The Servants Clothes, 1 Peter 5:5

The central word for me in this verse is used only here in the New Testament.  The word is translated “be clothed with” (NKJV), “clothe yourselves” (ESV).  The Greek word is  ἐγκομβόομαι (egkomboomai), and is defined by Strong’s G1464 as follows:

 

 “knot or band by which two things are fastened together, to fasten or gird one's self” – with the following note:

“This was the white scarf or apron of slaves, which was fastened to the belt of the vest and distinguished slaves from freemen. Therefore, 1 Pet 5:5 ("gird yourselves with humility as your servile garb") encourages Christians to show their subjection one to another by putting on humility. This could also refer to the overalls which slaves wore to keep clean while working—an exceedingly humble garment.”

This word describes the function that is similar to the uniform coveralls worn by workmen today or the blue blouse or overshirt worn by the French working classes in the 19^th Century.  To illustrate, I’ve included Paul Cezanne’s portrait of a workman, “Man in a Blue Smock” from the Kimbell Art Museum.

This is how I should live – I must wear humility as a garment to mark myself as the slave of Jesus Christ and to protect the “white robe” of His righteousness which He has given me to wear.

 

Luke 6:13-16 “We Few…”

(Transcribed from my daily notes)

From among the population, Jesus called his disciples to Him.  From among the disciples, Jesus chose the twelve and named them “apostles.”  The general call for the disciples is the Greek word prosphoneo, προσφωνέω – to call, summons.  The word that Luke uses for “chose” is eklegomai, ἐκλέγομαι – to pick, to choose.

Note: Matthew states that “many are called, but few chosen” (Matthew 20:16) but his vocabulary is completely different from Luke’s, so I do not believe that I can make a connection between these two events and saying of Jesus.

In the verses I examined today, verses 14-16, Luke names the twelve who were chosen as apostles.  Of that twelve, one died a suicide rejecting Jesus, ten died martyrs, and one passed his last days in exile.  Yet except for Judas Iscariot, would not these eleven say with Henry V, “we few, we happy few, we band of brothers.”

That being said, what better destiny than to be chosen by Jesus to serve Him in whatever way and cause at His will!  So I would determine to be and to serve in any capacity, humble or unknown, grand or dangerous that I may be where Jesus chooses for me to be.

coram deo

Picture from