1 Peter 3:12
Verse
Context
Sermons







Summary
Commentary
- Adam Clarke
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
- John Gill
Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
The eyes of the Lord are over the righteous - That is, He is continually under God's notice and his care; God continually watches for him and watches over him, and he is under his constant protection. And his ears are open unto their prayers - The original is very emphatic: The eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, and his ears to their prayers. The righteous man ever attracts the Divine notice, and wherever he is, there is the ear of God; for, as every righteous man is a man of prayer, wherever he prays, there is the ear of God, into which the prayer, as soon as formed, enters. But the face of the Lord - Far from his eye being upon them, or his ear open to their requests, (for prayer they have none), his face, his approbation, his providence and blessing, are turned away from them; and he only looks upon them to abhor them, and to turn the arm of his justice against them.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
Ground of the promised present and eternal life of blessedness to the meek (Pe1 3:10). The Lord's eyes are ever over them for good. ears . . . unto their prayers-- (Jo1 5:14-15). face . . . against--The eyes imply favorable regard; the face of the Lord upon (not as English Version, "against") them that do evil, implies that He narrowly observes them, so as not to let them really and lastingly hurt His people (compare Pe1 3:13).
John Gill Bible Commentary
For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous,.... Who are so not merely in the sight of men, but of God; nor in their own account, and by their own works, but in the esteem of God, through the imputation of the righteousness of his Son unto them: and because he loves this righteousness, and is well pleased with it, seeing by it his law is magnified and made honourable, therefore his countenance beholds with pleasure and delight those righteous ones who are clothed with it; his eyes of omniscience, love, care, and protection, are always upon them, watching over them, delighting in them, running to and fro in the earth on behalf of them; he sees every injury done them, and in his own time and way will do them justice; which is a reason why they should not take vengeance themselves, but leave it with him, whose it is: and his ears are open to their prayers; or "prayer"; in the Hebrew text, "to their cry"; he is a God hearing prayer, and his righteous ones have his ear; he hears them while they are speaking, and will sooner or later answer, and avenge his elect, who cry unto him day and night; for as he has an ear to hear their cries, which is not heavy, he has an arm to save them, which is not shortened; and this is another reason why they should behave as before directed, and which is still strengthened by what follows, but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil; it is added in the psalm, "to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth": by "the face of the Lord" is meant, as the Jewish writers (y) interpret it, the anger of the Lord; it intends, not his kind, pleasant, and loving countenance, but his angry one with the former he beholds the upright, and with it he looks upon his righteous ones; but the latter is upon and against the wicked, and is dreadful and intolerable, and the consequence of it is everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power, (y) Jarchi & Menachem apud ib. & Aben Ezra in loc.
1 Peter 3:12
Turning from Evil
11He must turn from evil and do good; he must seek peace and pursue it. 12For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and His ears are inclined to their prayer. But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”
- Scripture
- Sermons
- Commentary
The Case for a Good Conscience
By Warren Wiersbe4.9K40:44PSA 34:121PE 3:81PE 3:121PE 3:15In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of having a good conscience as a believer. A good conscience enables consistency in one's walk with God and promotes unity and compassion among fellow believers. The speaker also highlights the significance of witnessing to the unsaved with meekness and respect, rather than engaging in arguments. Lastly, the speaker discusses the benefits of having a good conscience in dealing with criticism and maintaining a positive outlook on life.
Blessedness of Brokenness
By Tom Palmer1.5K57:28BrokennessGEN 32:24MAT 6:331PE 3:12In this sermon, the speaker begins by asking the audience to write down five statements that describe their personal relationship with God. The statements range from "All of me, none of thee" to "Some of me, some of thee." The speaker then shares a story about his niece receiving financial assistance for college, highlighting the spirit of brokenness and cooperation with God. He emphasizes the importance of brokenness in responding to Scripture and warns against treating the Bible like a buffet line. The sermon concludes with the speaker expressing gratitude for the youth's response during the announcements and sharing a personal anecdote about cooperation using worms and chickens.
Why Would God Have Mercy on Us
By Ralph Sexton Sr.1.1K50:42God's MercyUnity in the Church2CH 7:14PSA 51:10ISA 55:6LAM 3:22MAT 5:14ACT 2:1ROM 9:15EPH 2:4JAS 5:161PE 3:12Ralph Sexton Sr. emphasizes the profound mercy and grace of God, questioning why God chooses to show compassion to humanity despite our unworthiness. He highlights the importance of unity among believers, asserting that when God's people come together in prayer and humility, divine intervention occurs, leading to revival. Sexton reflects on historical revivals, illustrating how God has moved in the past and can do so again if His people earnestly seek Him. He challenges the congregation to consider their role in this divine plan and to remain faithful in prayer, urging them to be vessels for God's mercy in a world that desperately needs it.
Practical Prayer
By A.B. Simpson0The Power of PrayerPractical Application of Faith2SA 5:19PSA 34:17PRO 3:6ISA 30:15JON 2:71TH 5:16JAS 1:5JAS 5:13JAS 5:161PE 3:12A.B. Simpson emphasizes the significance of practical prayer in everyday life, illustrating how prayer can guide us in our daily affairs, provide wisdom, and bring healing. He highlights that prayer is not just for personal needs but also for the benefit of others, encouraging believers to pray fervently and expectantly. Simpson shares biblical examples, such as David and Ezra, to demonstrate how prayer can lead to divine intervention in trials and challenges. He also stresses the importance of prayer in times of joy and sickness, reminding us that prayer is a powerful tool for both personal and communal healing. Ultimately, he calls for a deeper commitment to prayer as a means of connecting with God and serving others.
1 Peter 3:12
By John Gill0God's JusticeRighteousnessPSA 34:15PSA 145:18PRO 15:29ISA 59:1MAT 5:45ROM 3:222TH 1:6HEB 4:131PE 3:121JN 5:14John Gill expounds on 1 Peter 3:12, emphasizing that the Lord's eyes are always upon the righteous, not just in the sight of men but through the righteousness of Christ. He reassures believers that God delights in them and is attentive to their prayers, promising justice and protection. Conversely, God's face is against those who do evil, signifying His anger and the dire consequences for the wicked. This understanding encourages the righteous to trust in God's timing for justice rather than seeking vengeance themselves.
The Very Soul of Prayer
By Thomas Brooks0The Heart of WorshipSincerity in Prayer1SA 16:7PSA 51:17PSA 62:8PRO 23:26JER 29:13MAT 6:6ROM 10:1HEB 10:22JAS 5:161PE 3:12Thomas Brooks emphasizes that true prayer is rooted in the sincerity of the heart, as expressed in Proverbs 23:26, 'My son, give Me your heart.' He argues that God desires our whole heart in prayer, rather than mere eloquence or formality. Brooks points out that many fail in their prayer life because they do not engage their hearts fully, and that heartfelt prayer leads to divine acknowledgment and reward. He warns that prayers lacking sincerity are empty and ineffective, likening them to mere noise without substance. Ultimately, Brooks teaches that God listens to the heart's cry, and only prayers that stem from a sincere heart are accepted by Him.
God's Eye
By Thomas Brooks0Comfort in TrialsGod's OmnisciencePSA 34:15PSA 38:9PSA 56:8PSA 139:7ISA 65:24MAT 6:6ROM 8:26HEB 4:131PE 3:121JN 5:14Thomas Brooks emphasizes that God's watchful eye is always upon His people, even in their darkest and most secret moments. He reassures believers that no matter where they find themselves, God sees their hidden tears, hears their silent cries, and understands their deepest desires. This divine attention is not just observational but filled with love and compassion, as God is always ready to respond to their needs. Brooks highlights that every sigh, groan, and longing of the heart is known to God, reminding Christians that they are never out of His sight or reach.
The Eye of Their God Was Upon
By F.B. Meyer0God's ProtectionFaith in AdversityEZR 5:5PSA 34:15PSA 121:8PSA 139:1ISA 41:10MAT 28:20JHN 10:14ROM 8:31HEB 13:51PE 3:12F.B. Meyer emphasizes the comforting truth that God's watchful eye is upon His people, particularly in times of opposition and hardship, as illustrated by the Jews during their temple-building efforts. He reassures believers that despite facing hatred and challenges, they should focus on Jesus rather than their adversaries, trusting in His protective presence. Meyer draws on the Psalmist's assurance that the Lord's eyes are on the righteous, encouraging believers to remain steadfast in their work for God, knowing that He is intimately aware of their struggles and circumstances.
Prayer and Character and Conduct
By E.M. Bounds0PrayerCharacter DevelopmentPSA 66:18ISA 58:9JER 11:14MAT 6:6PHP 2:121TH 5:17HEB 10:22JAS 5:161PE 3:121JN 3:22E.M. Bounds emphasizes the profound connection between prayer, character, and conduct, asserting that prayer governs our actions and shapes our inner character. He explains that while conduct is the visible expression of our character, true Christian conduct can only arise from a life steeped in prayer. Bounds argues that prayer is essential for establishing a distinctive religious character and that without it, moral transformation is impossible. He highlights that the church's primary mission is to foster righteousness in character and conduct, and that a life of prayer leads to a distaste for sin and a commitment to holiness. Ultimately, Bounds calls for a life where prayer and righteous living are inseparable, as they mutually reinforce each other.
Holiness and Prayer
By E.M. Bounds0Obedience in PrayerHolinessPSA 66:18MAT 7:21JHN 15:7ROM 12:1PHP 4:61TH 5:17HEB 4:16JAS 5:161PE 3:121JN 3:22E.M. Bounds emphasizes that true prayer is rooted in holiness and obedience to God, highlighting that it is not merely the act of saying prayers but rather the prayers of those wholly devoted to God that yield powerful results. He illustrates that Jesus exemplified this through His life of perfect obedience, which granted Him direct access to the Father in prayer. Bounds argues that effective prayer requires a complete surrender of one's will to God, as disobedience hinders our ability to pray meaningfully. He uses the example of King Hezekiah to show how a life lived in truth and obedience can influence God's decisions. Ultimately, Bounds concludes that obedience is the foundation of effective prayer, and without it, prayer becomes ineffective and hollow.
The Ear of God
By John Hames0PSA 34:15PSA 139:7ISA 49:16MAT 7:71PE 3:12John Hames delivers a sermon on the attentive, patient, and universal ear of God, emphasizing that His ears are always open to the cries of the righteous. Hames explores the comforting truth that God's ear is not only universal and attentive but also patient, confidential, impartial, and unforgetting, highlighting the unique and unwavering nature of God's listening to His children.
- Adam Clarke
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
- John Gill
Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
The eyes of the Lord are over the righteous - That is, He is continually under God's notice and his care; God continually watches for him and watches over him, and he is under his constant protection. And his ears are open unto their prayers - The original is very emphatic: The eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, and his ears to their prayers. The righteous man ever attracts the Divine notice, and wherever he is, there is the ear of God; for, as every righteous man is a man of prayer, wherever he prays, there is the ear of God, into which the prayer, as soon as formed, enters. But the face of the Lord - Far from his eye being upon them, or his ear open to their requests, (for prayer they have none), his face, his approbation, his providence and blessing, are turned away from them; and he only looks upon them to abhor them, and to turn the arm of his justice against them.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
Ground of the promised present and eternal life of blessedness to the meek (Pe1 3:10). The Lord's eyes are ever over them for good. ears . . . unto their prayers-- (Jo1 5:14-15). face . . . against--The eyes imply favorable regard; the face of the Lord upon (not as English Version, "against") them that do evil, implies that He narrowly observes them, so as not to let them really and lastingly hurt His people (compare Pe1 3:13).
John Gill Bible Commentary
For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous,.... Who are so not merely in the sight of men, but of God; nor in their own account, and by their own works, but in the esteem of God, through the imputation of the righteousness of his Son unto them: and because he loves this righteousness, and is well pleased with it, seeing by it his law is magnified and made honourable, therefore his countenance beholds with pleasure and delight those righteous ones who are clothed with it; his eyes of omniscience, love, care, and protection, are always upon them, watching over them, delighting in them, running to and fro in the earth on behalf of them; he sees every injury done them, and in his own time and way will do them justice; which is a reason why they should not take vengeance themselves, but leave it with him, whose it is: and his ears are open to their prayers; or "prayer"; in the Hebrew text, "to their cry"; he is a God hearing prayer, and his righteous ones have his ear; he hears them while they are speaking, and will sooner or later answer, and avenge his elect, who cry unto him day and night; for as he has an ear to hear their cries, which is not heavy, he has an arm to save them, which is not shortened; and this is another reason why they should behave as before directed, and which is still strengthened by what follows, but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil; it is added in the psalm, "to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth": by "the face of the Lord" is meant, as the Jewish writers (y) interpret it, the anger of the Lord; it intends, not his kind, pleasant, and loving countenance, but his angry one with the former he beholds the upright, and with it he looks upon his righteous ones; but the latter is upon and against the wicked, and is dreadful and intolerable, and the consequence of it is everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power, (y) Jarchi & Menachem apud ib. & Aben Ezra in loc.