What is the context?
The teaching asks who desires life and good days, then answers with restraint of evil speech, truthfulness, turning from evil, doing good, and actively pursuing peace.
The Lord’s attentive eyes and ears belong beside His opposition to evildoing. The call is not merely to feel religious fear but to live in a way shaped by His judgment.
Pursuing peace is active language. The worshiper is to seek it rather than wait for every other person to make the first move.
How is this passage commonly understood?
Wesley emphasizes refusing harmful speech and working for peace even when it is hard to obtain. The USCCB note recognizes the teaching voice and points to its New Testament use. The invitation to life should be heard together with the suffering of the righteous named next.
Where does this fit in God's plan?
1 Peter 3:8–18 directly quotes this teaching while calling believers away from retaliation and toward blessing. Peter then explicitly allows that people may suffer for doing right, pointing to Christ’s suffering for sins to bring them to God. His reading joins good conduct and hope without promising immunity from unjust harm.
What is our position?
We don't have a position on this passage yet. When our study reaches a conclusion the text supports, it will appear here.
Where can I study this further?
No deeper study linked yet.