"If when you do what is right and suffer for it, patiently enduring it, this finds favor with God. For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps" (1 Peter 2:20-21).
Peter is teaching how we as believers must be submissive, for the lords sake, to authority. He also gives an example of a slave being submissive to an unreasonable master (v.18). The best thing we can do against unreasonable treatment is to do what is right, "for such is the will of God that by doing right you may silence the ignorance of foolish men" (v. 15).
Jesus Christ committed no sin nor was there any deceit found in him. Yet when he was wrongly punished he did not reproach and while suffering he entrusted himself to the one who judges righteously (v. 22-23). Jesus is to be our example. We find favor with God for patiently enduring suffering for what is right (v. 20). "Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 5:10).
We judge what is right by a standard. The problem with a secular standard is that it is always moving. Thankfully we have a standard in the spirit and word of God that is immutable, never changing, so that we know what is right and wrong. "Therefore, putting aside all malice, deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all slander, like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation, if you have tasted the kindness of the Lord" (1 Peter 2:1).
Peter is teaching how we as believers must be submissive, for the lords sake, to authority. He also gives an example of a slave being submissive to an unreasonable master (v.18). The best thing we can do against unreasonable treatment is to do what is right, "for such is the will of God that by doing right you may silence the ignorance of foolish men" (v. 15).
Jesus Christ committed no sin nor was there any deceit found in him. Yet when he was wrongly punished he did not reproach and while suffering he entrusted himself to the one who judges righteously (v. 22-23). Jesus is to be our example. We find favor with God for patiently enduring suffering for what is right (v. 20). "Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 5:10).
We judge what is right by a standard. The problem with a secular standard is that it is always moving. Thankfully we have a standard in the spirit and word of God that is immutable, never changing, so that we know what is right and wrong. "Therefore, putting aside all malice, deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all slander, like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation, if you have tasted the kindness of the Lord" (1 Peter 2:1).
It glorifies God when we endure suffering by doing what is right. It can even bring those who persecute us to God; "so that in the thing in which they slander you as evildoers, they may because of your good deeds, as they observe them, glorify God" (v. 12). Doing what is right is not easy, it requires complete devotion and obedience, even unto death, the story of Stephen (Acts 7:54-60). We have been called for this purpose to endure suffering for righteousness as Christ did, this finds favor with him.
"Honor all people, love the brotherhood, fear God, honor the king" (v. 17).