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Public-domain commentary
Matthew Henry
From his Commentary on the Whole Bible. Henry comments on passages, not single verses — this entry covers 1 Peter 5:5–7. His three-level outline is real structure in the source text, so it is rendered as structure.
Having settled and explained the duty of the pastors or spiritual guides of the church, the apostle comes now to instruct the flock,
I.How to behave themselves to their ministers and to one another.
He calls them the younger, as being generally younger than their grave pastors, and to put them in mind of their inferiority, the term younger being used by our Saviour to signify an inferior, Luk 22:26. He exhorts those that are younger and inferior to submit themselves to the elder, to give due respect and reverence to their persons, and to yield to their admonitions, reproof, and authority, enjoining and commanding what the word of God requires, Heb 13:17. As to one another, the rule is that they should all be subject one to another, so far as to receive the reproofs and counsels one of another, and be ready to bear one another's burdens, and perform all the offices of friendship and charity one to another; and particular persons should submit to the directions of the whole society, Eph 5:21.; Jam 5:16. These duties of submission to superiors in age or office, and subjection to one another, being contrary to the proud nature and selfish interests of men, he advises them to be clothed with humility. "Let your minds, behaviour, garb, and whole frame, be adorned with humility, as the most beautiful habit you can wear; this will render obedience and duty easy and pleasant; but, if you be disobedient and proud, God will set himself to oppose and crush you; for he resisteth the proud, when he giveth grace to the humble." Observe,
1.Humility is the great preserver of peace and order in all Christian churches and societies, consequently pride is the great disturber of them, and the cause of most dissensions and breaches in the church.
2.There is a mutual opposition between God and the proud, so the word signifies; they war against him, and he scorns them; he resisteth the proud, because they are like the devil, enemies to himself and to his kingdom among men, Pro 3:34.
3.Where God giveth grace to be humble, he will give more grace, more wisdom, faith, holiness, and humility. Hence the apostle adds: Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time, Pe1 5:6. "Since God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace to the humble, therefore humble yourselves, not only one to another, but to the great God, whose judgments are coming upon the world, and must begin at the house of God (Pe1 4:17); his hand is almighty, and can easily pull you down if you be proud, or exalt you if you be humble; and it will certainly do it, either in this life, if he sees it best for you, or at the day of general retribution." Learn,
(1.)The consideration of the omnipotent hand of God should make us humble and submissive to him in all that he brings upon us.
(2.)Humbling ourselves to God under his hand is the next way to deliverance and exaltation; patience under his chastisements, and submission to his pleasure, repentance, prayer, and hope in his mercy, will engage his help and release in due time, Jam 4:7, Jam 4:10.
II.The apostle, knowing that these Christians were already under very hard circumstances, rightly supposes that what he had foretold of greater hardships yet a coming might excite in them abundance of care and fear about the event of these difficulties, what the issue of them would be to themselves, their families, and the church of God; foreseeing this anxious care would be a heavy burden, and a sore temptation, he gives them the best advice, and supports it with a strong argument. His advice is to cast all their care, or all care of themselves, upon God. "Throw your cares, which are so cutting and distracting, which wound your souls and pierce your hearts, upon the wise and gracious providence of God; trust in him with a firm composed mind, for he careth for you. He is willing to release you of your care, and take the care of you upon himself. He will either avert what you fear, or support you under it. He will order all events to you so as shall convince you of his paternal love and tenderness towards you; and all shall be so ordered that no hurt, but good, shall come unto you," Mat 6:25; Psa 84:11; Rom 8:28. Learn,
1.The best of Christians are apt to labour under the burden of anxious and excessive care; the apostle calls it, all your care, intimating that the cares of Christians are various and of more sorts than one: personal cares, family cares, cares for the present, cares for the future, cares for themselves, for others, and for the church.
2.The cares even of good people are very burdensome, and too often very sinful; when they arise from unbelief and diffidence, when they torture and distract the mind, unfit us for the duties of our place and hinder our delightful service of God, they are very criminal.
3.The best remedy against immoderate care is to cast our care upon God, and resign every event to the wise and gracious determination. A firm belief of the rectitude of the divine will and counsels calms the spirit of man. We ceased, saying, The will of the Lord be done, Act 21:14.
Historical interpretation
Eight Centuries of Reception
4 surviving comments on this verse. Each one is dated, so this reads as a timeline rather than a list.
Select a marker to jump to its quote. Markers stagger vertically where authors wrote within a few decades of each other.
For, like elderly men who have no hope of renewing their strength, and expect nothing but their last sleep, so you, weakened by worldly occupations, have given yourselves up to sloth, and have not cast your cares upon the Lord. Your spirit therefore was broken, and ye grew old in your sorrows.
A brother asked a hermit, ‘Would you like me to keep two shillings for myself, in case I fall ill?’ The hermit, seeing that in his heart he wanted to keep them, said, ‘Yes.’ The brother went into his cell, but he was worried, asking himself, ‘Did he tell me the truth or not?’ He got up and went back to the hermit, bowed down and asked him, ‘For the Lord’s sake tell me the truth, for I am worrying about those two shillings.’ The hermit said to him, ‘I told you to keep them because I saw you intended to do so anyway. But it is not good to have more than the body needs. If you keep two shillings, you will put your hope in them. If by chance they are lost, then God will no longer be interested in your needs. Let us cast all our care upon the Lord, for He cares for us.’
Peter tells us that we have a guide and leader and that if we act according to his instructions, we shall keep ourselves pure and spotless.
Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the Devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world.
It is added, "In time." For it refers to the exaltation in the future age, which is the only true exaltation, as unchangeable and everlasting, since the present exaltation is neither secure nor firm, but rather contributes to a perpetual humiliation, so that it may be humbled more quickly than it was exalted. Furthermore, the Lord Himself is suitable to reconcile humiliation with exaltation. For He says: "Everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted." (Matt. 18:4) And: "Whoever wishes to be first among you shall be the last of all." (Matt. 20:27) And speaking at that time, he indicated, as we said, that in the future, the exaltation promised would arise from humiliation. For there will be a time of unchangeable things in the future and in the incorruptible age. For the incorruptible has nothing mortal or perishable. Then, removing the fear that would arise from humiliation (for perhaps he saw some fearing that by humbling themselves in this present life, they would suffer some evil), he said: "Do not be afraid, casting all your anxiety on the Lord, when you have entrusted yourself to him who will take careful and diligent care of you."
"because he cares for you," or concern is placed upon him regarding all these things.
"Be sober-minded; be watchful." On those who are spiritually asleep (this, however, is to aspire to vain things) and from this, the watchfulness of souls is weighed down, the evil and most savage beast of despair is accustomed to leap upon them. Therefore, Christ's disciple, strengthening us (Matt. 13:24), exhorts us to always be vigilant and to watch over him who sows tares, lest in any way, while we are asleep, or living carelessly and sluggishly, he secretly sows wicked thoughts and drives us away from true life.
For the Devil does not cease, Peter says, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour; to whom you also resist with firm strength of mind. Concerning such sharp snares and the precise deceit of him against us, the holy Justin Martyr also brings forth the case, stating that the Devil did not clearly know the power of his punishment before the coming of the Lord, when the divine prophets had announced it mysteriously: just as Isaiah (14:4), under the persona of the Assyrian, tragically narrates the entire representation of the Devil. But when the Lord had come and had openly said that the eternal fire is reserved and prepared for the Devil and his angels (Matt. 25:41), upon hearing this, he does not cease to lie in wait for the faithful, wanting to have many companions in his defection, lest he be ashamed to cling to this alone, applauding himself with this cold and envious consolation.
"knowing that the same kinds of suffering," as it is likely, those to whom Peter writes were being pressed by many afflictions for the sake of Christ: therefore, both in the preceding and in the following, he brings consolation to this: indeed, by the fact that the enduring become themselves partakers of the afflictions of Christ and heirs of the glory that is to be revealed; here, however, by the fact that they do not suffer alone, but all the faithful who are in the world: moreover, the company of companions lightens the severity.
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Summary
1 Peter 5:7 offers a profound command and an equally profound promise: believers are to decisively transfer all their anxieties and worries onto God, with the foundational assurance that He, in His infinite love and wisdom, deeply cares for them. This verse serves as a powerful antidote to human worry, inviting a life of faith-filled trust in divine providence, even amidst suffering and trials.
Context
Literary Context
This verse is nestled within Peter's concluding exhortations to the scattered believers in Asia Minor. It immediately follows a call to humility before God and resistance against the devil (1 Peter 5:6 and 1 Peter 5:8-9). The flow of thought suggests that humility before God naturally leads to casting burdens upon Him, as pride often attempts to bear burdens independently. Conversely, the ability to cast cares upon God strengthens one to resist the devil, who often exploits anxiety and fear. The verse also anticipates the promise of God's restoration and strengthening in 1 Peter 5:10, framing the act of casting care as a prerequisite for experiencing divine sustenance.
Historical & Cultural Context
Peter is writing to Christians facing various forms of suffering, persecution, and social ostracism in the Roman provinces of Asia Minor (1 Peter 1:1). These believers were experiencing "fiery trials" (1 Peter 4:12) and needed practical guidance on how to navigate a hostile world while maintaining their faith. In the Greco-Roman world, the concept of "care" (μέριμνα) often carried negative connotations, referring to distracting anxieties that could consume a person. Philosophies of the day, like Stoicism, sought to eliminate such anxieties through self-control and apathy (apatheia), but Peter offers a radically different, relational solution: entrusting these burdens to a caring God, rather than suppressing them through human effort.
Key Themes
1 Peter 5:7 powerfully contributes to several overarching themes in the epistle. It reinforces the theme of divine care and providence, assuring believers that God is actively involved in their lives and concerned with their well-being, even amid suffering. It underscores the importance of trust and faith over anxiety, a recurring motif that encourages steadfastness despite external pressures. Furthermore, it connects to the theme of humility (1 Peter 5:6), as acknowledging one's inability to bear all burdens and entrusting them to God is an act of humble reliance. Finally, it implicitly addresses the theme of spiritual warfare, recognizing that anxiety can be a tool of the adversary, which is why casting cares upon God is a vital step in resisting the devil (1 Peter 5:8).
Exposition and Analysis
Key Word Analysis
This verb (G1977) means "to throw upon" or "to place upon," literally or figuratively. It conveys a decisive, complete action, much like casting off a heavy cloak or throwing a burden onto a beast of burden. It implies a transfer of responsibility and weight from oneself to another, indicating a definitive act of letting go and entrusting.
Derived from a root meaning "to divide" or "to distract," this noun (G3308) refers to solicitude, anxiety, or worry. It describes the kind of mental distraction and emotional burden that can fragment one's focus and peace. It encompasses all forms of anxiety, from minor concerns to overwhelming dread.
This verb (G3199) is used impersonally in the third person singular, meaning "it is of interest to" or "it concerns." When applied to God, as it is here, it signifies His deep, personal, and active concern for His people. It is not a passive or indifferent awareness, but an intimate and engaged solicitude for their well-being.
Verse Breakdown
"Casting all your care upon him"
This is an imperative, a command for believers to actively and comprehensively transfer every anxiety and worry they possess. The word "all" (G3956, pâs') emphasizes the totality of this action, leaving no care excluded. The preposition "upon" (G1909, epí') reinforces the idea of placing a burden directly onto another, signifying a complete delegation of the weight of worry. The "him" (G846, autós') refers unequivocally to God, specifically the God who has been described throughout the epistle as sovereign, just, and loving.
"for he careth for you"
This clause provides the foundational reason and motivation for the command. The conjunction "for" (G3754, hóti') introduces the divine rationale. The second "he" (G846, autós') again refers to God. The verb "careth" (G3199, mélō') underscores God's deep, personal, and active concern for His children. The preposition "for" (G4012, perí') here indicates "with respect to" or "on behalf of" you (G5216, hymōn'), reinforcing the personal and benevolent nature of God's concern. This is not merely a statement of fact but a profound assurance of God's character and disposition towards His people.
Literary Devices
The verse employs several impactful literary devices. The most prominent is Metaphor, where the act of "casting" (epirrhíptō) serves as a vivid image of transferring a heavy burden or garment onto another. This metaphor powerfully conveys the decisive and complete nature of releasing one's anxieties. The use of the Imperative Mood ("Casting") highlights the command-like nature of the instruction, emphasizing that this is an active choice believers must make. There is also a clear Cause and Effect relationship established by the conjunction "for" (hóti), where God's inherent care for His people is presented as the direct reason and enablement for them to cast their cares upon Him. This creates a logical and comforting theological framework. Finally, the verse exhibits a subtle Contrast between the human capacity for worry ("all your care") and the divine capacity for concern and provision ("he careth for you"), underscoring God's sufficiency where human strength fails.
Theological and Thematic Connections
This verse is a cornerstone for understanding divine providence and the nature of faith. It asserts God's active and benevolent involvement in the lives of His people, challenging any notion of a distant or indifferent deity. The command to "cast all your care" is not an invitation to irresponsibility, but a call to radical trust in the One who holds all things together. It implies that worry is, at its root, a lack of trust in God's sovereignty and goodness. By entrusting our anxieties to Him, we acknowledge His supreme authority and His intimate love, allowing His peace to guard our hearts and minds. This theological truth liberates believers from the crushing weight of anxiety, enabling them to live with greater freedom and focus on their calling.
Reflection and Application
1 Peter 5:7 is not a passive suggestion but an active command that requires intentionality and consistent practice. It calls us to identify the specific anxieties that burden our hearts—whether they stem from financial struggles, health concerns, relational conflicts, future uncertainties, or past regrets—and consciously, through prayer and an act of will, surrender them to God. This "casting" is an ongoing process, often requiring repeated surrender as worries resurface. It involves acknowledging our limitations, trusting in God's boundless power and love, and choosing faith over fear. The promise that "He careth for you" is the bedrock of this practice, reminding us that we are not abandoning our problems into a void, but placing them into the hands of a loving Father who is intimately concerned with every detail of our lives. Living out this verse transforms our relationship with God, deepening our reliance on Him and fostering a profound sense of peace that transcends understanding.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
Does "casting all your care" mean I shouldn't plan or be responsible?
No, "casting all your care" does not imply irresponsibility or a lack of planning. Instead, it distinguishes between responsible forethought and debilitating anxiety. We are called to be wise stewards of our resources and time, making prudent plans and working diligently (Proverbs 6:6-11). However, after we have done all we can, the worries that arise from uncertainty, fear of failure, or circumstances beyond our control are what we are to cast upon God. It's about surrendering the outcome and the burden of worry, not neglecting our duties. Jesus' teaching in Matthew 6:25-34 similarly encourages us not to worry about tomorrow, not because tomorrow doesn't exist, but because God provides.
What if my worries don't go away immediately after I "cast" them?
Casting your cares upon God is often an ongoing process, not a one-time event, especially for deep-seated anxieties. Just as a physical burden might need to be re-adjusted or re-cast, emotional and spiritual burdens may require repeated acts of surrender. The verse invites us into a posture of continuous trust. When worries resurface, it's an opportunity to reiterate your trust in God, reminding yourself of His promise that "He careth for you." It's a journey of faith, where consistency in prayer and reliance on God's Word (Philippians 4:6-7) gradually transforms your heart and mind, leading to deeper peace.
Christ-Centered Fulfillment
1 Peter 5:7 finds its ultimate fulfillment and deepest meaning in the person and work of Jesus Christ. He is the embodiment of God's profound care for humanity, demonstrating it supremely through His incarnation and atoning sacrifice. Jesus Himself extended the ultimate invitation to the weary and burdened, promising rest for their souls (Matthew 11:28-30). He bore the ultimate burden of sin and separation from God on the cross, taking upon Himself the "care" of humanity's deepest spiritual need, so that we might be free from its crushing weight (Isaiah 53:4-5). As our compassionate High Priest, Jesus understands our weaknesses and anxieties, having been tempted in every way, yet without sin (Hebrews 4:15-16). Therefore, when we cast our cares upon God, we are casting them upon the Father through the Son, who is our advocate and intercessor (1 John 2:1). His life and resurrection are the ultimate proof that God truly "careth for you," offering not just relief from daily anxieties but eternal life and abundant peace (John 10:10) in Him.