Peter wanted his readers to face injustice with grace. He knew that sometimes those who hold power abuse their authority and therefore abuse those under their authority. But those redeemed by the Lord Jesus Christ should respond in a way that glorifies God, as they “abstain from the passions of the flesh” by respectfully subjecting themselves to those in authority over them—even when they manage that authority very poorly. The only way we can respond graciously to injustice is to be consciously committed to pleasing our Lord. We will consider and apply this thesis under three headings:
1. A Gracious Exhortation (vv. 18–20)
2. A Gracious Example (vv. 21–23)
3. A Gracious Expectation (vv. 24–25)