13 Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? 14 But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. ‘Do not fear their threats; do not be frightened.” NIV

Peter is saying in this passage that the ‘’good’’ life is a blessed life (9b). But (and this is counter-intuitive) part of that blessing comes our way in persecution (14a). There are bad people who are opposed to the good life.

‘’Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good?’’ It seems like a ‘no-brainer’. Who would want to hurt people who bring good to the world? But the sad, and realistic, truth is that there are plenty of such people out there. Peter goes on to highlight that there are ‘’those who speak maliciously against your good behaviour in Christ’’ (16). He recognises that a Christian can ‘’suffer for doing good’’ (17), and that this can be ‘’God’s will’’.

 So we must say that ‘the good life’ will not necessarily be an easy life. We should not expect it.

Again, the Peter who wrote these words was there on the hillside when Jesus said:

‘’Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.’’ (Matthew 5:10 – 12).