1 Peter 2:24, commentary and pictures

On the tree means Christ Himself in His own body personally took the burden of every human sin upon Himself on the cross at Calvary. Though pure, holy, guiltless and without guile, He was charged with that guilt as substitute and surety, the just suffering for the unjust to set the guilty free. He did this freely out of love and not by compulsion, and only One equal with the Father as Deity could atone for sin and exhaust its curse. By whose stripes ye were healed means spiritual healing of the soul, restoring it from death in sin to soundness, that those who come in helpless repentance may die to sin and live unto righteousness. Through faith wholly in His atoning sacrifice and not in their own deeds, sinners receive pardon, cleansing and justifying righteousness, while His death honors and maintains the law rather than destroying it. He thus left a perfect pattern in patient endurance under reviling and suffering, that believers should follow His steps, overcome sin by His power, and live to the will of God.

Words and Immediate Setting

On the tree means on the cross at Calvary, where Christ Himself in His own body personally took the burden of every sin upon Himself, those sins being placed upon Him and charged to Him as if His own, and accepted death in the sinner's place. In His divine soul He bore the sins of the world and endured their penalty rolling like a mountain upon Him, bringing into His human nature all the life-giving energies human beings need and must receive. For this He laid aside His robe and kingly crown, His royal garments, veiled Himself with humanity and clothed His divinity with humanity to pay the price of redemption for every soul, paying the penalty of sin which is death. He did this not by compulsion but by His own free will out of supreme humility, when as God He could have withstood death and refused to come under its dominion, and the whole treasure of heaven was poured out in one gift to give the world a second probation and free every soul who desires freedom from the bondage of Satan.

The setting presents Him as sinless and without guile, doing no sin, who when reviled did not revile again and when suffering did not threaten but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously. His sinless, non-retaliating endurance of wrongful suffering leaves an example to follow in His steps, calling believers to the same patient endurance when they do well and suffer for it, which is acceptable with God and thankworthy for conscience toward God. When requirements show disrespect to the Seventh-day Sabbath and liberty is taken away, this means refusing compliance where eternal interests and obedience to God require it, yet without sharp retaliation, defiance, passion, boasting of liberty, or using liberty for a cloak of maliciousness, but honoring all, loving the brotherhood, fearing God, honoring rulers, taking everything to God in prayer who alone can restrain rulers, and standing firm as a rock to principle with wisdom from above. His suffering for humanity calls people to turn from sin and live rightly.

The verse belongs to instruction in the first two chapters of 1 Peter urging believers to live godly lives in obedience to God and overcome self-indulgence. It gives instruction on the manner in which God's workers should labor, showing right principles for the relation between physicians and their brethren with medical missionary work bound up with the gospel ministry in separation from the world. It closes the picture of those who were as sheep going astray returning to the Shepherd and Guardian of souls, for He came from the heavenly courts to bring them back to the fold. As shepherd He bears sinful, unclean people as a shepherd carries a lost sheep, seeking and rescuing each one with tender care without reproach and rejoicing when the lost are found, so that every person may regard himself as carried by Christ.

His suffering on the cross was not only physical but included bearing the sins of the whole world to save perishing people from death. It came after a life of self-denial, continual suffering and reproach, and endured temptation, attacks by evil, and agony for humanity. The cruel thorns bruised His brow, calling His followers to die to the world and live to God in holiness and to reject useless ornaments. He was innocent at His trial, yet scourged and delivered to be crucified, condemned by wicked men though blameless and harmless and undefiled, and His sacrifice honors God's law and makes the justice of God's government secure so the human race can be saved if people return to allegiance to God. His life of suffering is to be studied and His opposition remembered by those whose connection is with Jesus Christ and the Father as they converse with Christ and then with fallen men and women living in sin.

Sinless Substitute Bore Sin

The guiltless, pure, holy and innocent One bore in His own body the guilt, punishment, curse and penalty due to humanity as substitute and surety, the just suffering for the unjust. All who come in faith receive His righteousness, their sin expiated, put away and removed through repentance and faith, and by His merits and imputed righteousness the undeserving are made perfect and stand pure and sinless before the Father. He is the guiltless bearer of the sins of the guilty, God's remedy for sin, the reality to which prophetic teaching pointed beyond the ritual system that foreshadowed Him.

He bore the sins of the whole world and of every person, including thoughts, words and deeds, and was condemned by wicked men and crucified though blameless, harmless, undefiled and without sin. His suffering on the cross was not only physical but the bearing of that universal burden, taking the sins of the world upon Himself in agony to save humanity. Those sins were placed upon Him and charged to Him as if His own; He took the sinner's place and guilt, became sin and a curse to redeem from bondage, was treated as a sinner though innocent so that sinners might be treated as innocent and set free, dying that the guilty might live. By that one full oblation of Himself He made it possible to live in obedience and meet the condition of eternal life.

He bore sin voluntarily by His own free will out of love for the rebellious and sinful race, not by compulsion or obligation. In His divine soul the penalty rolled upon Him like a mountain, yet when as God He could have withstood death and refused to come under its dominion He yielded up His life, and the whole treasure of heaven was poured out in one gift in supreme humility. Only Deity, the only-begotten Son, one equal with the Father, could make atonement for sin and exhaust its curse, which shows how great the curse of sin is that destroying it required His life, and no finite being could atone. The cross testifies that sin's penalty is death, and God could not change His law to save sinners, so Christ suffered and died because transgression made His death necessary.

The Father laid human sins upon Him where none but His own eyes could discern them and hid His face from Him in His innocence. He bore also human griefs, sorrows and shame from a heart of human and divine love moved for the relief of the world's woe, knowing our frame with pity and compassion, and the strokes that fell because of transgression of God's law wounded His spirit. His suffering, agony, wounds and blood were the price of redemption that purchased humanity after a life of self-denial, continual suffering and reproach. The cross of Calvary is therefore everything to perishing souls, the center of hope, and remembering that great sacrifice brings joy in pardon and forgiveness and lays the greatest claim upon thought and plan.

Healed to Live Righteously

By His stripes healing means restoration of the soul from a dead, earthly, sensual condition to spiritual soundness and wholeness. This wholeness comes to all who look to Jesus in faith, through the life-giving power of the gospel and the quickening, transforming work of the Holy Spirit. He is the source of healing for those sick in spirit, and His healing power is to be presented to every soul as hope, faith, and freedom rather than condemnation. When sins are removed and no longer carried, His righteousness takes their place, and there is healing in Him, with His image reflected in those healed.

His bearing of sin in His own body on the tree was so that those for whom He suffered might die to sin and live unto righteousness. His wounds bring that healing, and His sinless, non-retaliating endurance of wrongful suffering is at once the means of salvation and the example for believers in trial. He saves from sin, not in sin, as both substitute and remover of sin. Those who come to Him in helpless repentance and humility receive this provision by faith, put away sinful habits and practices, are made dead to sin, and are restored to purity.

Christ breaks the controlling power of sin in the believer and delivers from its pollution, so that through the Holy Spirit and His righteousness the believer is made fit for heaven. Through the power He gives, there is no need to remain trapped in repeated sin or to dwell on weakness, but to resist the world, the flesh, and the devil by relying on His strength rather than giving the enemy firmer hold by dwelling on Satan's power. He carried human sins to open a way of escape from the corruption in the world through lust, bringing His divine nature down to unite with fallen human nature so that in temptation humans may by faith lay hold on His divinity, become partakers of the divine nature, be restored to obedience, and copy His perfect obedient life as their pattern. By taking the place of fallen humanity and overcoming the tempter where Adam failed, His obedience, purity, steadfastness, and righteousness become available so that people through His name can also overcome the foe. That gift puts within reach power to overcome in the struggle with evil and gives moral power to keep God's commandments and form character after the divine model, since those bought with His life belong wholly to Him in all physical, mental, and spiritual powers.

He bore sins so that He could give His own righteousness to those who receive Him. As the pure, holy, innocent, guiltless Substitute He bore guilt, punishment, and penalty, with the sins of every person in thought, word, and deed pressing upon Him and wounding His spirit, He who knew no sin becoming sin and a curse that believers might become the righteousness of God in Him. Thus it is possible to stand before God clothed in sinlessness, losing shame and standing in purity, clothed in cleansed character and in the divine righteousness and glory given by Christ, through a life of self-denial and self-control by faith. He hates sin and loves the sinner, and His bearing of sin makes a righteous life possible for those who receive what He imparts, with power to touch hearts.

Living unto righteousness means having the same mind as Christ who suffered in the flesh and ceased from sin, no longer living the rest of time in the flesh to the lusts of men but to the will of God. That death to sin and new life in and through Jesus Christ is the baptismal vow promised in regeneration. Keeping it means maintaining that vow by repentance and conversion, searching the heart, giving up strife to be first and picking flaws in others, and working out the likeness of Christ in a holy life for which He has made provision. He rendered perfect obedience in human nature and then endured the death penalty not to abolish the law and immortalize sin but to take away sin, opening a second probation in which man may return to loyalty, while refusal to obey leaves condemnation, since obedience means lifting the cross and practicing self-denial in following Him.

The pardon given to the dying thief is evidence and proof that He took humanity's sins upon Himself in His own body on the cross. That bearing also encompassed human griefs and sorrows from a heart of human and divine love moved for the relief of the world's woe, bringing relief and life to those who come to Him.

Pardon Justification and Law

On the tree Christ made atonement for the guilt of the whole world by bearing sins in His body, the just suffering for the unjust, so that all who come to God in faith receive His righteousness, their sin expiated, put away and removed through repentance and faith, that being dead to sins they live unto righteousness. He bore sin's curse in His body to make an end of sin and remove its curse for those who believe in Him as personal Saviour, breaking sin's controlling power so that through the Holy Spirit and His righteousness the believer is delivered from pollution and made fit for heaven. His blood cleanses from impurity, His cross bears the curse, and His death atones for sin, giving sinners peace with God where ceremonies, good works, and other merits cannot atone. Looking to Calvary reveals the grief He knew because of sin and the need to repent, confess, and turn to God, for repentance and conversion are the only hope of salvation.

His sacrifice makes it possible for God to be just and to justify those who believe in Him, His blood having purchased them so each can recognize His life as given for them and reveal His love in life, and those who surrender to Him receive eternal life. The Father laid human sins upon Him where none but His own eyes could discern them and hid His face from Him in His innocence, while He bore human griefs and sorrows from a heart of human and divine love moved for the relief of the world's woe. By that bearing God vindicates His justice, opens eyes to behold His holiness in its true luster, and yet justifies the sinner who comes by Christ, hiding His eyes from the guilt of the believing sinner because of the righteousness of Christ imputed and laid upon him, which draws the most precious blessings in this life and bestows everlasting life in the kingdom. His bearing of sin as substitute and surety maintains justice, does not destroy God's law and does not create a lower standard, but gives man a second probation, imputing His righteousness to every believing child who accepts Him and returns to allegiance, making them complete in Him, so that no one keeps the commandments except in His power and all live unto righteousness.

Through faith in His atoning sacrifice, sinners who rely wholly on Jesus — not on their own deeds — receive pardon, life, and peace, and His merits make the undeserving acceptable and pure before the Father. Though undeserving and sinless He endured their punishment, and by His merits and imputed righteousness the undeserving are made perfect and can stand pure before the Father. As divine substitute and sacrifice His blood restores the sin-stricken soul, and sinners find pardon, peace, righteousness, and access to God through Him alone, for nothing in their own character can secure God's acceptance. His sacrifice cleanses the record of the past for the contrite soul, makes it possible for sinners to trust Him, receive His righteousness, and live in His light as their sanctification and righteousness unto everlasting life, and His blood cleanses from sin for all who recognize their need and come to Him for forgiveness.

Those who accept Him as personal Saviour are free from the penalty of the law, for He was made the propitiation for our sins and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world, and those who truly know Him keep His commandments and walk even as He walked. His death did not destroy the law, create a lower standard, or save in sin, but maintained justice and obtained a second probation and another trial for man, so that through faith people can obey the commandments, not to be saved in sins or to set aside the law, but to live in righteousness with hope of eternal life. His sacrifice honors the law and makes the justice of God's government secure, so the race can be saved if people return to allegiance to God, though He was innocent at His trial when scourged and delivered to be crucified.

Through His death a door of hope was opened for fallen man under sentence of death for transgression and under condemnation as traitor and rebel, for Christ came as substitute to die as a malefactor and suffer the penalty of traitors, bearing the weight of sins upon His divine soul. He descended lower and lower till there were no lower depths of humiliation in order to lift up believers, cleanse the guilty from moral defilement, impart to them His own righteousness, and redeem, cleanse, restore, and exalt man to a place at His right hand. The spotless, sinless Son bore sins on the cross because God placed an infinite estimate on perishing human beings, buying them with the blood of His only begotten Son to give opportunity to regain what was lost and to live unto God, connecting believers with God so Satan cannot hold those who accept Christ as hope, life, and personal Saviour, which means living His life and not one's own, aiming to do His will and represent His character. Through the merits of His blood sinners may receive pardon for past transgressions and through obedience be restored to the garden and regain access to the tree of life, for faith in Him as the sin-pardoning Saviour is the only way of escape from sin's penalty and opens everlasting life to whosoever will come, His death being the center of hope and the ground of joy toward His return in reconciliation with God.

Because He bore sins in His own body on the tree, judgment belongs to Him, not to people who accuse and punish their brethren for past sins. His atoning sacrifice bore the penalty for human sin, so prayer is not a payment or penance for sin, for His blood alone cleanses from sin.

Types and Scriptural Echoes

Christ alone bore human sins and is pictured by the scapegoat sent into the wilderness, and because death had no power over Him He was able to bear them. The uplifted serpent pictured Him lifted on the cross, made in the likeness of sinful flesh as the sin-bearer so that people might be saved by looking and living. He was crucified during a yearly Jewish gathering attended by people from many nations, so that knowledge of His death could spread throughout the world.

The sacrifices and offerings of the symbolic system pointed forward to His death and showed that sin leads to death. That ritual system foreshadowed Christ, while prophetic teaching pointed to Him as the guiltless One who bore the sins of the guilty and as God's remedy for sin, the reality to come. His sacrifice saves humanity from the penalty of the disobedience that began with Adam and Eve, after He left heaven, took a humble place on earth, and suffered insult, rejection, and crucifixion from those He came to bless.

By taking the place of fallen humanity and bearing the world's sins, He overcame the tempter where Adam failed, and His obedience, purity, and steadfastness make His righteousness available to humanity so that through His name people can also overcome the foe. In His sinless person He bore the sins and shame of humanity and accepted the punishment due to sinners, succeeding where Adam failed to provide a righteous character for those who follow Him by faith in a life of self-denial and self-control. His righteousness is imputed to the redeemed, who lose their shame and stand in purity, clothed in their own cleansed character and in the divine righteousness and glory He gives.

Following His Suffering Example

Christ left a perfect pattern to be followed step by step, having lived and suffered and died so that believers might be made perfect in every condition and circumstance of life, express His character in their own, overcome sin, inherit all things, and at last receive the victor's crown and eternal life. He did no sin and no guile was found in His mouth, and when reviled He did not revile again and when suffering He did not threaten but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously, bearing human sins in His own body on the tree so that being dead to sins they should live unto righteousness, with healing coming by His stripes. He bore the sins of the whole world amid humiliation, reproach, suffering and death for the sake of others, suffering far more than His followers will ever be called to suffer, and His life of unexampled suffering and shameful death opened a narrow, humble path of obedience for man to follow. That path requires separating the affections from the world and sacrificing worldly ambition, temporal advantage and the flattery of men, and those who walk in it will finally be exalted to His throne with immortality, eternal life and an undefiled inheritance that does not fade away. Because in Christ there is both a perfect pattern and a sin-pardoning Saviour, a holy life that fallen men could not offer of themselves is made possible, and in trial His suffering gives the example of dying to sin and living righteously.

Believers are therefore to endure patiently when they do well and suffer for it, without retaliation and without being turned aside, weakened or greatly influenced by criticism, reproach and censure, entrusting judgment to God, which is acceptable with God and thankworthy for conscience toward Him. Christ Himself bore criticism, reproach, censure and more, giving Himself as a substitute and bearing punishment in the sinner's place, so those sent by God must go without the camp and bear reproach for His sake, moving steadily forward in the fear and love of God. Suffering for the truth does not itself prove guilt, and the record of His suffering and death strengthens those who suffer at the hands of wicked men for their faith and enables every follower to keep the faith, with Christ's righteousness given to live rightly. His suffering also gives strength to endure to the end the persecution that comes for keeping holy the seventh day when it arouses the ire of the dragon.

When requirements show disrespect to the Seventh-day Sabbath and liberty is taken away, believers are to refuse compliance where eternal interests and obedience to God require it, yet without sharp retaliation, defiance, passion, boasting of liberty, or using liberty as a cloak of maliciousness. They are instead to honor all men, love the brotherhood, fear God, honor rulers, take everything to God in prayer who alone can restrain rulers, and stand firm as a rock to principle with wisdom from above. His suffering in their behalf supplies strength to endure persecution for the holy day to the end.

His self-sacrificing love and suffering call followers to die to the world and live to God, denying self, taking up the cross, turning from former ways and obeying God even when obedience conflicts with their own interests. His path was marked by suffering and blood, including the cruel thorns that bruised His brow, and those who walk in His footsteps may share in self-denial and suffering, rejecting useless ornaments, living in holiness, and separating from worldly ambition. His suffering for sinners and the salvation of sinners should move His followers to give up their own pleasure and convenience for others' good, giving themselves and all they have to Him to serve His purpose and make His grace known. His suffering and death paid the price of redemption and deliverance from eternal destruction, and therefore calls for every sacrifice to glorify God and bear the cross for Him.

Because His bearing of sin cost so much, no soul bought by it is to be thought lightly of, and those who work for God are to labor in love for the perishing sinner, pointing him to Christ on the cross rather than condemning him. His giving of Himself as sin-bearer because He loved humanity makes everlasting life possible, and His healing power is to be presented to every soul as a source of hope, faith and freedom rather than condemnation. Workers are to speak encouragement rather than criticism, rebuke and condemnation, while showing no mercy for sin.

Trusting the Only Sin-Bearer

Jesus alone bore humanity's sins in his own body on the tree, and he is the world's Redeemer and sin-bearer, surety for sinners. No angel or human being can bear another person's guilt, and no person can even bear the guilt of his own sin, for sins are laid upon the Son of God and the Son of the living God. God has not made any person a sin-bearer for others, but Christ must take each person's sins and the sins of every other mortal, because no human being could bear that burden. He took sins upon himself and bore them in his body, and when those sins are removed his righteousness takes their place, and there is healing in him. Those who are healed cannot be saved while living in sin, but must let Christ take their sins and show that they appreciate his sacrifice in their behalf.

Because he bore them, judgment belongs to him, not to people who accuse and punish their brethren for past sins. No one is authorized to take responsibility for others' sins or to make a burden of continually speaking about their faults, hunting up sins someone else has committed, dwelling on and repeating them. Other people cannot carry the sins of transgressors or renew the sinner's heart, and no person can bear or confess the sins of others in their place. The sinner must be left with Christ and God, who alone can deal with the heart.

Looking to Calvary reveals the grief known because of sin and the need to repent, confess, and turn to God, for repentance and conversion are the only hope of salvation. Those who sin must confess their own faults to God, repent, be converted, make restitution, and turn from sin to live differently rather than excuse faults or focus on the failings of others. Past guiltiness must be laid at the foot of the cross where past guilt was borne and pardon is now spoken, rather than keeping guilt that poisons the springs of life or pondering degeneration of soul at Satan's drawing away from the mighty Helper. Remembering his suffering on the cross for sins should humble the heart and awaken shame over continuing in sin, and those who accept him as personal Saviour can receive forgiveness and need not be condemned by transgressions.

Christ bore sins in his own body on the tree so that, having died to sin, believers may live righteously, and he is the only hope and refuge, Saviour and King to whom all may always go with burdens. However great sins are, there need be no fear of repulse in coming to him for pardon, for he has pledged his word to forgive transgressions and to cleanse from all defilement. He loves so well that he gave his own life and bore in his own body the strokes that fell because of transgression of the law of God, and he knows the human frame and gives pity and compassion as the source of strength. Turning away to seek wisdom from finite human beings and cherishing unbelief dishonors him after he has borne sin, and doubting his love dishonors him; instead unbelief is to be cast away to go to him and become prisoners of hope. He bore human sins and suffering so that people might not perish but receive everlasting life, making it possible for sinners to trust him, receive his righteousness, and live in his light, for he is their sanctification and righteousness, speaking pardon, strengthening weak faith, holding those who come, and comforting the soul with the promises of God when Satan thrusts threatenings so that the dark cloud filled with the light of heaven turns to brightness of gold because the glory of God rests upon it.

His wounds provide healing from the sinner's spiritual condition, and his sacrifice saves from sin, not in sin, as both substitute and remover of sin. Those who come to him in helpless repentance and humility are to receive this provision by faith, put away sinful habits and practices, and be dead to sin so they may live righteously. His blood has purchased sinners at infinite estimate when ready to perish, buying opportunity to regain what was lost and to live unto God, making it possible for God to be just and to justify those who believe. Truly receiving Christ as hope, life, and personal Saviour connects believers with God so Satan cannot hold them, and means living his life and not one's own, with the highest aim to do his will and represent his character and reveal his self-giving love in the way they live. Remembering his suffering and death as the great sacrifice brings joy in pardon and forgiveness, calling for letting go of pride, giving life wholly to him, surrendering to receive eternal life, and responding with gratitude, praise, cheerful obedience, and comfort in God's promises when threatened.