“Say not, I will do so to him as he hath done to me: I will render to the man according to his work” (Proverbs 24:29).
When one has been injured in word or deed by someone else, especially without cause, the natural reaction is to seek revenge. The Christian, however, must not react naturally, but: supernaturally! Jesus commanded: “love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despiteully use you, and persecute you; That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 5:44,45). Furthermore, He set the example: “Who, when He was reviled, reviled not again; when He suffered, He threatened not; but committed Himself to Him that judgeth righteously” (I Peter 2:23).
Vengeance is God’s business, not man’s. Surely, if anyone ever deserved to be the object of revenge, it was Cain, who was the world’s first murderer. Yet God said: “wherefore whosoever slayeth Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold” (Genesis 4:15). Similarly, the Bible’s final reference to vengeance also ascribes it to God. “For true and righteous are His judgments; . . . (He) hath avenged the blood of His servants at her hand” (Revelation 19:2).
This is a difficult doctrine to comprehend fully, and even more difficult to practice. Nevertheless, since it is the lord’s will, He will give us the grace to follow it. Therefore, “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” (Romans 12:19–21). We can leave our revenge to God, “for we know Him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord” (Hebrews 10:30). HMM
