1 Peter 2:21

2:18-25 Servants in those days generally were slaves, and had heathen masters, who often used them cruelly; yet the apostle directs them to be subject to the masters placed over them by Providence, with a fear to dishonour or offend God. And not only to those pleased with reasonable service, but to the severe, and those angry without cause. The sinful misconduct of one relation, does not justify sinful behaviour in the other; the servant is bound to do his duty, though the master may be sinfully froward and perverse. But masters should be meek and gentle to their servants and inferiors. What glory or distinction could it be, for professed Christians to be patient when corrected for their faults? But if when they behaved well they were ill treated by proud and passionate heathen masters, yet bore it without peevish complaints, or purposes of revenge, and persevered in their duty, this would be acceptable to God as a distinguishing effect of his grace, and would be rewarded by him. Christ's death was designed not only for an example of patience under sufferings, but he bore our sins; he bore the punishment of them, and thereby satisfied Divine justice. Hereby he takes them away from us. The fruits of Christ's sufferings are the death of sin, and a new holy life of righteousness; for both which we have an example, and powerful motives, and ability to perform also, from the death and resurrection of Christ.

And our justification; Christ was bruised and crucified as a sacrifice for our sins, and by his stripes the diseases of our souls are cured. Here is man's sin; he goes astray; it is his own act. His misery; he goes astray from the pasture, from the Shepherd, and from the flock, and so exposes himself to dangers without number. Here is the recovery by conversion; they are now returned as the effect of Divine grace. This return is, from all their errors and wanderings, to Christ. Sinners, before their conversion, are always going astray; their life is a continued error.

{23} For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an {g} example, that ye should follow his steps: (23) He alleviates the grievousness of servanthood, while he shows plainly that Christ died also for servants, that they should bear so much more patiently this inequality between men who are of the same nature: moreover setting before them Christ the Lord of lords for an example, he signifies that they cannot but seem too subdued, who show themselves more grieved in the bearing of injuries, than Christ himself who was most just, and most severely of all afflicted, and yet was most patient. (g) A metaphor of speech taken from painters and schoolmasters.

1 Peter 2:21-23 . For even hereunto — Namely, to suffer wrongfully, and to bear such treatment with patience and meekness; are ye Christians called; because Christ — Whose followers you profess to be, pure and spotless as he was; suffered for us — Not only hard speeches, buffetings, and stripes, but deep and mortal wounds, even the ignominious and painful death of crucifixion; leaving us — When he returned to heaven; an example of suffering patiently for well-doing; that ye should follow his steps — Of innocence and patience. Who did no sin — And therefore did not deserve to suffer any thing; neither was guile — Any insincerity, or dissimulation, or the least mis-spoken word, found to drop from his mouth — This is an allusion to the words of Isaiah, concerning the Messiah, Isaiah 53:9 ; neither was any deceit in his mouth. Who, when he was reviled — As he frequently was, being called a Samaritan, a glutton, a wine-bibber, a blasphemer, a demoniac, one in league with Beelzebub, a perverter of the nation, and a deceiver of the people; he reviled not again — In any one instance: he did indeed once say to the Jews, Ye are of your father the devil, and the works of your father ye will do.

This, however, was not a reviling speech, but a true description of their character, and a prediction that they would murder him; and when he suffered — All kinds of insults and tortures, till they ended in his death on the cross; he threatened not the vengeance which he had it in his own power to have executed; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously — The only solid ground of patience in affliction. In all these instances, the example of Christ was peculiarly adapted for the instruction of servants, who easily slide into sin or guile, reviling their fellow-servants, or threatening them, the natural result of anger without power.

Leaving (ὑπολιμπάνων) Only here in the New Testament. An example (ὑπογραμμὸν) Only here in the New Testament. A graphic word, meaning a copy set by writing-masters for their pupils. Some explain it as a copy of characters over which the student is to trace the lines. Follow (ἐπακολουθήσητε) Lit., follow upon. The compound verb implies close following. From writers and painters, the metaphor changes now to a guide.

1 Peter 2:21 . Εἰς τοῦτο , to this ) to the imitation of Christ; who condescends to propose His own example to servants, as He Himself was formerly esteemed as a servant.— ἐκλήθητε , ye were called ) with a heavenly calling, whereas it found you in a state of slavery.— ὑπολιμπάνων , leaving ) on His departure to the Father.[19]— ὑπογραμμαὸν , an example ) Ὑπογραμμὸς , a copy, a lesson for imitation , is adapted to the capacity of a tiro, learning to paint. Thus Peter in this passage plainly paints before the eyes of servants the example of Christ, expressing those features which are especially adapted to the case of servants.— ἴχνεσιν , footsteps ) of innocence and patience. The same word occurs, Romans 4:12 ; see note. [19] Into glory, V. g.; in contrast to the previous “shame.”

For even hereunto; viz. to patient bearing of sufferings even for well-doing. Were ye called; viz. to Christ and the fellowship of his kingdom; q.d. Your very calling and profession, as Christians, requires this of you. Also; there is an emphasis in this particle, it is as much as if he had said: Even Christ our Lord and Head hath suffered for us, and therefore we that are but his servants and members must not think to escape sufferings. For us; or, as in the margin, for you, which agrees with the beginning and end of the verse, where the second person is used; but most read it as we do, in the first person, and the sense is still the same; only the apostle from a general proposition draws a particular exhortation: Christ suffered for us, (therein he comprehends the saints to whom he writes), and left an example for us all; do ye therefore to whom, as well as to others, he left this example, follow his steps, John 13:15 1Jo 2:6 . Leaving us an example, as of other graces, so especially of patience.

1 Peter 2:21 . εἰς τοῦτο , sc. to do well and to suffer, if need be, without flinching, as Christ did.— ἐκλήθητε , sc. by God; cf. διὰ τὴν συνείδησιν θεοῦ .— ἔπαθεν ὑπὲρ ἡμῶν , 1 Peter 2:22 supplies the essential point, which would be readily supplied, but Christ’s suffering was undeserved ( δίκαιος ὑπὲρ ἀδίκων , 1 Peter 3:18 ).— καί also with reference to the similar experience of Christians; so Php 2:5 , τοῦτο φρονεῖτε ἐν ὑμῖν ὃ καὶ ἐν Χριστῷ .— ὑπογραμμόν (1) outline , 2Ma 2:28 , to enlarge upon the outlines of our abridgment ; (2) copy-head, pattern , to be traced over by writing-pupils (Plato, Protag. , 227 D; Clement ot Alexandria, Strom. , ver 8, 49, gives three examples of which βεδιζαμψχθωπληκτρον σφιγξ is one).— ἐπακολουθήσητε , reminiscence of jesus’ word to Peter, ἀκολουθήσεις ὕστερον , John 13:36 .

21. Christ's example a proof that patient endurance under undeserved sufferings is acceptable with God. hereunto—to the patient endurance of unmerited suffering (1Pe 3:9). Christ is an example to servants, even as He was once in "the form of a servant." called—with a heavenly calling, though slaves. for us—His dying for us is the highest exemplification of "doing well" (1Pe 2:20). Ye must patiently suffer, being innocent, as Christ also innocently suffered (not for Himself, but for us). The oldest manuscripts for "us … us," read, "you … for you." Christ's sufferings, while they are for an example, were also primarily sufferings "for us," a consideration which imposes an everlasting obligation on us to please Him. leaving—behind: so the Greek: on His departure to the Father, to His glory. an example—Greek, "a copy," literally, "a writing copy" set by masters for their pupils. Christ's precepts and sermons were the transcript of His life. Peter graphically sets before servants those features especially suited to their case. follow—close upon: so the Greek. his steps—footsteps, namely, of His patience combined with innocence.

21 . For even hereunto were ye called ] The thoughts of the Apostle travel from the teaching of Christ which he had heard to the life which he had witnessed. The very calling to be a disciple involved the taking up the cross and following Him ( Matthew 10:38 ; Matthew 16:24 ; Luke 14:27 ). It was the very law of the Christian life that men “must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God” ( Acts 14:22 ). And if this was true of all believers it was true in a yet higher sense of those who, when they were called to know Christ, were called as slaves, and as such were to abide in that calling and find in it a discipline of sanctification (comp. 1 Corinthians 7:22 ). And the Apostle had seen what that taking up the cross involved. It is not without significance that in almost every instance in which the example of Christ is referred to, it is in special connexion with His patience under sufferings. Stress is laid on his suffering for us, as making the analogy of the pattern sufferer more complete. He, too, was “buffeted” for no fault of His ( Matthew 26:67 ). leaving us an example ] The Greek noun, not found elsewhere in the New Testament, seems to have been a technical word for the drawing which was set before young students of art for them to copy.