When Suffering Wrongfully

When Suffering Wrongfully

“When Suffering Wrongfully”
(1 Peter 2:18-23)
Series: Strength Through Adversity (1Peter)

Rev. Todd A. Linn, PhD

Henderson’s First Baptist Church, Henderson

Take your Bibles and join me in 1Peter, chapter 2 (page 815; YouVersion).

In 1 Peter, we have been looking recently at what it means to live as a Christian in a non-Christian world.  Peter has referred to Christians in verse 9 as, “a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own special people.” He has also referred to Christians in verse 11 as “sojourners and pilgrims,” temporary residents in this world, mere guests in the world.  But this status of being mere “guests” in this world does not excuse Christians from submitting to the laws of this world.  And so we saw last week that Christians are to submit to their political leaders regardless of their political beliefs.

And what Peter is doing in a larger sense is describing what he has in mind when he says–back in verse 12–that Christians are to live in such a way that their “good works” are observed by unbelievers with the effect of pointing them to Christ.

If we asked Peter, “What exactly do you mean by this kind of living, living as the, “people of God,” people, “called out of darkness into His marvelous light?”  How does that work out in our world?  Peter answers that question by teaching on the matter of submission.  Again, last week we looked at, “submitting to every ordinance of man,” including submitting to our political leaders, and so forth, in verses 13-17.

Today, we pick up in verses 18 and following where Peter calls for Christian servants to submit to their masters.  And so we’ll be talking about that.  And eventually, chapter 3, first few verses, we’ll looking at the submission of wives to their husbands.  But again, today we will be looking at this teaching about servants submitting to their masters, a text which has practical implications for every one of us when suffering wrongfully.

Stand in honor of the reading of God’s Word.

18 Servants, be submissive to your masters with all fear, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the harsh.
19 For this is commendable, if because of conscience toward God one endures grief, suffering wrongfully.
20 For what credit is it if, when you are beaten for your faults, you take it patiently? But when you do good and suffer, if you take it patiently, this is commendable before God.
21 For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps:
22 “Who committed no sin, nor was deceit found in His mouth”;
23 who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously;

Pray.

Introduction:

There is a genre of literature known popularly as, “The ‘Get Even’ Books.”  These are books that help readers exact revenge upon their enemies or “get even” with those who have hurt them.  Sound look a book you may want to read?

John Jackson has written one such book entitled, The Black Book of Revenge.  The subtitle reads: “The Complete Manual of Hardcore Dirty Tricks and Schemes.”  On the book cover or inside the book is a description of its contents:

How to satisfy your lust for revenge, get justice, or even the score with anyone who has ever made your life miserable. This book graphically illustrates methods actually used by people who have had all they can take and turn to their own resources for justice. You’ll find out how to obtain information on your target, the “art” of blackmail and its uses. With illustrations of homemade devices as well as instructions on how to use them, this is the best of the “get even” books.

Now if that title interests you, you may also be interested in acquiring, Spite, Malice, and Revenge: The Complete Guide to Getting Even (3 Diabolical Volumes in One).  The book promises, “376 dirty tricks that will stimulate your imagination and help you find the perfect gift for the special someone who has taken everything from you. Learn how to wreak revenge against all those people who make your life miserable.”

I suspect that there is something within many of us that may drive us to page through one of these books.  Maybe one or two of you is even now is Googling the titles on your phone.  In a world where it is common for people to return evil for evil and in a fallen society that naturally engenders spite, malice, and revenge, such helpful little manuals find a niche in the market.  Nobody wants to be insulted, hurt, or wronged.  Everyone wants justice.

But what does the Bible teach about suffering injustices?  How does the Christian live as a “pilgrim” or a “sojourner” in this world?  Our message is entitled, “When Suffering Wrongly.”  You could add the subtitle, “How to take it on the chin when you’ve done nothing to deserve it.”  We’re going to talk about that this morning.

While Peter is addressing servants in general, his teaching provides all Christians with helpful pointers about what to do when suffering wrongfully.  First:

I. Expect to Suffer (18-20)

We’ve seen this before in 1 Peter.  You’ll remember Peter’s opening the letter with our praising God for His salvation and reminding us to rejoice in this salvation when undergoing trials.  Chapter 1 and verse 6: “In this (this salvation) you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials.”  This theme of suffering recurs a few times later in 1 Peter, including here in our text this morning.  Verse 18:

18 Servants, be submissive to your masters with all fear, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the harsh.

Now before we talk about servants submitting to their masters it is important that we talk just a moment about servants–or slaves (as the NIV has it)–in 1st Century New Testament times.

It is supremely helpful that we not think of slavery in New Testament times as we think of slavery in American antebellum times, pre-American Civl War times.  While there are similarities there are significant differences.

For one, slavery in New Testament times was not based upon race.  In addition, while slaves in American Civil War times were discouraged from receiving an education, many slaves in the New Testament era were highly educated, some better educated than their masters.  And there are other differences, as well.  One commentator, drawing upon the Oxford Classical Dictionary writes this:

Although mistreatment of slaves could occur…it must be remembered that 1st-century slaves were generally well treated and were not only unskilled laborers but often managers, overseers, and trained members of the various professions (doctors, nurses, teachers, musicians, skilled artisans).  There was extensive Roman legislation regulating the treatment of slaves.  They were normally paid for their services and could expect eventually to purchase their freedom (Oxford Classical Dictionary, page 995; also page 793,) (Wayne Grudem, 1 Peter).

But, of course, this does not make slavery as an institution, “right.”  The Bible certainly prohibits trafficking individuals and the Bible nowhere endorses slavery as, “a good thing.”  So while slavery existed in both Old and New Testament times, one will never find a verse that actually endorses the practice.

We must remember that biblical writers address people in the situation in which they are found.  It is not the purpose of Peter’s letter to call for overthrow of slavery as an institution.  Such a call would have failed miserably as the overwhelming majority of people in the Graeco-Roman world supported slavery and if a tiny minority of people called Christians attempted to overthrow the institution, the attempt would have been dead in the water.

We must also remember that the Christian Gospel does not concern itself with social overhaul, anyway.  Rather, it addresses sinful individuals who stand before a holy God and addresses their need for reconciliation through the atonement of Christ.  Ultimate social change and social overhaul on a larger scale occurs through the personal life change through individual salvation on a smaller scale.

Not all slaves in New Testament times were treated respectfully.  Many were, in fact, often mistreated and even beaten.  Yet Peter says in verse 18, “Servants, be submissive to your masters…not only to the good and gentle, but also to the harsh.”  There were “harsh” masters.  The word describes masters who were, “morally evil,” and suggests, “not only physical mistreatment but also dishonesty regarding pay, working conditions, expectations,” and so forth (Grudem).

Yet again, just like last week, Peter calls for humble submission to authority, even when we don’t agree with that authority.  Unless commanded to sin personally, Christians are to submit to, “every ordinance of man.”  I hope many of us benefited from Peter’s reminder back in verse 13 that Christians obey, “for the Lord’s sake.”  We submit for the Lord’s sake, to honor Christ.  That idea is found again in verse 19:

19 For this is commendable, if because of conscience toward God one endures grief, suffering wrongfully.

Peter says Christians may bear up under the pressure of suffering wrongfully when they remember their Lord.  That’s what this phrase, “if because of conscience toward God,” seems to mean.  The ESV has, “when mindful of God,” or, “conscious of God,” as the NIV has it.  In other words, servants can bear up under the pain of injustice remembering that God is there and God sees everything, and God will honor our submission to authority.  Verse 20:

20 For what credit is it if, when you are beaten for your faults, you take it patiently? But when you do good and suffer, if you take it patiently, this is commendable before God.

Look again at the first part of verse 20, “For what credit is it if, when you are beaten for your faults, you take it patiently?”  In other words, “If you act like a jerk others will treat you like a jerk, so don’t be surprised!”  Don’t be like, “Oh, I’m suffering for my witness!”  No, you’re suffering because you were wrong in the way you acted.

But–second part of verse 20–“But when you do good and suffer, if you take it patiently, this is commendable before God.”  God honors your faithful submission when you submit to authority.  He honors your submission, especially when suffering wrongfully.

Peter suggests that when Christians suffer for doing good that God will reward them.  It’s like the teaching of our Lord in Luke 6:34-35:

And if you lend to those from whom you hope to receive back, what credit is that to you? For even sinners lend to sinners to receive as much back. But love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High. For He is kind to the unthankful and evil.

While Peter has in mind specifically those who are servants, this teaching of submission applies to citizens submitting to their political leaders, it applies to employees submitting to their employers, it applies to students submitting to their teachers and, in fact, in any area where one is called to live under the authority of another.

But again, expect to suffer.  Verses 18-20 teach that followers of Christ should not be surprised when they are mistreated by others.  In fact the first few words of verse 21 seem to teach the same thing, “For to this you were called,” that is, to this suffering wrongfully you have been called, this bearing up under the pain of injustice.  And then Peter tells us exactly how Christians are able to bear up under that pain.  When you suffer, number two:

II. Follow Your Example (21-23)

21 For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps:

If you need an example of how to behave when you submit to authority, look to Jesus.  Peter uses Jesus as an example of how the Christian should behave when bearing up under injustice.  The Christian is to be like His Lord, to be like Christ, to look like Christ.

How did Christ behave?  Verse 22:

22 “Who committed no sin, nor was deceit found in His mouth”;
That’s a quote from Isaiah in Isaiah 53:9, “He had done no violence, nor was any deceit in His mouth.”  Verse 23:

23 who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously;

So Peter is saying when you suffer follow your example, follow Christ.

Someone may object, “But Christ was sinless!”  Yes, He was and is. In fact, verse 22 is one of those specific verses that teaches the absolute sinlessness of our Lord, verse 22, “Who committed no sin.”  We are sinners, He is not.

Our suffering does not atone for anyone’s sin, but Christ’s death on the cross provides an example of how to “take it on the chin” when we have done nothing wrong.

We follow Him as our example.  Christians are to look like their Lord, to bear family likeness of Christ.

The word, “example” there in verse 21, conveys the idea of a pattern.  It’s kind of like those puzzles where you have two pictures that look identical, but they’re not quite identical, they’re not exactly identical.  And you look at these two pictures and, upon closer examination, you note that one of the pictures has a few flaws, it’s not quite exactly like the other.  And that’s like the Christian.  We are to look like Christ.  No, we’re not perfect and, upon closer examination of our lives, our flaws are obvious but, in the main, we are identical to our Lord.

Follow your example. When you suffer, look to Christ as an example of how to bear up under the pain and agony of injustice.

In fact, Christians are called to suffer because our suffering is one of the means by which we become more like Jesus.  Our trust in Christ and our love for Christ is deepened when we go through the painful trials that He endured.  This is what Paul has in mind when he says in Philippians 3, “I want to know Him…and the fellowship of His sufferings…(Philippians 3:10).”

So what did our example do?  What did Jesus do when He suffered injustice?  Verse 23 again:

23 who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously;

Look again at that last part of verse 23: He, “committed Himself to Him who judges righteously.”

Here is the key: Jesus continuously–it’s in the present tense–continuously, “committed Himself to Him who judges righteously.”  That is, when Christ suffered wrongfully, He continued entrusting Himself, as well as those who who mistreated Him, entirely to God.  He knew that God, the Father, always does what is right.  He knew that God will make all things right in the end.  Every injustice in the world will either be atoned for by Christ’s death or accounted for on the day of judgment.

When you suffer injustice follow your example.

See, someone says, “Todd, you’re a pastor! You’re not in the world like I am.  You don’t know the kind of suffering I endure Monday through Saturday!”  Maybe not, but I probably know more than you realize.  But I’ll grant that I don’t have a clue as to what you endure Monday through Saturday.  But Peter does not say here, ‘Look to your pastor as an example, that you should follow his steps.’  Peter says, ‘Look to Christ!  Follow His steps!’”

What was happening to Christ when He was reviled and did not revile in return?  What was happening to Christ when He suffered and did not threaten?  Do you remember?  Do you remember Luke 23?
Do you remember how the Roman authorities had stripped Him of His clothing and beaten Him to within an inch of His life?  Do you remember how they nailed His hands and feet to a wooden cross?  Do you remember how He bled as they hurled their insults at Him?  Do you remember how He suffered?  Yet, verse 23, “when He was reviled, He did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously.”  He said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”

Every injustice in the universe will be either covered by the blood of the atonement or face accountability on the day of judgement.

When you suffer injustice, follow your example.

 III. Remember Your Motivation (21)

Peter is providing more than just general teachings of morality.  He’s not simply saying, “Be a good person when you suffer.  Don’t pay others back.”

That sounds sweet and you may get something out of that, but you could get that message just about anywhere.  You could get the teachings of “Be good and don’t treat others badly” in Judaism or Islam or popular psychology or daytime TV shows.  Peter doesn’t merely say, “Follow Christ’s example.”  He doesn’t even say, “Christ suffered leaving us an example.”  That’s just morality.

Look more closely at verse 21, “Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example.”  For us.  Here is the theological underpinning that motivates our morality.  It is the doctrine of the atonement: Christ also suffered for you.  He died for you.  Christ died in your place.

Christ suffered for us, leaving us an example.  How are Christians empowered to bear up under injustice?  You remember what Christ did for you.  You remember that He died for your sins.  He took the punishment you deserved.  He treated you not as you deserved to be treated, but He treated you with mercy, compassion, and forgiveness.

The atonement is your motivation.  It makes bearing up under injustice possible and reminds us why it’s needful.  Because Christ has extended mercy, compassion, and forgiveness toward you, you will treat others with mercy, compassion, and forgiveness.  You owe it to God and you owe it to others.  And you will do so because you are not of this world.  You are a pilgrim, a sojourner, a guest of this world.

So you’ll not do as the world does.  You’ll not do what your fallen nature tells you to do:

Defend yourself!  Fight!  Don’t let false accusations stand!  Get in the last word!  Pummel your enemy!  Someone strikes you on the cheek, strike ‘em in the gut!

No.  You will expect to suffer.  You will follow your example.  And you will remember your motivation: “Christ suffered for us.”

Let’s pray.

 

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