Flashbacks

Flashbacks are scenes in plays, stories, or movies set at a time earlier than the main story. Often the characters look back at that time to make a connection.

Peter spent three years with the Lord Jesus, saw and experienced many miracles (including walking on water), heard his teachings, and witnessed his glory at the transfiguration. But nothing impacted him as two last events – Jesus’s command to stay sober and pray to avoid the temptation to betray him (in which Peter failed), and Jesus thrice asking if he loved him (which grieved Peter).

In his exhortation to his congregation, he returned to these two themes.

“The end of all things is near; therefore, be sober for prayer. Above all, earnestly commit yourselves to love one another since love covers a multitude of sins.” (1 Pet 4:7–8)

Whether Peter meant his time on earth was ending, or the end of the world was near, he wanted his audience to be prepared as he should have been at the end of the Lord’s life: stay sober and pray. Just like the Lord commanded him lastly to love him and feed the sheep, he wanted his audience to love one another sincerely, overlooking each other’s sins.

The phrase “love covers a multitude of sins” comes from Proverbs. Peter and James quoted it (Jas 5:20).

“Hatred stirs up dissension, but love covers all transgressions.” (Prov 10:12)

When people loved each other, they overlooked insults and shortcomings and didn’t hold each other accountable. Jesus never asked Peter why he betrayed or demoted him from being the leader of the disciples. Jesus built the church on Peter, giving him a second chance. Love covered all transgression.

After saying these, Peter gave a few examples of biblical love:

“Be hospitable to one another without grumbling. Each of you, as you received gifts from God, minister the same as good stewards of God’s abundant riches: if speaking, speak the words of God; if ministering, minister with the strength God provides – so that in everything God will be glorified through Jesus Christ – to him be the glory and the power for ever and ever, Amen.” (1 Pet 4:9–11)

Hospitality (lit. “showing love to strangers,” from filos “love” and zenos “a stranger”) was greatly needed in those days without inns, hotels, and resorts. If people didn’t give each other a resting place for a night, people would have to sleep on the streets. Often, the apostles wrote recommendation letters to Christians who visited foreign lands (Paul wrote Romans and sent it with Phoebe for the churches in Rome to host her, Rom 16:1–2). Peter wanted his audience to show hospitality to one another and strangers as proof of their love.

Further, he wanted them to exercise Spirit’s gifts as God has graciously given them. Often love and Spirit’s gifts went together (1 Cor 13, lessons on Spirit’s gifts, is sandwiched in between 12 and 14, the lessons on Spirit’s gifts; Similarly, lessons on Spirit’s gifts [Romans 12:3–8] is followed by love [verses 9–13]). Similarly, Peter wanted them to love one another and exercise Spirit’s gifts appropriately. Peter mentioned two gifts: speaking (perhaps a reference to teaching God’s word) and ministering or serving (diakonia).

Peter concluded the section with a benediction. The Hebrews often included a benediction as a sign of reverence.

Stay sober, pray, and love unconditionally were Peter’s flashbacks to Jesus’s commands and exhortations for his audience. The same challenges await us: stay alert, pray, and love unconditionally.