Though Reviled, He did Not Revile 1 Peter 2:23

Peter the apostle told the “scattered” Christians that Jesus was “an example” to “us” for “suffering wrongfully”. Jesus who “did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth” demonstrated how we are to live, and in chapter two and verse twenty-three of his letter, Peter told the Christians when Jesus “was reviled”, he “reviled not again” where we read:

Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered,

he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judges righteously:

The verse begins, “Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again;” Peter began with the word, “Who” which refers to Jesus “when he was reviled” which is the Greek word “loidoreō” means “reproached, railed at and was heaped upon with abuse” “reviled not again” which is the Greek phrase “antiloidoreō ou antiloidoreō” and means did not “revile in turn or retort to railing”. Though it is normal for people to return abuse when they are abused, Jesus did not do so.

The verse goes on to say, “when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judges righteously:” Peter continued, “when he suffered” which means “when Jesus was affected, felt and had a sensible experience suffering and vexation”, “he threatened not” or “did not menace or forbid”; “but” which is a disassociation conjunction that means what is about to be written takes precedence over what was previously written “moreover, also, nevertheless” “committed” which means “deliver or give up or over” “himself to him that judges” or “separates, puts asunder, picks out, selects and chooses” “righteously” which means “justly, agreeably to the right, properly, uprightly and agreeable to the law of rectitude”. Rather than “reviling” Himself, Jesus “committed” Himself to God Almighty who “chooses and selects” “properly and uprightly”.

When we think through these words of Peter, we might find ourselves challenged by the example of Jesus. When Jesus was “reviled” before and as He was upon the cross, He could have easily revenged those who railed upon Him, however, He did not. How do we respond when others “revile, rail upon and reproach” us? Let us remember that Peter is sharing how Jesus is our “example” of the way we are to respond to those who make us “suffer wrongfully”. May the Lord help us follow His lead.

Next time Peter shares how Jesus “bore our sins”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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