1 Peter 2:18-25: a reflection

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, writing to those who suffer unjustly, points them to the example of Christ in his own unjust suffering. When he was cursed, he didn't curse back; when he suffered, he didn't threaten, but committed himself to him who judges righteously. Christ, suffering unjustly, did not retaliate, did not curse or threaten those who wronged him; instead he entrusted himself to God, the righteous Judge, leaving his cause in God's hands. And in his suffering he bore our sins, that we might be healed by his wounds; he is our example, and our Savior.

Notice how Christ responded to unjust suffering: he did not retaliate, but entrusted himself to God. He was reviled, cursed, made to suffer unjustly; and he did not curse back, did not threaten, did not repay evil for evil. Instead he committed himself to God who judges righteously, leaving his cause and his vindication in God's hands, trusting the righteous Judge. He did not take vengeance into his own hands, but entrusted the matter to God. In his unjust suffering, Christ's response was to entrust himself to the God who judges rightly.

That example is worth following, for we too may suffer unjustly, and are tempted to retaliate rather than entrust ourselves to God. When we are wronged, reviled, made to suffer unjustly, our instinct is to retaliate, to curse back, to threaten, to repay evil for evil, taking our vindication into our own hands; but Christ, suffering unjustly, entrusted himself to God who judges righteously. When you suffer unjustly, do not retaliate or repay evil for evil; entrust yourself to God, the righteous Judge, as Christ did, leaving your cause and vindication in his hands. Follow Christ's example, committing yourself to the God who judges rightly rather than taking vengeance into your own hands, as Christ, when he was cursed, did not curse back, but entrusted himself to him who judges righteously; leave your unjust suffering in God's hands, as your Savior did, who bore your sins that you might be healed.

Lord, Peter, writing to those who suffer unjustly, points them to the example of Christ in his own unjust suffering. When he was cursed, he didn't curse back; when he suffered, he didn't threaten, but committed himself to him who judges righteously. Christ, suffering unjustly, did not retaliate; instead he entrusted himself to you, the righteous Judge, leaving his cause in your hands. And in his suffering he bore our sins, that we might be healed by his wounds. Show me how Christ responded to unjust suffering: he did not retaliate, but entrusted himself to you. He was reviled, cursed, made to suffer unjustly; and he did not curse back, did not repay evil for evil. Instead he committed himself to you who judge righteously, leaving his vindication in your hands. He did not take vengeance into his own hands. Let me follow that example, for I too may suffer unjustly, and am tempted to retaliate rather than entrust myself to you. When I am wronged, reviled, made to suffer unjustly, my instinct is to retaliate, to repay evil for evil, taking my vindication into my own hands; but Christ entrusted himself to you. When I suffer unjustly, keep me from retaliating or repaying evil for evil; help me entrust myself to you, the righteous Judge, as Christ did. Help me follow Christ's example, Lord, committing myself to the God who judges rightly rather than taking vengeance into my own hands. Thank you that Christ bore my sins that I might be healed.