The Sin of Retaliation, Part Two

A fundamental flaw in the sinful nature of all humans requires them to take revenge on those who hurt them. As noted in part one, the Pharisees followed tradition, not Scripture. The just principles of judgment for wrongdoing informed magistrates of their responsibility. However, these were hijacked by individuals due to their general application. A common practice in the ancient world allowed anyone to avenge wrong. God’s law stopped this practice by putting punishment into the hands of governing authorities, His servants “attending to this very thing” (Romans 13:6).

It should also be noted that Jesus did not institute new principles for the gospel age but only reiterated the standards of the former age: “Do not say, “I will repay evil”; wait for the Lord, and he will deliver you” (Proverb 20:22). “Do not say, ‘I will do to him as he has done to me; I will pay the man back for what he has done’” (Proverbs 24:29). The OT standard goes even further: “Do not rejoice when your enemy falls and let not your heart be glad when he stumbles, lest the Lord see it and be displeased, and turn away his anger from him” (Proverbs 24:18, 19).

Jesus instructs His followers to leave retaliation to God because this instinct runs counter to the attitude and spirit the Lord intends for His people to love their enemies (Matthew 5:44). Pushing back and getting even is not a loving impulse; it is prideful. Rather, Proverbs 25 informs us, “If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink, for you will heap burning coals on his head, and the Lord will reward you” (vv.21, 22). Paul cites this passage in Romans 12:20, adding, “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good” (v. 21).

Consider the following passages in the NT instructing believers to leave pay-back to the Lord. “Repay no one evil for evil but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, ‘Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord’” (Romans 12:17–19, citing Deuteronomy 32:35). “See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone” (1 Thessalonians 5:15). “Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing” (1 Peter 3:9, quoting Psalm 34:12–16 for support).

Jesus is the great example of this practice and principle: “When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly” (1 Peter 2:23).

People do not know what to make of people whose response to wrongs is to bless the wrongdoer. This does not mean that the state should ignore wrongdoing. That would be disastrous. However, Jesus demands that His people live as He did and leave judgment to God.