"Honor all men;
love the brotherhood,
fear God,
honor the king."

I Peter 2:17


Like father, like daughter.

This verse seems to piggy-back on the previous verses.  Now let's step back and view this as it could apply in a family setting.  As I've said before, when our son was a preschooler he said one day, "I love my parents; I love them more than goldfish."  That was a high honor, I suppose?  But with the family in view, this verse could be understood, honor your mother and father and everyone in the family of God; love everyone in your immediate family, your brothers and sisters; fear God, and honor the rulers--to whom you immediately answer--your ma and pa.  Otherwise you become the woman in Proverbs 14:1, 



Have you known someone like that?  It is a very sad thing to behold.  Likewise, it is a very sad thing to behold those who try to tear down their home, their church, and even their own country.  

John Wesley said succinctly, "Honor all men --As being made in the image of God, bought by His Son, and designed for His kingdom."


Adam Clarke is a wee bit more wordy: "'Honour all men.' That is, Give honour to whom honour is due (Romans 8:7).  Respect every man as a fellow creature, and as one who may be a fellow heir with you of eternal life; and therefore be ready to give him every kind of succor in your power.  'Love the brotherhood.'  All true Christians, who form one great family of which God is the head.  'Fear God.'  Who gives you these commandments, lest He punish you for disobedience. 

'Honour the king.'  Pay that respect to the emperor which his high authority  requires....and if the man be even bad, and as a man be worth of no reverence, yet he should be respected on account of his office.  If respect be banished, subordination will flee with it, and anarchy and ruin will rise up in their place."











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