This verse from 1 Peter fits well with what we’ve been hearing on Sunday mornings from 1 Corinthians 13:

“Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins.” (1 Peter 4:8)

That we should love one another earnestly, no genuine Christian would doubt. What I find curious about this verse is the motivation: “since love covers a multitude of sins.” What does it mean to “cover” sins? Does it mean to ignore, as in “to gloss over?” Or to simply forgive, whether the offender wants forgiveness or not? I didn’t fully understand this, so I looked it up, and I was fascinated to learn that word “cover” comes from the same word that is translated “swamped” in Matthew 8:24:

“And behold, there arose a great storm on the sea, so that the boat was being swamped by the waves…”

It seems that the idea here is that a Christian is so aware of the love that he has received from God through Christ, that he can’t help but respond to sin with more love. Or to use Mark’s phrase from Sunday: with hearty good-will. Certainly there are times when we have been sinned against and need to be reconciled with others, but so many of our conflicts could die an early death if we would put away bitterness and grudges and cover sin with love. I like the picture of love for others dousing the flames of conflict by swamping the offense of sin. I think this is why Wayne Grudem explains the meaning of this verse like this:

“Where love abounds in a fellowship of Christians, many small offences, and even some large ones, are readily overlooked and forgotten. But where love is lacking, every word is viewed with suspicion, every action is liable to misunderstanding, and conflicts abound…” (Grudem, 1 Peter, pp 173-174)

Where does this hit home for you? Ask your parents if you have been less than loving and have failed to cover sins - especially toward your siblings. Here’s a question you can ask your brothers and sisters: “Are you more aware of my love and affection for you or my anger and bitterness?

Let’s let love cover a multitude of sins for the sake of the gospel.

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