ODJ: gored
July 13, 2011
But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! (v.44).
READ: Matthew 5:38-45
Seventeen-year-old Vinnie Huntington got his revenge on a bull that gored him on his family’s farm. As he sat down to eat the steak carved from the bull, he said, “I’m going to enjoy it, too.”
Unlike Vinnie, followers of Jesus who have been “gored” by the words, attitudes, and actions of others should have a different response when it comes to revenge. The Bible clearly indicates that there’s a standard. What is it?
Human revenge was unacceptable and forbidden in the Old Testament (Genesis 4:15; Leviticus 19:18; Deuteronomy 32:35). People lived by the principle of the lex talionis (the law of exacting like for like, see Exodus 21:23-25). This wasn’t a rule for personal revenge, but it ensured that judicial punishment was just and not malicious. Not only was personal revenge forbidden in the Old Testament, Jesus prohibited it as well (Matthew 5:38-45). He commanded His followers to love and pray for those who “gored” them, so that their character could resemble the nature of their heavenly Father. Jesus commanded this because there is a larger principle looming when it comes to personal revenge: Justice must be done, but it must be left in the hands of God or in the hands of authorities ordained by God. One way or another, God will avenge His people.
Instead of returning injury and insult, we should live by Christ-honoring alternatives: striving to live at peace with everyone (Romans 12:18; 1 Peter 4:8), moving on when needed (Matthew 10:23), accepting the injury (Hebrews 10:32-34), using the law and submitting to a spiritually mature mediator (Acts 22:25; 1 Corinthians 6:1-6), and forgiving and doing good to the person who offended us (Luke 23:34; Romans 12:19-21).
—Marvin Williams
Why is it so difficult for some believers to leave justice in the hands of God? What motivates you to not seek revenge?
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