who, being reviled, did not revile in return; suffering, He did not threaten, but committing Himself to Him who judges righteously;
Truth to Learn
Instead of attacking our accusers, we should surrender to God.
Behind the Words
What does it mean to be “reviled?” This English word means “to be assaulted with contemptuous or abusive language.” The Greek word it is translated from is loidoreō, which means “to reproach” or “to vilify.”
The Greek for “did not revile in return” is, ouk antiloidepei. Antiloidepei is a compound made up of anti, meaning “opposite” and a form of loidereō, which we just learned means “to vilify.” The Greek word ouk, which we learned previously, represents the absolute negative. From all this we see that Christ absolutely did not respond in kind.
The word translated “threaten” is the Greek word apeileō, which means “to menace or threaten.” It is also preceded by ouk, the absolute negative.
The word translated “committing” is paredidōmi, which means “to give up” or “to surrender.”
Meaning Explained
Before Christ’s crucifixion, His accusers used harsh words in assaulting and accusing Him. “Yes, but they’re only words,” you say. When was the last time you were assaulted with words? Did it cause you to strike back or at least want to? Did you have to think about it before you did?
For me it was only yesterday when someone used harsh words to attack me and my actions. And, I am ashamed to say, I did not hesitate in my parrying response, using just as much vitriolic language and emotion as my attacker.
When Christ was attacked with words of accusations which were untrue and undeserved, He did not revile in return. When Christ suffered, which was both physical and emotional, He did not threaten. Talk about power under control! Even as he was being arrested in the Garden of Gethsemane, he asked Peter:
Do you think that I am not able now call on My Father, and He will place beside Me more than twelve legions of angels? (Matthew 26:53)
One angel would probably have been enough to take care of the crowd that was there. Twelve would certainly have been enough to do it effortlessly. But twelve legions?! That would have been upwards of 60,000 angels!
Jesus had the power and opportunity to strike back at his accusers and those who caused Him to suffer. Instead of fighting back, though, He surrendered! Not to his attackers, but to the Righteous Judge, His Heavenly Father.
Application
The next time you are attacked, remember how Jesus responded. Had he not surrendered, He would not have been obedient unto death, even the death on the cross, and you and I would still be dead in our sins and without hope! Let’s all learn to surrender to God.
In God's service, for His glory,
Copyright © 2016 Will Krause. All rights reserved