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Avenging oneself |
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The
Scripture says: “Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place
unto wrath [but leave room for God’s 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” (Romans
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Jesus
Christ left us an example to follow, for He did not render evil for evil to His
enemies, as it is written: “Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when
he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth
righteously” (1 Peter 2:23). |
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Therefore,
brothers, when you are wronged by someone (whether he is an unbeliever or a
believer) do not render evil for evil to him to avenge yourselves, lest you
bear sin because of him. For if you return evil for evil, you commit a sin
because you seek to take justice into your hands and because we are not
allowed to do any harm not only to those who do good to us but also to those
who wrong us. Of course, when we are wronged by someone we are greatly
tempted to avenge ourselves somehow, but by watching and praying we can bear
the temptation. |
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But why
should we refrain from avenging ourselves? Because vengeance belongs to God.
Therefore God alone can avenge Himself and avenge those who are wronged, and
that’s what He does. Let no one deceive himself; our God is an avenging God
and at His appointed time He makes people reap all the harm that they have
done to other people, because - as Jeremiah said - “the LORD is the God of
recompense, He will surely repay” (Jeremiah 51:56 – NKJV). |
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To God be the glory forever. Amen. |