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1 Peter 2 – 1 Peter and Jesus – Of Strangers and Sons
1 Peter and Jesus #6
It is easy to take the words of Peter, “As God’s slaves, live as free people, but don’t use your freedom as a way to conceal evil” (2:16) in the same way that Paul used similar words and ideas: “New Testament writers, and Paul particularly, gave much emphasis to the fact that children of God are free (Gal.5:1), free from the law, free from sin, free from fear, but with many cautions that this freedom must be kept within circumscribed bounds” (Guy N. Woods, 1 Peter, p.73). Such is possible here since Peter earlier warned, “abstain from fleshly desires that wage war against you” (2:11); again sounding Pauline like. But is it possible the Pauline language is adapted for another purpose?
If so, I wonder if there is another type of freedom being thought of. To suggest another type of freedom notice these two contextual facts: First, Peter, unlike Paul, is not and has not been discussing freedom from law; Second, surrounding the words “live as free people,” Peter writes, “Submit to every human authority” and “honor the Emperor.” Therefore the context is not God’s laws by men.
So let us look for another reason. As Peter has done several times, is this another time that echoes Peter’s experience with Jesus? Earlier in the text Peter speaks of Christians being the temple of God (2:5). Then Peter reiterates that we are strangers and temporary residents (2:11). Now compare these thoughts to a scene that contains only Jesus and Peter. The authorities are collecting a temple tax. Peter says His Master will pay. Jesus asks Peter, ““What do you think, Simon? Who do earthly kings collect tariffs or taxes from? From their sons or from strangers?” The answer is strangers (Matthew 17:24-27). God is the king of the temple. Jesus is His Son. Therefore Jesus is free from paying the temple tax but does so anyway. 2 Peter 2 is in the context of obeying an earthly king although the Christians are strangers, not even residents of the country (2:13). We are of another nation (2:9). The reality is we are free from the rule of earthly kings because we are a royal priesthood (2:9). However, we are not to use our freedom of being non-citizens to offend. We freely subject ourselves just as Jesus freely paid the tax and to use another experience, freely subjected himself to the authority of Pilate even though he had no authority over him (Jn.19:11).
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