1 Peter Intoduction, Steve Stasinos
THE EXAMPLE OF CHRIST
Passage: 1Peter 2:18~25  
Key verse: 24
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.
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)
Footnotes
- 1 Peter 2:22 Isaiah 53:9
- 1 Peter 2:25 Isaiah 53:4,5,6 (see Septuagint)
Cross references
- 1 Peter 2:18 : S Eph 6:5
- 1 Peter 2:18 : Jas 3:17
- 1 Peter 2:19 : 1Pe 3:14, 17
- 1 Peter 2:20 : 1Pe 3:17
- 1 Peter 2:21 : S Ac 14:22; Php 1:29; 1Pe 3:9
- 1 Peter 2:21 : S Ro 8:28
- 1 Peter 2:21 : 1Pe 3:18; 4:1, 13
- 1 Peter 2:21 : S Mt 11:29; 16:24
- 1 Peter 2:22 : S 2Co 5:21
- 1 Peter 2:22 : Isa 53:9
- 1 Peter 2:23 : Heb 12:3; 1Pe 3:9
- 1 Peter 2:23 : Isa 53:7
- 1 Peter 2:23 : Lk 23:46
- 1 Peter 2:23 : Ps 9:4
- 1 Peter 2:24 : Isa 53:4, 11; Heb 9:28
- 1 Peter 2:24 : S Ac 5:30
- 1 Peter 2:24 : S Ro 6:2
- 1 Peter 2:24 : Dt 32:39; Ps 103:3; Isa 53:5; Heb 12:13; Jas 5:16
- 1 Peter 2:25 : Isa 53:6
- 1 Peter 2:25 : S Jn 10:11
- 1 Peter 2:25 : Job 10:12
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source:  BibleGateway
1. Suffer for doing good (18-20)
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.