THE EXAMPLE OF CHRIST

Passage: 1 Peter 2:18-25

Key verse: 24

NIV

18 Slaves, in reverent fear of God submit yourselves to your masters,(A) not only to those who are good and considerate,(B) but also to those who are harsh. 19 For it is commendable if someone bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because they are conscious of God.(C) 20 But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God.(D) 21 To this(E) you were called,(F) because Christ suffered for you,(G) leaving you an example,(H) that you should follow in his steps.

22 “He committed no sin,(I)
    and no deceit was found in his mouth.”[a](J)

23 When they hurled their insults at him,(K) he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats.(L) Instead, he entrusted himself(M) to him who judges justly.(N) 24 “He himself bore our sins”(O) in his body on the cross,(P) so that we might die to sins(Q) and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.”(R) 25 For “you were like sheep going astray,”[b](S) but now you have returned to the Shepherd(T) and Overseer of your souls.(U)

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Footnotes
  1. 1 Peter 2:22 Isaiah 53:9
  2. 1 Peter 2:25 Isaiah 53:4,5,6 (see Septuagint)
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

18 (A)Servants, be subject to your masters with all respect, not only to the good and gentle but also to the unjust. 19 For this is a gracious thing, when, (B)mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly. 20 For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But (C)if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God. 21 For (D)to this you have been called, (E)because Christ also suffered for you, (F)leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. 22 (G)He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. 23 (H)When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, (I)but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. 24 (J)He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we (K)might die to sin and (L)live to righteousness. (M)By his wounds you have been healed. 25 For (N)you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to (O)the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

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The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

1. Suffer for doing good (18-2

)

Slavery is an evil institution; even so, God seeks to change men, not social structures. Peter does not tell Christians who are slaves to demonstrate for their human rights. Christians should follow Christ, and bear up under the pain of unjust suffering with God in our hearts. If we suffer because of wrongdoing, we are no different from worldly people, but if we suffer for doing good and endure it, God is glorified.

2. Called to follow Christ (21-25)

We are called to follow in the footsteps of Jesus. Christ suffered for us. He suffered unjustly. Sinful men could not endure his goodness, so they insulted him and killed him. But he did not become angry and threaten; he entrusted himself to God. He bore our sins in his body on the tree; he died so that we might die to sin and live for righteousness. He himself heals our wounds.

Prayer: Lord, I put my burden of sin on Jesus. Forgive me and help me to follow in his footsteps.

One Word: By his wounds you are healed.