Context No. 2396 of 4322 · 1 Peter

1 Peter 2:18-25: in context

18Servants, be in subjection to your masters with all respect, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the wicked. 19For it is commendable if someone endures pain, suffering unjustly, because of conscience toward God. 20For what glory is it if, when you sin, you patiently endure beating? But if when you do well, you patiently endure suffering, this is commendable with God. 21For you were called to this, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving you an example, that you should follow his steps, 22who didn’t sin, “neither was deceit found in his mouth.” 23When he was cursed, he didn’t curse back. When he suffered, he didn’t threaten, but committed himself to him who judges righteously. 24He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live to righteousness. You were healed by his wounds. 25For you were going astray like sheep; but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

Peter writes to servants under masters, some kind and some cruel, and tells them there is no credit in patiently taking a beating you deserved, but real grace in enduring unjust suffering with a clear conscience. Then he lifts their eyes to Christ, who suffered without sinning, who did not curse back when cursed or threaten when he suffered, but entrusted himself to the God who judges justly.

The social setting is ancient, but the pattern Peter draws is timeless. Faced with unfair treatment, the instinct is to retaliate or at least to threaten. Christ did neither. He committed himself to the One who judges rightly and let God hold the scales. That is the hard center of it: not passivity, but a deliberate handing-over of the injustice to God rather than avenging it myself. He bore our sins in his body, and by his wounds we were healed, so the pattern is also the price of our rescue.

When I am wronged, do I retaliate and threaten, or entrust the injustice to the God who judges justly?

Sources

1 Peter 2:23: When he was cursed, he didn't curse back. When he suffered, he didn't threaten, but committed himself to him who judges righteously.
1 Peter 2:21: Christ also suffered for us, leaving you an example, that you should follow his steps.
1 Peter 2:24: He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree... You were healed by his wounds.