1 Peter 2:20

1 Peter 2:20 ‘For what credit is there if, when you sin and are harshly treated, you endure it with patience? But if when you do what is right and suffer for it you patiently endure it, this finds favor with God.'

‘For what credit is there' -The above Scripture needs to be inscribed above the entrance to every jail and prison. There is no merit in receiving punishment for one's faults. ‘One might show stoic endurance when one is punished for. fault, but it is hardly heroic or praiseworthy.' (Davids pp. 107-108) ‘Credit'-‘there is no special approval or honour due to you' (Grudem p. 127)

‘when you sin and are harshly treated' -‘Harshly treated'-lit., to strike with the fist. To some this might seem like God is being insensitive, but God looks at things from the standpoint of eternal reality (Isaiah 2:8). Sin deserves much more than simply harsh treatment or even. literal beating (Romans 6:23). Every sinner suffering the physical consequences of their sin(s) needs to be thankful that they aren't presently suffering the eternal consequences.

‘if when you do what is right and suffer for it you patiently endure it, this finds favor with God' -‘do what is right'-present tense, keep doing what is right. ‘patiently endure it'-present tense, keep on enduring. Hardship doesn't excuse us from ‘doing good'. ‘This kind of endurance is something only made possible by being ‘conscious of God' (1 Peter 2:19) and continually trusting him to care for those rights which have been trampled underfoot by others. At such times trusting God is not easy…But it is then that faith shows itself to be genuine, something that in God's eyes is “far more precious than gold”.' (Grudem pp. 127-128)