1st Peter 5:5 Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for “God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.”
1st Peter 5:6 Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time,
These verses are directed to the young and to "all of you" or us.
Peter had been talking to the elders, or pastors, and now he has something to say to everyone, but he starts with the younger people, and then adds everyone.
The message here is one of humble submission. He says to submit to your elders, that is to come under their authority. And, to be submissive to one another. Same idea, come under in a humble way, to other believers. So, this covers the attitude towards those in leadership, and to the entire body of Christ.
Not only the attitude of being submissive, but, additionally, to be clothed with humility. Then quoting from Proverbs, 3:34, and from Isaiah 57:15 ( Where God through Isaiah was encouraging the repentant and humble, and warning the wicked ) two thoughts, about how God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.
So, these two things. Submissiveness towards leaders, and to one another, and clothing ourselves with humility.
To clothe ourselves with humility, or lowliness of mind, is to put that attitude on, just as you would if you were putting on some piece of clothing. It's something we choose to do. To be humble,
making yourself low, bringing yourself into a humble condition, to place yourself below others, to bring down one's soul, bringing down one's pride, to have a modest opinion of one's self. To behave in an unassuming manner, and to be devoid of all haughtiness. To demote yourself in your own opinion.
And, the promise here, is that grace flows to the humble heart. Not to the proud. God resists or opposes that kind of heart. Proud, means to show oneself above others, overtopping, being conspicuous above others, pre-eminent. It means the over estimation of oneself, and to despise others, or even treating them with contempt and being haughty. That type of heart and person is resisted by God.
Here are a few synonyms for the idea of pride as taught in the Bible.
Synonyms for Boaster, Proud, Insolent.
alazwn is properly a boaster, who tells great things concerning his own prowess and achievements, with the implied idea that many of his claims are false. This word naturally describes a trait which manifests itself in contact with one's fellow men, not one which exists simply within the heart.
uperhfanov describes one who thinks too highly of himself, describing a trait which is simply internal, not referring primarily to external manifestation, although this is implied. It means one who is proud, the external manifestation when it appears being in the form of arrogance in dealing with others.
upristhv describes one who delights in insolent wrong-doing toward others, finds pleasure in such acts. Cruelty and lust are two of the many forms which this quality assumes. These three words occur together in Ro 1:30. They are never used in a good sense. They may be said to move in a certain sense in an ascending scale of guilt, designating respectively "the boastful in words, the proud and overbearing in thoughts, the insolent and injurious in acts" (Cremer).
Lord Jesus. Help us to be humble, and to put it on, and to resist being proud, so that You do not resist us.
Thank You for the fact that You would even give grace to anyone. Thank You that humility is sought after by You, and that we an walk in that way before You. So, Lord, teach us to walk in humility.
