Eyes, Ears, and Face in 1 Peter 3:8-17

In his first Epistle, the apostle Peter gives some very poignant and straightforward advice framed in a chiastic structure. Here is the chiastic structure of 1 Peter 3:8-17:

A. 8  Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous:

    B. 9 Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, you should inherit a blessing.

        C. 10 For he that will love life, and see good days,

            D. let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile:

                E. 11 Let him eschew evil and do good; let him seek peace, and ensure it. 

                    F. 12 For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers:

                    F. but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil. 

                E’. 13 And who is he that will harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good? 14 But and if ye suffer for righteousness sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled;

             D’. 15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:

        C’. 16 Having a good conscience;

    B.’ that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ.

A’. 17 For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well-doing than for evil doing. 

   In verse 8, Peter takes a page from the Apostle Paul in the book of Philippians, urging his listeners to "be of one mind" (Philippians 2:2.) Being of "one mind" means communally conforming to the mind of Jesus, who sacrificed Himself for others. The Apostle John records Jesus' command to His followers to "Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another." Later in verse 17 of 1 Peter 3, the apostles urge his readers to suffer for "doing well." The "doing well" he is describing is loving one another. This self-sacrificing love might not cause humiliation today, but it was seen as weak and beneath an honorable man in the ancient Roman culture. The suffering one would endure if they practiced self-giving love was public humiliation, scorn, and ridicule. The word "evil" is introduced in verse 8 and repeated in verse 16. "Good is mentioned in the first part of verse 10 and verse 16. At the end of verse 10, Peter talks about not speaking, and in 15, he talks about being ready to speak. Peter says "do good" in verse 11 and uses the word good again in verse 13. At the center of the chiasm is verse 12. In verse 12, there are two antithetical statements. Peter uses this formula throughout this Epistle. Like a father, he says, "Now remember not to do this, but rather do this.” In verse 12 it reads: 

For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers:

      But the face of the Lord is against them that do evil. 

Peter uses pictures of the face, eyes, ears, and face. First, this pictures God as a loving Father and his listeners as God's children eagerly looking at His face for a reaction. Second, Peter uses the face analogy because of how a father's face affects his children. We can build up or crush our children without saying a word. All they have to do is look at our faces. A father's watchful eyes symbolize protection, listening to our problems, love, and provision. The father's face toward his children signifies his presence, and turning away conveys him removing his presence. When we are not all seeking to conform our minds to God's mind of self-sacrificing love, we lose the presence of God in our midst. When we do not "do well" and love one another, we will repay evil for evil. Our words will tear down and not build-up, and there will be no peace. A result is a group of self-seeking individuals who are not practicing self-sacrificing love and will not have the Lord's presence in their midst. A group of children with no father to protect and provide for them. The greatest hindrance to seeking the presence of God is pride (Psalm 10.) Proud people want things their way and seek the reward of control, while godly people seek God's face, and their reward is God Himself. "Whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him."