1 Peter 4:8,9

1 Peter 4:8-9 above all things being fervent in your love among yourselves; for love covereth a multitude of sins: using hospitality one to another without murmuring:

Expanded Translation

in preference to everything else, having an intense, earnest and fervent love among yourselves; for love covers (conceals, hides) a multitude of sins. Be hospitable toward one another without

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sulking and grumbling.

above all things being fervent in your love among yourselves

The last word is emphatic in the original. Why is this virtue so important? Peter had just spoken of the great calamity that was to fall round about them. Times were already difficult, and the persecution, trials, and hardships were soon to increase. Under such trying and extenuating circumstances, the church must be a loving and harmonious unit.

BEING FERVENTSee under 1 Peter 1:22, where we have a very similar exhortation.

love covereth a multitude of sins

That is, when love dominates a person's life and being, he is not a fault-finder or crank. The constant practice of sin should certainly arrest our attentionwhether in our life or in another'S. But when love is the controlling force in our lives, we will not be looking for sins in our brothers-' lives. Hatred stirreth up strifes, the Wise Man said, but love covereth all transgressions (Proverbs 10:12). This same thought is expressed by Paul in his great eulogy on Love, when he said that love taketh not account of evil (1 Corinthians 13:5).

God also covers our sins when He forgives us (Psalms 32:1, James 5:20). For that reason, some have thought God'S love and forgiveness is here cited as an example to be imitated. The phrase may, however, simply be taken as a general truth.

using hospitality one to another

The word philoxenos comes from phileo, to love and xenos, stranger. Thus literally; kind to strangers, loving strangers. But strangers here is obviously to be taken in the sense of others (guests), that is, those outside your immediate household. We are to practice this virtue among ourselves as Christians. More is involved in this than just having Christian guests in our home. We should want them there, and treat them kindly and helpfully.

All too often this virtue is practiced by a few in the church who (bless their generous hearts) are thoughtful of those in need. Others, it seems, practice hospitality to a few of their select friends, while those who need assistance most go unhelped.
Hospitality among ourselves is to be practiced.

without murmuring

The way all of God's work is to be done (Philip. 1 Peter 2:14). The word murmuring (goggusmos) sometimes referred merely to low and suppressed discourse, a muttering (John 7:12). But more often, as here, it is an expression of secret and sullen discontentcomplaining or grumbling. Hospitality so rendered represents no virtue at allit only shows you have grudgingly complied to duty, Won-'t those guests feel so comfortable and relaxed in your home as you show your love for guests in this manner? God help us to serve Him and others out of a cheerful and ready mind!