Hebrews 12:3; 1 Peter 2:19-24
Consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.
For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully. For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God. For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously: Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.
CHARLES SIMEON (1759-1836): It is here taken for granted that persons in every age will be persecuted for righteousness’ sake. And the whole history of mankind fully justifies this assumption: for from the time of Abel to the present hour it has been verified. The lovers of darkness hate the light; and will endeavour, when it lies in their power, to extinguish it, John 3:19. The whole life of David tends to illustrate this: “They that render evil for good are mine adversaries,” says he; “because I follow the thing that good is,” Psalm 38:20. And what shall I say of Him who was greater than David, even the Son of God Himself?
MATTHEW HENRY (1662-1714): What trials Christ met with in His race and course! He “endured the contradiction of sinners against himself;” He bore the opposition that they made to Him, both in their words and behaviour. They were continually contradicting Him, and crossing in upon His great designs.
CHARLES SIMEON: Consider the unreasonableness with which He was opposed, when, notwithstanding the myriads of miracles that He wrought, His enemies were continually demanding more signs, and pretending a want of evidence as the ground of their unbelief. Consider the obstinacy with which He was rejected, when His victory over the devils was ascribed to a confederacy with them…Consider the malice with which He was persecuted. Incessantly did His enemies labour to ensnare him, and seek to take away His life. And, when they had a prospect of effecting their purpose, there was no method, however infamous, which they did not use to accomplish their wishes. With what inveteracy did they suborn false witnesses; and, on the failure of that device, compel the judge by clamours and menaces, to give sentence against him! Consider the cruelty with which He was put to death. They might, one would have thought, have been satisfied with seeing His back torn, and even ploughed up, with scourges: but their cruelty was insatiable; for, even when He was nailed to the accursed tree, they ceased not to mock and insult Him, and to add by their indignities a tenfold poignancy to all His anguish.
MATTHEW HENRY: Yet He endured their evil manners with great patience.
CHARLES SIMEON: Surely His wisdom precluded a possibility of any fault being found with Him; whilst His goodness suppressed, in every bosom, a disposition to find fault. But on the contrary, in proportion to His superiority above all the sons of men, was the inveterate obstinacy of the carnal mind against Him. Can we, then, hope to escape their malignity? No; The disciple cannot be above his Master, or the servant above his Lord: if they have hated Him, they will hate us also, Matthew 10:24; John 15:18. We, like Him, must have our cross to bear and “all who will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution,” 2 Timothy 3:12.
MATTHEW HENRY: Christians are a sort of people “called to be sufferers,” and therefore they must expect it; by the terms of Christianity they are bound to deny themselves, and take up the cross.
JOHN TRAPP (1601-1699): Our troubles are but as the slivers and chips of His cross.
JOHN CALVIN (1509-1564): If the Son of God, whom it behoves all to adore, willingly underwent such severe conflicts, who of us should dare to refuse to submit with Him to the same? For this one thought alone ought to be sufficient to conquer all temptations, that is, when we know that we are companions or associates of the Son of God, and that He, who was so far above us, willingly came down to our condition, in order that He might animate us by His own example; yea, it is thus that we gather courage, which would otherwise melt away, and turn as it were into despair.
JOHN OWEN (1616-1683): And this I judge to be the frame of mind here cautioned against by the apostle, namely, the want of life, vigour, and cheerfulness in profession, tending unto a relinquishment of it…When we begin to be heartless, desponding, and weary of our sufferings, it is a dangerous disposition of mind, towards a defection from the gospel. So it hath been with many, who at first vigorously engaged in profession, but have been wrought over unto a conformity with the world, by a weariness of their trials. And we ought to watch against nothing more diligently than the insensible, gradual prevailing of such a frame in us, if we intend to be faithful unto the end. There is the way whereby we fall into this dangerous condition—it is by “fainting in our minds.”
C. H. MACKINTOSH (1820-1896): What is the remedy? True heart-devotedness to, and fellowship with, a rejected and glorified Christ.
MATTHEW HENRY: The best way to prevent this is to look unto Jesus, and to consider Him. Faith and meditation will fetch in fresh supplies of strength, comfort, and courage; for He has assured them, if they suffer with him, they shall also reign with him,” 2 Timothy 2:12. And this hope will be their helmet.
ADAM CLARKE (1760-1832): Attentively observe and analyze every part of His conduct, enter into His Spirit, examine His motives and object. And remember that, as He acted, ye are called to act.
MATTHEW HENRY: The example of Christ’s subjection and patience is here explained and amplified: Christ suffered, wrongfully, and without cause; for he “did no sin,” 1 Peter 2:2; He had done no violence, no injustice or wrong to any one—He wrought no iniquity of any sort whatever; “neither was guile found in his mouth;” His words, as well as His actions, were all sincere, just, and right. “When he was reviled, he reviled not again;” when they blasphemed Him, mocked Him, called Him foul names, He was “dumb, and opened not his mouth,” Isaiah 53:7. When they went further, to real injuries—beating, buffeting, and crowning Him with thorns, “he threatened not;” but committed both Himself and His cause “to God that judgeth righteously,” who would in time clear His innocence, and avenge Him on His enemies. Learn, our Blessed Redeemer was perfectly holy, and so free from sin that no temptation, no provocation whatsoever, could extort from Him so much as the least sinful or indecent word. Provocations to sin can never justify the commission of it. The rudeness, cruelty, and injustice of enemies, will not justify Christians in reviling and revenge.
ADAM CLARKE: He bore a continual opposition of sinners against Himself, but He conquered by meekness, patience, and perseverance.
JOHN CALVIN: Christ will not be less strong and invincible in us also, if, conscious of our own weakness, we place reliance upon His power alone.
ADAM CLARKE: If ye trust in Him, ye shall receive strength; therefore, howsoever great your opposition may be, ye shall not be weary: if ye confide in and attentively look to Him, ye shall have continual courage to go on, and never “faint in your minds”—He will furnish you with the same Spirit, and will support you with the same strength.
ROBERT HAWKER (1753-1827): What a spur this is, under God’s grace, to encourage the redeemed of the Lord to live an holy life?
