Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary 1 Peter 2:24

"who his own self bare our sins in his body upon the tree, that we, having died unto sins, might live unto righteousness; by whose stripes ye were healed." — 1 Peter 2:24 (ASV)

Peter explores the sufferings of the Messiah more deeply. He has stated that Christ was patient and innocent. Moreover, his sufferings for us are indeed expiatory and substitutionary. He did no sin (v.22) and he “bore our sins” (v.24; cf. Jn 1:29). The exact figure of bearing sins is not clear. It may be a reference to the scapegoat (Leviticus 16), to other Levitical sacrifices (cf. Leviticus 14:20; Isaiah 53:12), or to the basic ideas involved in the sacrificial system. The location of the expiatory offering was “in his body on the tree” (cf. Dt 21:23; Galatians 3:13; Colossians 1:22). The purpose of Christ’s death on the cross is to produce new life in the believer. By means of it all those who come to him end their old life and begin a new one devoted to righteousness (cf. Romans 6:1–14, 18–19; 2 Corinthians 5:14–15; Galatians 2:20; Galatians 6:14).

“By his wounds you have been healed” is Peter’s application of this precious truth from Isaiah to Christian slaves who had received lashes unjustly. Formerly they were straying sheep (Isaiah 53:6) but now they “have returned” to Jesus, the “Shepherd and Overseer of your souls” (cf. Jn 10).