Albert Barnes Commentary 1 Peter 1:25

"But the word of the Lord abideth for ever. And this is the word of good tidings which was preached unto you." — 1 Peter 1:25 (ASV)

But the word of the Lord. In Isaiah 40:8, it is the word of our God. The meaning is not substantially changed.

Endureth for ever. It is unmoved, fixed, permanent. Amid all the revolutions on earth, the fading glories of natural objects, and the wasting strength of humankind, His truth remains unaffected. Its beauty never fades; its power is never weakened.

The gospel system is as lovely now as it was when it was first revealed to humankind, and it has as much power to save as it had when first applied to a human heart. We see the grass wither at the coming of autumn; we see the flower of the field decay. We see humankind, though confident in its strength and rejoicing in the vigor of its frame, cut down in an instant. We see cities decline and kingdoms lose their power.

But the word of God is the same now as it was at first, and, amid all the changes that may ever occur on the earth, it will remain the same.

And this is the word which by the gospel is preached to you. That is, this gospel is the word that was referred to by Isaiah in the passage that has been quoted. In view, then, of the affecting truth stated at the end of this chapter (1 Peter 1:24–25), let us learn habitually to reflect on our weakness and frailty.

We all do fade as a leaf (Isaiah 64:6). Our glory is like the flower of the field. Our beauty fades, and our strength disappears, as easily as the beauty and vigor of the flower that grows up in the morning and in the evening is cut down (Psalms 90:6).

The rose that blossoms on the cheek of youth may wither as soon as any other rose; the brightness of the eye may become dim as readily as the beauty of a field covered with flowers. The darkness of death may come over the brow of manhood and intelligence as readily as night settles down on the landscape; and our robes of adornment may be laid aside as soon as beauty fades in a meadow full of flowers before the scythe of the mower.

There is not an object of natural beauty in which we pride ourselves that will not decay; and soon all our pride and pomp will be laid low in the tomb. It is sad to look at a beautiful lily, a rose, or a magnolia, and to think how soon all that beauty will disappear.

It is sadder still to look at a rosy cheek, a bright eye, a lovely form, an expressive brow, an open, serene, intelligent countenance, and to think how soon all that beauty and brilliance will fade away. But amid these changes that beauty undergoes, and the desolations that disease and death spread over the world, it is cheering to think that not everything is subject to this decay. There is something that does not change, that never loses its beauty.

The word of the Lord abides. His cheering promises, His assurances that there is a brighter and better world, remain the same amid all these changes. The traits that are formed in the character by the religion of Christ, far more lovely than the most delicate coloring of the lily, remain forever.

There they abide, growing in loveliness, when the rose fades from the cheek, when the brilliance departs from the eye, when the body molders away in the tomb. The beauty of religion is the only permanent beauty on earth; and whoever has that need not regret that what in this mortal frame charms the eye shall fade away like the flower of the field.