Likewise ye younger
Not in office, as if inferior officers to bishops were here
intended, who ought to be subject to them; for elders and pastors
are the same with them, nor is there any other office but that of
deacons; nor younger pastors and overseers, such an one as
Timothy was; not but that a deference is to be paid, and proper
respect had to such who are of greater age, and longer standing
and experience, by younger brethren in the ministry; nor such as
are only younger in years, who ought to rise up unto, and honour
hoary hairs, which may be done where subjection is not required,
as here; nor such as are young in grace and experience, since
there are little children, young men, and fathers in the church;
but all the members of churches in common are here intended, as
distinguished from their officers; for as pastors and overseers
were, for the most part, chosen from among those that were senior
in age, so the members generally consisted of the younger sort;
and besides, as it was usual to call chief men and rulers,
whether in church or state, fathers, so those that were subjects,
the younger; see ( Luke 21:26 ) . These the
apostle exhorts as follows,
submit yourselves unto the elder;
not merely in age, but in office, as before; for as he had
exhorted the elders to a discharge of their work and office, he
proceeds, in the next place, and which is signified by the word
"likewise", to stir up the members of the churches to their duty
to their elders, or pastors, who had the oversight of them; and
that is to "submit" themselves to them, as in ( Hebrews
13:17 ) , which is done by attending constantly on the word
preached by them, and receiving it, so far as it agrees with the
Scriptures of truth; and by joining with them in all the
ordinances of Christ, and their administrations of them; by being
subject to the laws of Christ's house, as put in execution by
them; by taking their counsel and advice, regarding and
hearkening to their admonitions and reproofs, and taking them in
good part, looking upon them, and behaving towards them, as their
spiritual guides and governors. The Syriac and Ethiopic versions
read, "to your elders"; such as were particularly set over them
in the Lord, and had taken the care of them, for to no others are
they obliged to submit themselves.
Yea, all [of you] be subject one to another;
that is, all the members of the churches should not only submit
themselves to their pastors, but to their fellow members, as in (
Ephesians 5:21 ) , they
should submit to the superior judgments of one another, esteeming
each other better than themselves, and not be tenacious of their
own way of thinking and judging of things; yea, condescend to men
of low estates and weaker minds, bear the infirmities of the
weak, and take all admonitions and reproofs given in a friendly
manner kindly; and cheerfully perform all offices of love, and by
it serve one another in things temporal and spiritual; doing the
meanest services for the good of each other, such as washing the
feet of one another, in imitation of their Lord and master.
And be clothed with humility;
without which there will be no subjection, either to the elders,
or one another. This is a grace which shows itself in a man's
thinking and speaking the best of others, and the worst of
himself; in not affecting places and titles of eminence; in being
content with the lowest place, and patiently bearing the greatest
contempt; in not aspiring to things too high for him, always
acknowledging his own meanness, baseness, and unworthiness,
ascribing all he is, and has, to the grace and goodness of God,
whether it be gifts of nature, providence, or grace: and this is
a believer's clothing, not the robe of his justifying
righteousness before God, but is a considerable part of his
inward garment of sanctification, which is in the sight of God of
great price; and makes a large show in his outward conversation
garments before men, and renders him lovely and amiable: it is an
ornament to him, which is precious with God, and recommends him
to the esteem of men, and the religion and Gospel he professes,
and his profession of it. Some think there is a metaphor in the
words, taken from knots of ribbons, and such like things, wore by
women on their heads, or breasts, for ornament; and that the
apostle's advice to the saints is, that their breast knot, or
ornament, should be humility. Others think it is taken from a
sort of badge which servants wore over their garments, by which
they were distinguished; and so saints are directed to put on
this badge, by which they may be known to be the servants of
Christ: the former seems more agreeable: but as the word
signifies to bind, or fasten anything, by tying of knots, it may
denote the retaining of this grace in constant exercise, so as
never to be without it; and to be clothed or covered with it, is
always to have it on, and in exercise, in every action of life,
in all our deportment before God and men, in all public and
religious worship, and throughout the whole of our conversation,
in the family, in the world, or in the church. The phrase seems
to be Jewish, and is to be met with in the writings of the Jews.
It is said F1,
``he that has fear, (hwneb vbltnw) , "and is clothed with humility"; humility is the most excellent, and is comprehended in all, as it is said, ( Proverbs 22:4 ) . He who has the fear of God is worthy of humility, and everyone that hath humility is worthy of kindness or holiness.''And it is a saying of R. Meir F2,
``he that loves God loves men; he that makes God glad makes men glad; and it (the law) (hwne wtvblm) , "clothes him with humility and fear".''For he resisteth the proud;