1 Peter 2:23, commentary and pictures

Christ reviled did not revile in return and suffering did not threaten, but entrusted Himself to God who judges righteously. His refusal to retaliate meant no harsh words, guile, passion or complaint, but calm self-possession, silence, compassion and love, though He could have used divine power to escape or strike down His tormentors and instead submitted voluntarily. The One who so suffered is the eternal Word made flesh, the Majesty of heaven and sinless Sin-bearer who bore human sins in His own body on the tree, the just dying for sinners so the guilty may be healed, forgiven and reconciled by faith. Committing Himself to the righteous Judge means doing nothing to vindicate or free oneself by force or accusation, but leaving rights, honor and deliverance to God who faithfully records every sacrifice and pang of anguish and will reward in the day of the Lord. His endurance of wrongful suffering is the example to be followed in His steps, so that doing well and suffering wrongfully and taking it patiently for conscience toward God is thankworthy and acceptable with God, giving no excuse for passion, defiance or vindictive spirit even under unjust and unreasonable treatment.

Christ's Patient Nonretaliation

When reviled He reviled not again, when He suffered He threatened not, but committed Himself to Him that judgeth righteously, and His patient endurance of wrongful suffering is the example to follow in His steps. Doing well and suffering wrongfully and taking it patiently for conscience toward God is thankworthy and acceptable with God, and readiness to defend personal dignity or retaliate over real or supposed injuries dishonors Him, for it is better to endure wrong than to answer with anger and wound another's soul. Even when men in positions of trust act unjustly and unreasonably that gives no excuse to retaliate, because retaliation adds a greater sin, and love leaves no room for retaliation.

His nonretaliation meant no harsh or unbecoming words, no guile, no selfishness, no passion or irritated temper, but bringing every word and thought into captivity while obeying the holy precepts of the law. When insulted, rejected, mocked and treated cruelly He did not answer insult for insult, abuse for abuse, or threat for suffering, but met contempt, bitterness, sneers and hostile opposition with calm self-possession, silence, dignified composure, patient calmness, compassion, pity and love. Though opponents stirred up conflict He remained calm and within the bounds of decorum because He embodied truth, answering without resentment or impatience and entrusting Himself to God who judges righteously.

Though able to summon angels, call legions to His aid, display divine majesty, strike down tormentors, or otherwise use divine power to escape, He submitted voluntarily with dignified composure and endured without murmuring, accusation, or complaint. He could have called on the Father for angelic help yet accepted humiliation and death on the cross as the innocent sufferer for human sin, making a way of escape for lost humanity. When insulted and slandered He did not abandon His work but continued faithfully despite blame or praise.

His meekness did not forbid sternly and plainly rebuking falsehood, impurity, open transgression, and hypocrisy, even when committed by rulers and religious teachers. Though He denounced sin with holy indignation He did not speak from an irritated temper or retaliate when reviled, showing that one in harmony with God may feel righteous indignation against aggravating sin while remaining calm and self-possessed when reviled or confronted by defenders of falsehood. On special occasions when deceptions suggested by Satan led men from light into darkness and men under Satan's dictation fought against Omnipotence, divinity flashed through humanity and as judge He pronounced condemnation on wrongdoers, so that many who heard believed, and the words He spoke came to pass in the terrible judgments that fell upon the Jewish nation.

Setting of His Suffering

Throughout every day of His earthly ministry He encountered human enmity stirred by Satan and answered reviling with no reviling in return. Though He was the light and Creator of the world, the world did not know or acknowledge Him, His life was sought so that He had to move from place to place, and He was despised, rejected, mocked and reviled. Satan sustained the persecution through men until they cried for His crucifixion and for the release of Barabbas, and until Christ hung on the cross of Calvary. All the while heaven and all created worlds watched to see whether He would carry out the plan to lift fallen man from the pit of sin to stand with Him on His throne.

In the judgment hall, under mock trial, scourging, taunts and blows, He met insult and suffering without retaliation or threats, enduring with patient forbearance and entrusting Himself to righteous judgment. His silence was calm, dignified, patient and serene, with composed bearing and no troubled expression, kingly and unlike that of a criminal or of ordinary people. That demeanor astonished the crowd and troubled even Herod and Pilate. It convicted Pilate, while in His Jewish accusers it stirred satanic qualities. Mockery, humiliation, mock trial and cruel treatment did not discourage Him. Though He could have summoned angels to protect Him, His mission in human form was to endure suffering and leave an example for people to follow.

He suffered innocently, though blameless, harmless and undefiled, condemned by wicked men and crucified while meeting contemptuous sneers, bitterness, criticism, mockery, abuse and hostile opposition without becoming vindictive. His pattern shows that innocence does not prevent persecution when evil controls the persecutors, and that suffering for the truth is not proof of guilt. His suffering was substitutionary, for He suffered for the sins of the whole world and gave Himself to be punished in the sinner's place. His example calls believers to remain calm under provocation, to rise above slights and supposed injustice, to do duty and leave the matter with Jesus rather than retaliating or dwelling on grievances. Through connection with Jesus Christ and the Father, with hearts under the influence of the teachings of the Holy Spirit, they are to converse with Christ and then converse with fallen men and women living in sin, studying the life of Christ who so suffered.

Sinless Substitute for Sinners

The One who so suffered is the eternal Word who was with God and was God, by whom all things were made, made flesh full of grace and truth. He is the Majesty of heaven and King of glory, giving power to those who receive Him to become sons of God.

As the sinless, innocent Sin-bearer He bore human sins in His own body on the tree. He bore the penalty of sin without complaint, the just dying for sinners, the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. He accepted humiliation and death on the cross as the innocent sufferer for human sin to make a way of escape for lost humanity. By faith the guilty may go free, receive His righteousness, be presented innocent, be healed by His wounds, be reconciled to God, and be delivered from sins and not in them. His suffering and death, in which He resisted the enemy and suffered far more than people will be called to suffer by bearing the sins of the whole world, provide both self-denial unto death for salvation from death and the example for overcoming. At the cross He even prayed for His murderers, teaching humility and restraint from revenge.

His meek patience under the test was essential to His being a perfect, stainless offering, and any failure would have made redemption fail. His faithful endurance kept His human life without stain while bearing the world's sins, so He remained the perfect Lamb of God and redemption could succeed. His victory over the tempter in a test more severe than Adam's made His righteousness available to humanity by imputation and opened the way to overcome the foe through Him. His living and suffering and dying makes perfection possible for men who because of sin cannot offer God the perfect sacrifice of a holy life by themselves, for He is both the perfect pattern of that holy life and the sin-pardoning Saviour who provides forgiveness. The same victory must be won by believers in times of special need and trial by following His example of committing the case to the Father instead of working a miracle to escape, holding faith firm, refusing discouragement, and standing every test to glorify the Redeemer, so that His overcoming in their behalf is not in vain.

He submitted Himself in all things to God who judges righteously with unlimited confidence in His heavenly Father. His obedience and submission were unreserved and perfect, for He did not seek His own will but the will of Him who sent Him. He did not defend His rights or answer mistreatment with retaliation or complaint, and though His uncomplaining willingness often made His work harder He was not discouraged because He knew God was pleased with Him. He humbled Himself by taking the lowly place of fallen humanity so that He could raise humanity to a higher life, which did not mean He thought little of His own character or qualifications. That humble service, including blessing those who hated Him and enduring hardship without murmuring, is the example of yielding self and surrendering all to God in order to share His glory.

God Who Judges Righteously

God who judges righteously sees and faithfully records every sacrifice, every act of self-denial, and every pang of anguish endured for His sake. One who suffers unjustly can entrust himself to that righteous Judge, as Christ did when He did not answer reviling with reviling or suffering with threats. The day of the Lord will reveal what is now hidden and bring those hidden things to light with their reward.

To commit the case to God is to do nothing to vindicate or free oneself, making no accusation or condemnation of others and using no force to secure deliverance. Rights, honor, vindication, and deliverance are left with Him, who will avenge His own elect who cry day and night to Him. His long restraint, inflicting less punishment than impiety deserves even when provoked by deceptions under claim of piety, exemplifies the patience with which He bears human sin while judgment remains certain.

He measures character in the golden scales of the sanctuary and judges not by profession but by the fruit borne. He notices every thought and word and deed and knows the motives that prompt men to action, and His judgment sees every transaction including acts of injustice and selfish use of money. In the last great day hasty judges will be greatly surprised by His estimate of character, while those who in sincerity have followed righteous principles will be given a great reward, so the wrongfully accused can take courage. For that reason private troubles are to be brought to Him rather than confided to men, and even one who dies suddenly and whose robe of character may not have been washed white in the blood of the Lamb can be left with Him for righteous judgment.

When false witness is borne against a person and carried far and near, God still judges righteously. When lie upon lie and misstatement upon misstatement, originated by Satan in minds of individuals, are presented to the world and accepted by some as truth, the one wronged can commit the case to God. This means no retaliation, no naming of those who could set things in their true light, and no anxious attending to self-defense, but trusting God with the outcome. The books of heaven contain the record and will keep things as they should be, with confidence that those who know the life practice will not receive the lies that are spoken.

Following His Patient Example

His patient endurance of wrongful suffering is the pattern left to be followed step by step, learning His meekness and lowliness and being molded and fashioned after His similitude. Doing well and suffering wrongfully and taking it patiently for conscience toward God is thankworthy and acceptable with God. Following His steps means obeying the holy precepts of the law, doing His works, and letting no word of guile escape the lips, bringing every word and thought into captivity to Him.

Unjust and unreasonable conduct by others, even by those in positions of trust, gives no excuse to retaliate, for retaliation only adds a greater sin to the one already committed. Love leaves no room for retaliation, and passion, defiance, malice, evil temper and vindictive spirit are to have no place. Through assisting grace evil temper and human depravity can be overcome, answering insult, mockery and abuse without retaliation, threats, resentment or impatience, but with silence, compassion, pity and love entrusted to righteous judgment.

Strength of character is shown not by how much feeling is manifested over injustice but by self-control and the firm check put upon strong emotion. Under criticism and faultfinding there is to be no impatience, as little notice as possible taken of what is said, and neither word nor deportment showing the rising up of self. The duty is to pass along doing work with fidelity, not swerving to right or left, with eye single to the glory of God and firm reliance upon Him, remaining calm, kind and forgiving toward enemies without humiliation or retaliation and leaving the outcome to Him.

When unjustly accused and mistreated, even by brethren and those of His household, explanations are to be made in humility and gentleness with few well-chosen words, laying no blame on others, acknowledging any mistake, avoiding contention, keeping calm, and keeping under divine supervision. Hasty, impatient words, unkind criticism, anger and excitement have no place, but hasty words stirred by passion are to be met not with retaliation but by repeating Scripture. The soul is to be committed to the faithful Creator, standing in moral dignity with life hid with Christ in God and by divine power possessing the soul in patience, since the real conflict is not with men but with principalities and powers, and those given up to the enemy's spirit know not what they do.

Afflicted believers are to look daily to what He endured at Calvary, thinking what He bore for them in insult, neglect, mockery, cruel scourging and ignominious death without murmuring, retaliation, accusation or threat. They are to forget the wrong, not keep the memory of dark chapters fresh, and cease fretting, worrying, murmuring, faultfinding, censure and complaint. Instead they are to cultivate only thoughts and feelings that produce joy, gratitude and praise for His mercy, loving-kindness and inexpressible love, storing the mind with precious promises, holding communion with Him, doing work faithfully, going forward without discouragement, and leaving with the Lord what is trusted to Him.

Those who truly know Him reveal meekness and lowliness of heart, trust His grace, cling to His promises, comfort themselves that He knows every pang, refuse murmuring even in thought over hardship and discomfort, and will be helped not to deny Him in thought, word or action. By contrast a false hope and spurious religion reveals the spirit of Satan under suffering by exacting, imperious, impatient demands, feeling hurt and slighted, judging others, and retaliating as if abused and neglected. Enduring struggle and trial after His example wins at last the victor's crown, with greater struggle bringing greater reward and louder song of deliverance.

The same rule reaches the home and the lowly: a mother is to labor with her children while even one is out of Christ, sowing living seed deep into the heart with wisely chosen words, speaking kindly and cheerfully and breaking forth in songs of praise, as God's appointed missionary to be the light of her home. Children when provoked are not to answer with evil words. Those bearing wrongs patiently rather than with defiance help others see the truth.

Trials borne wisely strengthen those who endure them, and the path of self-denial and self-sacrifice imprinted by His blood leads through toil to honor, an immortal inheritance and everlasting life. His giving up heavenly glory and accepting shame and death without seeking His own comfort or pleasure delivers people from their sins, not in them, and calls them to leave wrong ways, deny self, take up the cross, follow Him, overcome harmful appetites and habits through grace, obey God at any cost, and yield their own wills to Him. David under injury illustrates the same way, answering no evil with evil or railing with railing, making no excuse or complaint, but remaining humble, generous, resigned and submissive to God's judgment, patient and free of revenge.

Enduring Opposition and Injustice

When liberty is restricted by misrepresentation, as over Sunday work, there is to be no sharp retaliation against fellow believers or against those who do not know God, no passion, defiance or maliciousness, but everything is to be taken in prayer to God who alone can restrain rulers, honoring all men and leaving a correct impression by well-doing. This counsel is of real value to all brought into strait places and is to be echoed by ministers with pen and voice. Where any requirement shows disrespect to the Seventh-day Sabbath eternal interests are involved and compliance must be refused, yet without rashness or boasting of liberty as a cloak of maliciousness. The answer is to be as Christ's, It is written, with as few personal words as possible, firm as rock to principle in obeying God rather than man, trusting God to bring victory through perplexing ordeals, for patient endurance of wrongs without defiant retaliation helps others see truth rather than bringing sorrow on self.

Those who suffer for truth must not retaliate or abandon faith but trust God and ask Him for strength to endure and obey, for Jesus went before His followers in suffering and persecution and His footsteps mark the way through hardship. In His strength believers can endure persecution to the end, including the persecution that will come on many for keeping the seventh day holy when it arouses the anger of the dragon. His cruel death and patient endurance under abuse and mockery assure believers that He fully understands their suffering. His example calls them to a spirit opposite to that of His enemies and to help and sustain one another.

In defending truth no carnal weapons are to be used and no unkind, discourteous, defensive or offensive words are to be spoken or written, and nothing is to be insinuated against unbelieving and deluded opposers even when they come among believers. There is to be no controversy with scoffers and scorners, whose assemblies and gatherings are to be avoided where presence invites contempt, because the conflict is not with men only but with Satan and his synagogue. Opponents' false statements are not to be repeated so as to strengthen them, but affirmative assertions of living truth are to be held with heavenly, sanctified, humble wisdom and firm hold on divine power. When calm answer is impossible silence is to be kept rather than answering with impatient words that may close hearts, the tongue is to be controlled, opposers are to be prayed for and their good sought, and God is to be trusted to open the way by angels for the great work to be carried forward sensibly, clothed in divine armor so the voice does not catch the opposers' spirit. Losing sight of Christ's example of teaching and speaking with pure truth and righteousness leads to self-sufficiency and harsh, unchristlike conduct, while patient endurance without retaliation is the victory that overcomes the world by faith.

Messengers sent in His name must bear reproach for His sake as He bore criticism, reproach, censure, suffering and more without retaliation or threat, committing Himself to God. They must not be greatly influenced by criticism, reproach, censure, murmuring or faultfinding, nor weaken their hands, dim their hopes, weaken their testimony, or accommodate peculiar ideas and feelings of hearers to avoid criticism, doing injustice to mission, self and critics. They are to clothe themselves with the whole armor of God and move steadily forward in the fear and love of God, strengthened by faith, courageous in the Lord, always cheerful, sanctified through the solemn, elevating, ennobling truth preached, improving methods only by diligently studying Christ's life and practicing His virtues. Ministers, physicians and teachers meeting all classes of minds and falsely spoken of must remember His experience when falsely spoken of and made to suffer to save souls, following Him with patience, gentleness and longsuffering toward the perishing, blessing and not returning evil for evil or railing for railing, humbling self and refusing to exalt self, learning of Him daily as the only example and true pattern for teachers and students who paid with His own blood the price for salvation by suffering every indignity men could devise and Satan invent. They are still faithfully to reprove wrongdoing and keep honest conduct that may lead accusers to glorify God, accepting toil, reproach, scorn, insult, mockery and abuse without turning from self-denying, self-sacrificing work, in humility and meekness prepared to labor for God.

When wronged by a brother the Christian is not to avenge self nor appeal to unbelievers in a court of justice but to follow Christ's instruction to settle difficulties within the church and seek to save the brother, confidently leaving the case with God as righteous Judge who guards the interests of those who love and fear Him. When unjustly accused and threatened there is to be no seeking of legal redress or retaliation, no answering abuse with abuse or threats, but entrusting judgment and outcome to God who judges justly while doing His will. Reputation is to be left with God rather than anxiously trying to correct every wrong impression or present the case favorably, and silence in doing right can be a strong rebuke. Servants of Christ may submit to penalties and give up rights rather than cause offense, unless doing so would bring conflict with God, refusing legal revenge and personal payback for insulting words and refusing to extort money because of words spoken against them or theirs, but forgiving trespassers as they ask God to forgive their own trespasses.

Christ's noble bearing before His murderers without reviling or threatening, entrusting Himself to God who judges righteously, is the pattern of patient firmness under persecution. Christians who imitated it remained steadfast even facing death, and their patience, steadfastness and constancy helped convince witnesses and strengthened others in truth. His followers are to remain calm and meek amid abuse, overcoming the impulse to retaliate, meeting opposition without excitement or evil feelings, representing Him with sweetness of character rather than impatience, accusation or faultfinding. They are to endure abuse and mockery without retaliation in a spirit opposite to His enemies, helping and sustaining one another.

Medical missionary work is to be bound up with gospel ministry, with physicians and ministers laboring unitedly in disinterested soul-saving work, molded and fashioned after Christ's similitude with work and relation to God's cause in harmony with His purpose. Those who so labor remain separate from the world, stand on the platform of truth uninfluenced by false theories and wrong devising, and do not bind up with worldlings or bring worldly lawyers into connection with the work. This manner of labor belongs with instruction about unity in the church.

Christ is the true pattern by which lives are measured and the example to imitate, and He must be one's strength to remain steadfast in right through joy or sorrow and to be more than a conqueror. When opposed it is to be remembered that He was opposed, and through connection with Jesus Christ and the Father, with hearts under the Holy Spirit's teaching, there is to be converse with Christ and then converse with fallen men and women living in sin. Study of His life who suffered for the sins of the whole world, condemned by wicked men and crucified when blameless, harmless and undefiled, teaches this steadfastness.