The Sin of Retaliation, Part Three

It is no coincidence that Jesus followed the section on retaliation with the admonition that we are to love our enemies. Retaliation is hating one’s enemy. The person against whom one retaliates is his enemy by virtue of the wrong for which he desires to get even. Vengeance is a form of hatred because getting even requires inflicting harm on another.

It is a biblical fact that God hates and that He also repays vengeance on those who do harm, but He can do no wrong in it because He is perfect in His person and ways. Although He is just and good, it is said that He hates. “I have loved Jacob, but Esau I have hated” (Malachi 1:2b, 3a; Romans 9:13). When God hates, He is not driven by emotion, nor is He reacting to anything. He simply does not love—does not act to promote the welfare of the one He hates. Neither is God’s anger an emotional reaction to wrongdoing. Whatever God does, He does in perfect justice; thus, His anger and hatred are always right.

Salvation is that gracious work of God requiring that He first satisfy His own justice by punishing those He saves in a substitute—Jesus Christ. God gave these sinners to Jesus who took their sins on Himself and suffered God’s wrath in their stead. God acted to satisfy His justice on His Son in order that He might act to some sinners’ eternal benefit, which is loving them. When Christ died for His own, He acted to save them from God Himself. Only those who are converted can claim God’s love. All who are not saved remain the objects of His hatred and will suffer His vengeance. Sin against an infinite Being incurs infinite wrath.

On the other hand, no sinful creature can justly avenge wrongs personally because self and feelings cannot be divorced from the process. Indwelling sinful self-interest controlled by emotion is naturally attached to both love and hate. Only God’s established lawful authorities can justly punish wrongs (Romans 13:1–7). (Observe that Paul also follows with a discussion on fulfilling the law through love; vv. 8–14.)

 Believers are to overcome hate and revenge by acts of love toward those who have wronged them. Kingdom citizens must not resist evil persons but suffer the wrong and turn the other cheek. Further, when they lose their tunic in a civil suit, they are to surrender their cloak as well. When forced to go a mile, they should volunteer to go two miles. When someone begs, they should give to them, and when someone asks to borrow, they should not refuse. These are responses that go against our natural inclinations.

We always have nagging thoughts that some recipients of our generosity may not be worthy. Did not Paul argue that those who don’t work shouldn’t eat? Why must we give without first vetting the recipient? Why should able-bodied people receive welfare at the expense of hard-working taxpayers? We wrestle with this dilemma, but it is actually not our responsibility. Jesus simply told us, “Give to the one who asks.”