Suffering
on the Tree
1 Peter 2:19 “For this is thankworthy, if
a man for conscience toward God endure grief,
suffering wrongfully.
20 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.
21
For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ
also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye
should follow his steps:
22 Who
did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:
23 Who, when he was reviled,
reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened
not; but committed himself to him that judgeth
righteously:
24 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.
25
For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now
returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your
souls.”
1. Suffering Wrongfully
2. Taking It
Patiently
3. Reviling Not Again
4. Living
Righteously
Did you take note of that tree in verse twenty-four?
A tree is a place to hang a man … till he dies. Many have died … hanging on a tree.
Now that is fact supported by history.
Do not trust me on this. Check it out for yourself!
That is where that rebel Absalom died. He died on hanging on a tree. [2 Samuel 18:10]
Now, where does this practice come from? I will tell you where. It comes from your King James Bible. Have you not heard of a HANGING TREE?
Turn with me to Deuteronomy chapter twenty-one, and come down the chapter to verses twenty-two and three, and we will read from there. “And if a man have committed a sin worthy of death, and he be to be put to death, and thou hang him on a tree: His body shall not remain all night upon the tree, but thou shalt in any wise bury him that day; (for he that is hanged is accursed of God;) that thy land be not defiled, which the Lord thy God giveth thee for an inheritance.” [Deuteronomy 21:22-23]
The HANGING TREE … is for the wrong doer. It is for the criminal. It is the place of execution for them who are “accursed”.
The Hanging Tree serves as the instrument to keep a land … from being defiled. The accursed [the murderer and such like] needs to die on a tree. If you had committed a sin “worthy of death” under THE LAW, you might have found yourself hanging on a tree!
1. Suffering Wrongfully
Verse nineteen: “For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully."
Now there are those who have suffered wrongfully. [This means they suffered “grief” even though they were innocent.]
Now, consider Jesus Christ, HE was INNOCENT!
What does it say in Second Corinthians chapter five, verse twenty-five? It says this: “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” [2 Corinthians 5:21]
HE “knew no sin.”
Now, it says this very same thing here in our text [in First Peter in verse twenty-two]: “Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:” [1 Peter 2:22].
He knew no sin!
Who did no sin!
Scripture with Scripture; HE suffered “grief” … though HE was innocent, and even though HE was a just man.
HE was hung on a tree as if HE was a criminal though HE was a just man.
The Scripture says more on this same thing in chapter three, verse eighteen in this very book [First Peter] that we are in.
Now let me quote it to you. Are you listening? “For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh … [1 Peter 3:18a]. The JUST for the UNJUST … hung on the tree
Brethren, we need to be willing likewise to suffer “wrongfully” even for this following reason.
It is located in verse twenty-one of our text: “For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:” [1 Peter 2:21].
We should follow in His steps. Jesus Christ … is our example.
2. Taking It Patiently
Verse twenty: “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.”
This is a hard one, brethren. But if you are truly born again, then the ability [the power] is already within you to “do well, and suffer for it” … “patiently” God wants you to suffer the wrong doing that others do to you … with patience.
This thing will bring glory to God, “this is acceptable with God.”
God will use our patience in “suffering wrongfully” to further HIS AGENDA amongst men.
3. Reviling Not Again
Verse twenty-three: “Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:” [1 Peter 2:23].
What is the first response of this old nature of ours when someone reviles us? Come on now! Be honest.
The tendency [from within our heart] is to bite back immediately at the person who is reviling us.
This thing is especially true if we are being “reviled” unjustly, [for something we are not even guilty of].
Only the true Christian [by the Holy Spirit dwelling inside of him] can respond with the patience and meekness of a lamb at his or her accuser.
This is BIBLE truth!
The believer within the body of Christ [who is dead to himself] is called to be kind and tenderhearted, and very forgiving of the wrongs committed against him by others. [Christians can be rather mean to one another. Did you know that?] “And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.” [Ephesians 4:32]
Bottom-line, we ought not to revile … because our LORD Jesus Christ did not revile. Follow Jesus, my friend.
4. Living Righteously
Verse twenty-four: “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.” [1 Peter 2:24].
Holiness ought to be present your life, if you are a saved person.
Let me tell you something. Something is bad wrong when the professing believer in Jesus Christ does not “live unto righteousness.”
In that verse we just read, [verse twenty-four] it said: “by whose stripes ye were healed”. What were you healed from? Were you not “healed” or made right [reconciled] with a RIGHTEOUS GOD?
Have you not been “healed” so that you would be related to a RIGHTEOUS GOD?
Do you not understand the Scripture, my friend? Without holiness you will not see the LORD. This is Bible!
Let me connect the dots.
Go to Hebrews chapter twelve and come on down to verse fourteen: “Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:” [Hebrews 12:14].
Do you see this is true? Righteousness and holiness are intertwined. You cannot separate them. It will behoove you and I, to “live unto righteousness” while we “sojourn” here on this earth.
A true believer in Jesus Christ will live righteously before all men for testimony.