Harrell Davidson
The passage that I am to look at is 2 Peter 1:7: “And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.” Let us especially look at the phrase “brotherly kindness.”
Kindness to all is an option and is one that we should embrace toward mankind. There is absolutely no way to be a New Testament Christian and be unkind to those around us. The 21st century seems to have lost the significance of this important aspect of our lives. It is true that there are characteristics about some individuals that we do not like or condone, but we can be kind. Did not God give His Only Begotten Son for all the world? Sin separates from God (Isa. 59: 1-3), but this does not mean that God hates or dislikes anyone. He loves us but hates sin, for it is opposed to His nature. He gave His Son for us. Paul wrote, “And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.” The church at Ephesus had put off the old man which had deceitful lusts (v. 22) and had now put on the new man (v. 24). They were to put away, cease from committing their lying, remembering that they were now members one of another (v. 25). If they got angry, they were to put it aside before sundown (v. 26). Some of this is the background wherein verse 32 was given.
No animosity was to reign in their mortal bodies and were to continue their fight against Satan (v. 27). Kindness toward others, and particularly brethren, was now their devotion to the Lord and others. This was paramount for them as well as Christians in the 21st century. Notice the phrase “tender hearted” (cf. verse 32). “…. Thou, Lord, which knowest the hearts of all men” (Acts 1:24). The Lord is the great heart searcher and knows our hearts better than we know our own. When the Gospel was preached to the audience on Pentecost in Acts 2, some of whom had been part of the crucifixion of Christ were pointed out as being guilty of such, and they were “pricked in their hearts” (Acts 2:37). That is, they were now disturbed over their actions toward our Lord. They had heart trouble before this. Some of those hardened hearts became softened toward the Lord and His gospel, and about 3,000 were baptized into Christ and were added to the Lord’s church (cf. Acts 2:38, 41, 47). The result of obedience was then seen in the lives of those saints. Luke the inspired writer wrote, “And all that believed were together, and had all things common; And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need” (Acts 2:44-45). This practice was mentioned by Luke when he wrote again in Acts 4,
And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common…Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold (Acts 4:32, 34).
What had happened? They had changed from getters to givers; this was a mighty change in them. This should be among us today, not what we can get but what we can give. It becomes not me but us. What can we do? In our experience, a tender-hearted individual will wind up doing the very best he can with the truth of the Word of God. A hard-hearted person will not be saved without changing.
These matters have to do, at least in part, with kindness toward others and even more to brethren. But who are our brothers and sisters? Look at Luke 8 for a moment that we may understand this question because it came up for our Lord to determine the proper answer.
Jesus had given the parable of the Sower, and after the explanation of why He spoke in parables, we pick up the story here:
Then came to him his mother and his brethren, and could not come at him for the press. And it was told him by certain which said, Thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to see thee. And he answered and said unto them, My mother and my brethren are these which hear the word of God, and do it (Luke 8:19-21).
It is suggested, in view of the misunderstanding that the Jews had about their relationship with God being based upon the lineage to Abraham, that this places this in connection with the parable of the Sower. The descent is not fleshly but spiritual. The thought was that your family is waiting for you, so Jesus corrects them by His statement that depicts that this is not a blood relationship, but one is in the right relationship when he is obedient to the Father’s commands. The Jews thought that fleshly descent was more important than anything else. They thought that Abraham’s flesh was greater than Abraham’s faith; this was their misunderstanding.
The parable reminds them of the importance of the power of the word of God, so He reminds them that what they are in the flesh is not important, but what we are spiritually is all that makes any difference. Jesus places the greatest importance on the phrase in the last part of verse 21. “My mother and brethren are those that hear and do the Word of God.” This is the highest relationship on this earth. This is why that Jesus said in Matthew 10 that he that loveth father or mother, brother or sister, son, or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. Spiritual relationships grows out of hearing the Word of God and produces common ideals, aims, and ambitions. They live for a common cause. This is what makes the bond between us. This is why we read in Acts 4 that those that believed were together and had all things common (v. 32). The Word was what had produced these qualities. This answers the question as to who is our brother.
Now, we put kindness with brotherly love, and we see that attitude that we are to have toward those that have obeyed the Gospel of Jesus Christ. This, therefore, ties Godliness and charity together. It is almost like saying double love. This is not an emotional, syrupy, feel-good matter. This is the bond between those who obey God’s will. We are as one in one body. Because of our lovingkindness toward our brothers, we must not and cannot fellowship those who fail afterwards to follow the doctrine (teachings) of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. However, that is a different subject for a different time.
May brotherly kindness continue.
