“How does ‘love cover a multitude of sins,’ as stated in 1 Peter 4:8?”
May 2022 – Grace & Truth Magazine
QUESTION: How does “love … cover a multitude of sins,” as stated in 1 Peter 4:8?
ANSWER: The apostle Peter is very practical in this epistle. Suffering is a theme that stands out clearly throughout each chapter of 1 Peter. We live in a world where Christians should expect to suffer.
On His last night with His disciples the Lord Jesus told them that He was going away. They could not follow Him where He was going and they would miss Him. His disciples would seek Him but not find Him. Then He gave them a new commandment: they were to love one another (Jn. 13:34). We too should demonstrate true love for others.
Everyone around was to know that they were His disciples by their love for each another (v.35). Up to this point at least, love had not really characterized them. From time to time they had argued among themselves about which of them would be greatest in the kingdom they were eagerly expecting. No doubt some hard words, and perhaps even more than that, were exchanged during a number of these arguments.
In our personal relationships it is easy to hurt one another’s feelings. Sad to say, we all have lied – some more, some less. We have been thoughtless and said things we should not have said. And we have done so many other things that, while not crimes against the laws of God or man, were definitely sins. Romans 14:23 (NKJV) tells us, “Whatever is not from faith is sin.” James 4:17 states, “To him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.”
Love like our Lord’s would quietly deal with these sins. “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 Jn. 1:9). When God forgives sins He does not bring them up again; they are gone. We cannot do this, only God can forgive sins. Yet we should in love cover sins others have done against us rather than dwell on them and keep bringing them up again, especially when they have been confessed and dealt with. Love seeks the good of others and does not want to spread abroad their sins and failures.
Covering a multitude of sins does not mean ignoring or condoning them. Sin needs to be properly dealt with. When this is done, that should be the end. But the flesh is cunning. To uncover and spread the sins of others is a not-so-subtle way of trying to make ourselves appear to be better than they; there is no humility in such conduct. May the Lord help us to build up others, focusing on their virtues rather than adding to their sufferings by spreading their wrongdoings!
Answered by Eugene P. Vedder, Jr.
If lust marks the world’s sphere (1 Pet. 4:2), love is the outstanding mark of the Christian fellowship. Other qualities will shine in that circle, but the crowning quality – the one without which all else is vain, or worthless – is love. Therefore, the apostle said, “above all things have fervent love for one another” (v.8 NKJV). For the third time in the course of this epistle, Peter pressed love as the outstanding quality of the Christian company. The other two verses are: “Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart” (1:22). “Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous” (3:8). Love is far from being indifferent to sin; but love does not necessarily expose sins or gloat over the failure of others. If possible, love will deal with sins privately, so that they do not needlessly become public. When they are dealt with and judged, love will no longer speak of or spread them abroad. Love does not make mischief or lead people to act as busybodies. Love covers a multitude of sins, as the wise man said, “Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all sins” (Prov. 10:12). —Hamilton Smith (adapted from The First Epistle Of Peter)