Peter was addressing an important pastoral problem in the churches in Asia Minor. Since their conversion to Christ, the people had been excluded from their community. Peter encouraged them, despite their difficulties, to give thanks for the good news that they had received by the Holy Spirit. If the people wanted to be transformed, they must walk the talk. Transformation would begin in the mind - they needed to prepare their minds and discipline themselves to hope for the return of Jesus Christ. They needed to be holy in all their conduct. We, too, are called to be holy in the middle of the chaos of this world.

Earlier a rich man had come to Jesus to ask how to inherit eternal life. Jesus had told him to give all that he had to the poor. The man was unable to do that for he was very rich. Jesus then told his disciples that it would be very difficult for the rich to enter heaven; in fact, it would be easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle. The disciples were upset and wondered who could ever be saved. Peter was worried because the disciples had left everything. Jesus reassured them that they would be adequately rewarded for their service. The standards are different in God's world - those who are first in this world will be last and the last will be first. God turns the world upside-down.