“Avenge Not Yourselves”
Categories: Bible Study LessonsEnemies come in all different shapes and sizes. There are physical enemies who seek to take our lives. There are enemies in the business world who would destroy our way of earning a living. There are enemies within families when close bonds have been severed due to a “falling out.” And, there are spiritual enemies who teach a different doctrine or a changed gospel (Galatians 1:6-9). As Christians, it’s a guarantee that we will have enemies (John 15:20). Perhaps the greatest test of a Christian within the New Testament is not how he treats his friends, but how he treats his enemies.
As humans, when we are wronged, we tend to want to lash out in response to that wrong and defend ourselves. Usually in pursuing such a course of action, we demand only what is “equitable” for ourselves in relationship to the harm that has been done to us. Vengeance is the demanding attitude that what was done to me ought to also be done to my enemy. Christians, however, are directed not to harbor such thoughts in their sanctified minds. Romans 12:19-21 says, “Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.”
Our Lord Jesus gave us the quintessential example of this very attitude through his life. His enemies were all of the enemies listed above rolled up into one: physical, financial, familial, and spiritual. How our Lord acted toward his enemies should spur us toward the same behavior. He is our example, our pattern. Peter writes, “For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously” (1 Peter 2:21-23). When pursued by our enemies, how do we respond? Do we avenge ourselves or do we “give place unto wrath?” Do we revile or revile not? Do we threaten or threaten not? Do we seek to render our own verdict, or do we commit ourselves to the righteous judge? Do we try to overcome evil with evil or do we overcome evil with good?
The truth of the whole matter is this. Through our sins, we placed ourselves at enmity with God. And God, in all of his righteous might, had every right to take vengeance on us. However, He did not do this. He chose to give us a way whereby we could be reconciled to Him. This He did through His Son, Jesus. What we could not do for ourselves, God did for us through his Son while we were His enemies. Romans 5:6-10 states, “For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.”
Those who are our enemies deserve our mercy and love, not because they are our enemies, but because we were once God’s enemy and that is how God looked upon us in such a state. To treat them otherwise, is to invite the same judgment that we mete out upon them upon ourselves (Matthew 7:1). The greatest test of the Christian may be how we treat our enemies, but the same test is ultimately how God will judge us as well. Dear Christian, “Love your enemies.”