a Son is given;
And the government will be upon His shoulder.
And His name will be called
Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
7 Of the increase of His government and peace
There will be no end,
Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom,
To order it and establish it with judgment and justice
From that time forward, even forever.
The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.

The Punishment of Samaria

8 The Lord sent a word against Jacob,
And it has fallen on Israel.
9 All the people will know—
Ephraim and the inhabitant of Samaria—
Who say in pride and arrogance of heart:
10 “The bricks have fallen down,
But we will rebuild with hewn stones;
The sycamores are cut down,
But we will replace them with cedars.”
11 Therefore the Lord shall set up
The adversaries of Rezin against him,
And spur his enemies on,
12 The Syrians before and the Philistines behind;
And they shall devour Israel with an open mouth.
For all this His anger is not turned away,
But His hand is stretched out still.
13 For the people do not turn to Him who strikes them,
Nor do they seek the Lord of hosts.
14 Therefore the Lord will cut off head and tail from Israel,
Palm branch and bulrush in one day.
15 The elder and honorable, he is the head;
The prophet who teaches lies, he is the tail.
16 For the leaders of this people cause them to err,
And those who are led by them are destroyed.
17 Therefore the Lord will have no joy in their young men,
Nor have mercy on their fatherless and widows;
For everyone is a hypocrite and an evildoer,
And every mouth speaks folly.
For all this His anger is not turned away,
But His hand is stretched out still.
18 For wickedness burns as the fire;
It shall devour the briers and thorns,
And kindle in the thickets of the forest;
They shall mount up like rising smoke.
19 Through the wrath of the Lord of hosts
The land is burned up,
And the people shall be as fuel for the fire;
No man shall spare his brother.
20 And he shall snatch on the right hand
And be hungry;
He shall devour on the left hand
And not be satisfied;
Every man shall eat the flesh of his own arm.
21 Manasseh shall devour Ephraim, and Ephraim Manasseh;
Together they shall be against Judah.
For all this His anger is not turned away,
But His hand is stretched out still.

Do Not Fret Because of Evildoers

David reminds us not to be concerned about evildoers. Instead, focus on the LORD by trusting Him and delight in Him. We can turn to the promises of God, knowing that the meek shall inherit the Earth. Even though the wicked seem to be prospering and continue with wicked plots, we are told not to be concerned with that. The wicked will perish and vanish but the upright has an inheritance that lasts forever.

There is clearly two types of people in God's eyes. One type is the ones who are wicked. The other is the ones who would trust the LORD and are upright. The wicked will have an unpleasant end. The upright will inherit the earth according to God's promises. In regard to the life that goes on before the end time, the upright would need to wait on the LORD, by trusting him.


Psalm 37

A Psalm of David.

 1 Do not fret because of evildoers,
         Nor be envious of the workers of iniquity.
 2 For they shall soon be cut down like the grass,
         And wither as the green herb.
       
 3 Trust in the LORD, and do good;
         Dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness.
 4 Delight yourself also in the LORD,
         And He shall give you the desires of your heart.
       
 5 Commit your way to the LORD,
         Trust also in Him,
         And He shall bring it to pass.
 6 He shall bring forth your righteousness as the light,
         And your justice as the noonday.
       
 7 Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for Him;
         Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way,
         Because of the man who brings wicked schemes to pass.
 8 Cease from anger, and forsake wrath;
         Do not fret—it only causes harm.
       
 9 For evildoers shall be cut off;
         But those who wait on the LORD,
         They shall inherit the earth.
 10 For yet a little while and the wicked shall be no more;
         Indeed, you will look carefully for his place,
         But it shall be no more.
 11 But the meek shall inherit the earth,
         And shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.
       
 12 The wicked plots against the just,
         And gnashes at him with his teeth.
 13 The Lord laughs at him,
         For He sees that his day is coming.
 14 The wicked have drawn the sword
         And have bent their bow,
         To cast down the poor and needy,
         To slay those who are of upright conduct.
 15 Their sword shall enter their own heart,
         And their bows shall be broken.
       
 16 A little that a righteous man has
         Is better than the riches of many wicked.
 17 For the arms of the wicked shall be broken,
         But the LORD upholds the righteous.
       
 18 The LORD knows the days of the upright,
         And their inheritance shall be forever.
 19 They shall not be ashamed in the evil time,
         And in the days of famine they shall be satisfied.
 20 But the wicked shall perish;
         And the enemies of the LORD,
         Like the splendor of the meadows, shall vanish.
         Into smoke they shall vanish away.
       
 21 The wicked borrows and does not repay,
         But the righteous shows mercy and gives.
 22 For those blessed by Him shall inherit the earth,
         But those cursed by Him shall be cut off.
       
 23 The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD,
         And He delights in his way.
 24 Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down;
         For the LORD upholds him with His hand.
       
 25 I have been young, and now am old;
         Yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken,
         Nor his descendants begging bread.
 26 He is ever merciful, and lends;
         And his descendants are blessed.
       
 27 Depart from evil, and do good;
         And dwell forevermore.
 28 For the LORD loves justice,
         And does not forsake His saints;
         They are preserved forever,
         But the descendants of the wicked shall be cut off.
 29 The righteous shall inherit the land,
         And dwell in it forever.
       
 30 The mouth of the righteous speaks wisdom,
         And his tongue talks of justice.
 31 The law of his God is in his heart;
         None of his steps shall slide.
       
 32 The wicked watches the righteous,
         And seeks to slay him.
 33 The LORD will not leave him in his hand,
         Nor condemn him when he is judged.
       
 34 Wait on the LORD,
         And keep His way,
         And He shall exalt you to inherit the land;
         When the wicked are cut off, you shall see it.
 35 I have seen the wicked in great power,
         And spreading himself like a native green tree.
 36 Yet he passed away,[a] and behold, he was no more;
         Indeed I sought him, but he could not be found.
       
 37 Mark the blameless man, and observe the upright;
         For the future of that man is peace.
 38 But the transgressors shall be destroyed together;
         The future of the wicked shall be cut off.
       
 39 But the salvation of the righteous is from the LORD;
         He is their strength in the time of trouble.
 40 And the LORD shall help them and deliver them;
         He shall deliver them from the wicked,
         And save them,
         Because they trust in Him.

David Walks in Integrity, Still Rely on God's Mercy and Lovingkindness

David expresses how he persevered to walk in integrity and keep on obeying God's laws, even at the face of great adversity. The adversity came from enemies, idolators around him, evildoers, the wicked and so on. David maintains his innocence by obeying God. As a result he is full of thanksgiving toward God and fully appreciates being close to God.

David pleads his case, that he should not be grouped together with sinners. Instead he continues to ask God for his mercy and he continues to bless the LORD. Some parts of this Psalm shows David very confident of where he stands, yet he pleads to God for mercy and inclusion with God and not sinners. Perhaps he also has a sense of his own continuing mortal sins that as much as he tried, he still know that he may sin again. But even so, he places complete confidence and trust in his LORD to deliver him, not for his own righteousness but because of God's mercy and lovingkindness.

Psalm 26

A Psalm of David.

 1 Vindicate me, O LORD,
         For I have walked in my integrity.
         I have also trusted in the LORD;
         I shall not slip.
 2 Examine me, O LORD, and prove me;
         Try my mind and my heart.
 3 For Your lovingkindness is before my eyes,
         And I have walked in Your truth.
 4 I have not sat with idolatrous mortals,
         Nor will I go in with hypocrites.
 5 I have hated the assembly of evildoers,
         And will not sit with the wicked.
       
 6 I will wash my hands in innocence;
         So I will go about Your altar, O LORD,
 7 That I may proclaim with the voice of thanksgiving,
         And tell of all Your wondrous works.
 8 LORD, I have loved the habitation of Your house,
         And the place where Your glory dwells.
       
 9 Do not gather my soul with sinners,
         Nor my life with bloodthirsty men,
 10 In whose hands is a sinister scheme,
         And whose right hand is full of bribes.
       
 11 But as for me, I will walk in my integrity;
         Redeem me and be merciful to me.
 12 My foot stands in an even place;
         In the congregations I will bless the LORD.