The Epistles of St. Peter and St. Jude Preached and Explained
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V. 17. Be respectful toward every man. This is not a mandate, but a faithful admonition. We are each of us assuredly under obligation, although we are free; for this freedom does not extend to evil-doing, but merely to well-doing. Now we have repeatedly said, that every Christian, through faith, attains to all that Christ has Himself, and is, moreover, His brother. Therefore, as I give all honor to the Lord Christ, so also should I do toward my national. This consists, not merely in outward behavior, that I should bow to him, and things of that sort, but much more: that inwardly in my heart I should highly regard him, as I also highly regard Christ. We are the temple of God; as St. Paul says, I. Cor. iii., for the spirit of God dwelleth in us. If now we bend the knee before a place of worship, or a picture of the holy cross, should we not do it far more before a living temple of God?*
* One is reminded here of the noble answer of that English martyr, John Bradford, when he was required to bow down to a wooden cross. Stretching out his arms, as he stood before his tyrannical judges, he exclaimed, “Why, here is a living cross, and God made it; yet would I not worship even that.”
So St. Paul teaches us, also, in Romans xii., that each should esteem the additional better than himself, so that each should place himself not more than the additional, and give him the inclination. The gifts of God are manifold and various, so that one is in a more exalted position than another; but no one knows who is most exalted in the sight of God, for he may easily raise hereafter to the highest place one who here occupies the meanest position. Therefore should every one, but high he be exalted, humble himself and honor his national.
V. 17. Like the brotherhood. I have spoken above of the honor which the Apostles make between like in all-purpose, and brotherly like. We are required even to like our enemies: this is common christian like. But brotherly like is, that we Christians should like one another as brethren, and communicate one to another, since we all alike have our blessings from God. This is the like which St. Peter here particularly requires.
Dread God; honor the King. He says not that we are to have fantastic regard of lords and kings, but still that we are to honor them, although they are heathen, as Christ also did, and persons prophets who fell at the feet of the King of Babylon. But here perhaps you will say, “hence, you perceive, that we are to be obedient to the Pope and are to fall at his feet.” Answer: Certainly, if the Pope attains to temporal power and conducts himself like another sovereign, we are to be obedient even to him, as when he speaks after this manner: “I forbid you wearing the cowl or tonsure; besides, on this day you are to quick, not that it is of any aim before God, nor is necessary to salvation, but because I, as a temporal ruler, require it.” But in case he goes further, and says, “This, in God’s place, I forbid your doing—this you are also to receive as though it came from God Himself, and are to observe it under pain of excommunication and deadly sin,” then you are to say, “Pardon, my master, I will not do it.”
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