GRACE TO HELP IN TIMES OF NEED

("When We Want Revenge")

Romans 12:14-21 (NASU)

"Never pay back evil for evil to anyone … Never

take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room

for the wrath of God … Do not be overcome

by evil, but overcome evil with good."

(Romans 12:17a, 19a, 21)

PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION

"Open my eyes, that I may behold

wonderful things from Your law."

(Psalm 119:17)

(A) VENGEANCE BELONGS TO GOD

(1) Have you ever wanted to "get even" with someone for what they did to you? Have you ever followed through on that desire and retaliated, directly or indirectly, when someone hurt you? Perhaps they spoke harshly, and you fired right back … maybe they hit you, so you whacked them in return … or maybe they stood by and did nothing while you were going through a particularly tough time, so you stood by and did nothing the next time you saw them having a rough time of it. Vengeance isn't always active, you know … sometimes we can retaliate by being passive … sometimes we can "get even" by simply doing nothing when people need our help.

(2) Before he sinned and became known as Satan, Scripture says Lucifer was the epitome of "perfection … wisdom and ... beauty" (c.f. Ezekiel 28:12). The cause of his fall was that he became full of pride and said, "I will make myself like the Most High" (c.f. Isaiah 14:14). In other words, he wanted to be like God!

Later, when Satan tempted Eve to disobey the Lord's one command, the enticement he used was that she would "be like God" (c.f. Genesis 3:5).

In Acts chapter twelve, as King Herod was giving a speech, the Lord struck him with a painful illness that led to his death because he accepted the praise of the people rather than "giv(ing) God the glory", when they shouted, "(this is) the voice of a god and not of a man" - i.e. he received to himself the glory, honor, and/or worship that belongs to God alone¹ (c.f. Acts 12:21-23).

(3) Though largely ignored (or simply rejected), fallen men and women still want to "be like God" - i.e. we still want to assume areas of responsibility that don't belong to us and/or take actions reserved for God alone. One place this desire to "be like God" manifests itself is in regard to the matter of retribution and/or revenge.

Scripture makes it clear vengeance belongs to the Lord (c.f. Deuteronomy 32:35), in part, because He's the only One who has perfect knowledge of all the facts, and/or knows what's really in men's hearts (c.f. Jeremiah 17:10) - hence, He can't be fooled into convicting the innocent, or letting the guilty go free - He can't be bribed into giving the guilty a lesser punishment than they deserve (c.f. Deuteronomy 10:17) - nor can He be blinded by the kind of rage or passion that results in the guilty receiving a greater measure of retribution than what their crime deserves (c.f. Leviticus 24:19-20).

(4) We all know what it's like to have feelings of vengeance rise up within us - to want to retaliate for a wrong done to us - to strike back, "even the score", and/or "give as good as we get" - to make the people who hurt us pay for what they did (or didn't do).

The first example of vengeance in the Bible is found in Genesis chapter four, where a man named Lamech said: "I have killed a man for wounding me; and a boy for striking me" (c.f. Genesis 4:23). Indeed, Lamech seems to have been quite proud of himself for doing this.

Contrast that with Joseph, who, when he had both the power and opportunity to take vengeance on his brothers for having sold him into slavery, said: "am I in God's place?" (c.f. Genesis 50:19). In other words, "matters of vengeance belong to God, not to me".

(B) FOUR COMMANDS HAVING TO DO WITH REVENGE

(1) In this today's Scripture lesson, the grace we need (c.f. Hebrews 4:16) to refrain from taking vengeance into our own hands comes in the form of four commands - each similar to the others - and each containing both a negative and positive duty. The first command is found in verse fourteen, where Paul says: "Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse" (c.f. Romans 12:14).

(a) On the negative side, we have a duty as Christians "NOT to curse" those who persecute us.

Scripture makes it clear we will all face some measure of persecution for the sake of Christ during the course of our life (c.f. John 15:18-21; I Peter 4:12-16).² When that happens we are not to respond in kind - we are not to retaliate, physically or verbally - indeed, we must even fight the natural desire of the old man to wish some harm might befall our persecutors, even though we don't plan to lift our hand against them.

Cursing one's enemies was what the Pharisees taught, saying: "You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy" (c.f. Matthew 5:43). As Christians, we need to learn to adopt the attitude of our Savior, who "while being reviled … did not revile in return; (and) while suffering … uttered no threats …" (c.f. I Peter 2:23).

(b) On the positive side, it is our duty as Christians, not just to REFRAIN from cursing our enemies, but to actually DO things that will "bless those who persecute us" - a duty so important it's repeated twice for emphasis. The question is, how do we go about doing this? Look at verses fifteen and sixteen (c.f. Romans 12:15-16).

While these verses are often applied to our relationship with other Christians (and rightly so), James Boice notes that since they are bracketed by references to those who mistreat us (c.f. Romans 12:14, 17), it appears the primary application has to do with unbelievers who are persecuting us.⁵ When that happens, he says we are to respond with empathy⁵ (i.e. we are to "rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep") (Romans 12:15) - we are to respond with kindness and friendliness⁵ (i.e. we are to "be of the same mind toward one another") (c.f. Romans 12:16) - and we are to respond with humility⁶ (as in, "do not be haughty in mind, but associate with the lowly. Do not be wise in your own estimation") (c.f. Romans 12:16).

John Calvin said: "this is more difficult … for though some restrain their hands and are not led away by the passion (to do) harm, they (still) wish some calamity or loss would … happen to their enemies; and even when they … wish no evil, there is … hardly one in a hundred who wishes well to him from whom he has received an injury … But God by His word not only restrains our hands from doing evil, (He) also subdues the bitter feelings within; and not only so, but He would have us be (genuinely concerned) for the well being of those who unjustly trouble us and seek our destruction."³

Jesus taught this principle long before Calvin or the Apostle Paul when He said: "love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you" (c.f. Luke 6:27-28).

Jesus was blessing His enemies and/or doing good to them when He prayed from the cross: "Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing" (c.f. Luke 23:34) … as was Stephen, when he prayed for those who were stoning him to death, saying: "Lord, do not hold this sin against them!" (c.f. Acts 7:60).

John MacArthur relates that some years ago one of his nephews was murdered by an addict looking for money to buy drugs. Although deeply grieved (as you can well imagine), the boy's father (MacArthur's brother-in-law) refused to give in to bitterness and hatred. Instead, his desire and prayer has been that the man who took his son's life would profess faith in Christ. He has even visited the man in prison and shared the Gospel with him.⁴ In doing these things, he has been carrying out our Lord's command in verse fourteen to "bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse" (c.f. Romans 12:14).

(2) The second command regarding revenge is found in verse seventeen, where Paul says: "Never pay back evil for evil to anyone. Respect what is right in the sight of all men" (c.f. Romans 12:17).

(a) The negative half of this command tells us what we should NOT do - i.e. that as followers of Christ we have a duty NOT to return evil for evil (c.f. Romans 12:17a). The Book of Proverbs says: "Do not say, 'I'll pay you back for this wrong!' Wait for the LORD, and He will deliver you" (c.f. Proverbs 20:22, NIV) … and again: "Do not say, 'I'll do to him as he has done to me; I'll pay that man back for what he did'" (c.f. Proverbs 24:29, NIV). Elsewhere, Paul told the Thessalonian Christians: "see that no one repays another with evil for evil" (c.f. I Thessalonians 5:15).

God's word repeatedly says if someone mistreats us we do NOT have our Savior's permission to return the favor - we do NOT have His okay to give them tit for tat - we are NOT to take it upon ourselves to return an eye for an eye (c.f. Exodus 21:23) (which is the God-given responsibility of the governing authorities) - we are NOT to sin against them the same way they sinned against us - or worse, find a "new" or "different" way to get even.

This is what Jesus meant when He said: "whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. If anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, let him have your coat also. Whoever forces you to go one mile, go with him two" (c.f. Matthew 5:39-41). As disciples of Christ we are NOT to respond in kind - we are NOT to counter the evil done to us with evil of our own - we are NOT to answer the sin committed against us by sinning against the one who has hurt us - we are NOT to repay the wickedness perpetrated on us with wickedness of our own.

(b) The positive half of this command tells us what we should do - namely, "respect what is right in the sight of all men" (c.f. Romans 12:17b).

One wonders if there are any standards of "right" and wrong in this (or any other) age that "all men" "respect"? It seems clear certain people in the world do not place the same value on life that many Americans do … nor do all Americans put the same value on life in the womb … in fact, the moral standards found in the Ten Commandments don't reflect the values of all Americans, let alone all the nations of the earth. So how can Paul say we should "respect what is right in the sight of all men" (c.f. Romans 12:17b), if there's such a wide variety of opinion as to "what's right"?

The Greek word for "right" ("kalos") used in verse seventeen refers to that which is inherently good⁷ - that which is intrinsically right - that which is innately proper, and/or honorable⁸ in and of itself, rather than that which the majority of people say is "right". Such a standard of "right" can only be found in one place - the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments, which are the inspired words of the Living God, and therefore "holy and righteous and good" (c.f. Romans 7:12), because God Himself is "holy and righteous and good".

The point is, the standards found in God's word are the ones "all men" should be aiming at,⁹ because they are the only standards that are truly "right". Hence, Paul says in another place: "whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things" (c.f. Philippians 4:8).

As Christ's disciples, we Christians are to lead the way, not in repaying "evil with evil", but in "practicing what's best" for all men.⁹ Hence, one writer said: "when it comes to music and the arts, we are pursue what's beautiful and lovely - in areas like philosophy and history, we are to pursue the truth - when it comes to moral values, we are to pursue what's right and pure - and when it comes to personal character, we are to pursue that which is honorable and of good repute.⁸ James Boice says that instead of pursing revenge, "we (Christians) are to be known as those who always pursue the very best in all areas."⁹

(3) The third command regarding vengeance is found in verse nineteen, where Paul says (in part): "Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God" (c.f. Romans 12:19).

(a) On the negative side, to paraphrase a cliché, what part of "never" don't we understand? "NEVER take your own revenge" is what's called a categorical statement¹⁰ - "categorical" meaning absolute, unqualified, unconditional, clear-cut, and/or "as plain as day". In other words, Paul did not say, "Don't avenge yourself except under extenuating circumstances" - he said, "NEVER take vengeance into your own hands no matter what the circumstances are."¹⁰

If we ask why not, one answer is that we simply aren't qualified - another is that God hasn't given us the right or responsibility to personally punish our offenders.⁷ That's His responsibility (as we will see in a moment). Furthermore, He often carries it out through appointed means, like the civil government, which Paul describes in the next chapter as "a minister of God, (and) an avenger who brings wrath on the one who practices evil" (c.f. Romans 13:4).

I can hear someone saying, "I have to stand up for my rights!" - or, "I have a right to stand up for myself!" Do you? How did you come to that conclusion? Did you come to it from studying Scripture, or from listening to the voices of our American culture? As far as I know, we will search in vain for a passage of Scripture that tells us to "stand up for our rights". What we will find are verses like these - "The righteous is concerned for the rights of the poor" (c.f. Proverbs 29:7a) - "Open your mouth for the mute, for the rights of all the unfortunate … defend the rights of the afflicted and needy" (c.f. Proverbs 31:8-9) - "Defend the cause of the weak and fatherless; maintain the rights of the poor and oppressed. Rescue the weak and needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked" (c.f. Psalm 82:3-4, NIV) - "Woe to those who … justify the wicked for a bribe, and take away the rights of the ones who are in the right!" (c.f. Isaiah 5:22-23) - and in another place the Lord says He will "avenge" Himself on those who "excel in deeds of wickedness (by) not plead(ing) the cause of the orphan … (and) not defend(ing) the rights of the poor" (c.f. Jeremiah 5:28-29).

What these verses tell us is, if we are determined to stand up for someone's "rights", we should stand up for the "rights" of others, and let God take care of ours.¹⁰ We should stand up for the "rights" of those who can't defend themselves, and leave it to God to raise up someone to defend us if He sees fit to do so!

(b) On the positive side, verse nineteen says we are to "leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, 'Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,' says the Lord" (c.f. Romans 12:19). In other words, we are not to "play God" by usurping His role as the avenger of His people, and/or the One who punishes wrong-doers (c.f. Deuteronomy 32:35-36)!

Joseph understood this - which partially explains why he asked, "am I in God's place?"(c.f. Genesis 50:19), when he reassured his brothers he would not repay them for the awful things they had done to him. David understood this - which is partially why he didn't kill King Saul when he had a golden opportunity to do so (c.f. I Samuel 24:1-12). It's what Jesus did when the Scripture says that "while being reviled, He did not revile in return; while suffering, He uttered no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously" (c.f. I Peter 2:23).

(c) But not only are we to leave matters of revenge to God, we are also to do good to those who hurt us and/or persecute us. Look at verse twenty: "But if your enemy is hungry, feed him, and if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in so doing you will heap burning coals on his head" (c.f. Romans 12:20).

This is where it gets really hard - it was hard before, but this is where we need Christ's enabling grace more than ever. Its one thing to leave retribution to God - but it's something else entirely to actively look for ways to do good to those who have done evil to us! And yet, this is what Scripture tells us again and again. Exodus chapter twenty-three says: "If you meet your enemy's ox or his donkey wandering away, you shall surely return it to him" (c.f. Exodus 23:4) … and, as we noted earlier, Jesus said: "love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you" (c.f. Luke 6:27-28) … He also went on to say God the Father is our example, because "He Himself is kind to ungrateful and evil men" (c.f. Luke 6:35).

I didn't find a consensus as to what "heaping burning coals on someone's head" means. One thing it cannot mean, however, is that when we do good to our enemies we increase their guilt and therefore the intensity of their eventual punishment. This would amount to using good as a means of taking revenge on our enemies, which is completely contrary to the thrust of this morning's Scripture lesson.¹¹ Therefore, it must mean something like this - if our enemy is going to be won over, and/or won to Christ, it will be because God uses our acts of love to subdue his wicked heart and/or shame him into repenting of the evil he did to us. There's no guarantee this will happen - but if it pleases God to do so, this is ordinarily the way He works.

(4) And that leads us to the last command, found in verse twenty-one, where Paul says: "Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good" (c.f. Romans 12:21).

(a) Negatively, we are NOT to give in to evil by letting our desire for personal revenge overwhelm us. We are not to follow the advice of the comic character, Hagar the Horrible, who once said: "don't let the sun go down on your wrath; attack your enemy at once and waste him while what he did to you is still fresh in your mind."¹²

(b) Positively, we are to overcome the evil done to us by doing good to those who mistreated us. In commenting on this verse, James Boice said: "Every time I get on the positive side of this matter I feel that the standard is so far above most of us as to seem almost unreal."¹³ It may "seem" that way - but by God's enabling grace, it's not!

On February 7, 1970, a group of black college students who had taken part in a civil rights march were pulled over by Mississippi highway patrolmen and arrested. Later that evening, a black minister named John Perkins went to the jail to post their bail, only to be arrested himself and beaten by five deputy sheriffs along with several highway patrolmen, even though he had done nothing wrong - even though he didn't even have a police record.

John Perkins was repeatedly stomped on, kicked in the head, in the ribs, and in the groin. At one point an officer jammed a fork up his nose, and then down his throat. He was beaten so violently and so often throughout the night that the students watching from their holding cell thought he was dead.

But John Perkins survived, and later wrote (in part): "I remembered their faces - so twisted with hate. For the first time I saw what hate had done to those people. They were poor. They saw themselves as failures. Beating me made them feel important. When I saw that, I just couldn't hate back. I could only pity them. I said to God that night, "Lord, if You will get me out of this jail alive" - and I really didn't think I would, maybe I was trying to bargain with Him - "I want to preach a gospel that will heal these people, too."

Up to that point, John Perkins had never been allowed to preach in white churches. But after he recovered, the Lord gave him many opportunities to preach in both black and white churches. He later said: "Once God enabled me to forgive the many whites who had wronged me, I found myself able to truly love them. I wanted to return good for evil."

Today John Perkins is nationally recognized leader whose ministry touches the lives of countless people, both black and white.¹⁴

(5) None of us (including John Perkins) are adequate to do this in and of ourselves (c.f. II Corinthians 2:16) - i.e. to not only refrain from being overcome by the evil done to us, but actually overcoming that evil with good - to not be overwhelmed with feelings of bitterness and revenge, but to actually turn our desire for vengeance into the kind of Christ-like love that looks for ways to do good to those who did evil to us.

As Christians, our only hope is to turn to Christ, whom Scripture says "has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin" (c.f. Hebrews 4:15) - which means He was tempted with the same feelings and/or desires for revenge we experience (and worse!), but chose to leave any acts of vengeance to God the Father instead. As Christians, the only way we can even come close to obeying the commands in this morning's Scripture lesson is to flee to Christ, whom Scripture says "is able to come to (our) aid (when we) are tempted" (c.f. Hebrews 2:18). We were redeemed by His saving grace (c.f. Ephesians 2:5), now we must learn to rely on His enabling grace in times of need (c.f. Hebrews 4:16) - like, for example, when what we really want is revenge!

BIBLIOGRAPHY

¹The NGSB: Footnote on Acts 12:23; p. 1733.

²Boice: Romans 12-16; p. 1607.

³Calvin: Epistle to the Romans; p. 469.

⁴MacArthur: Romans 9-16; p. 196.

⁵Boice: Ibid; p. 1610.

⁶IBID; p. 1611.

⁷MacArthur: Ibid; p. 202.

⁸Boice: Ibid; p. 1614.

⁹IBID; p. 1615.

¹⁰IBID; p. 1624.

¹¹IBID; p. 1626.

¹²IBID; p. 1631.

¹³IBID; p. 1632.

¹⁴IBID; pgs. 1630-1631.