17 Never pay back evil for evil to anyone. Respect what is right in the sight of all men.
18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men.
19 Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, "VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY," says the Lord.
20 "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."
21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Paul continues instructions on living together in the Christian community. Also there is sage wisdom on how the Christian community should live within the secular community. It is hard for me to imagine a village, town, or city in which ALL of those living there are Christians (that is, on this side of heaven). Which means that every believer will interact with nonbelievers. Here in the United States, those interactions are usually fairly benign. In other countries, other nations this may not be so.
V. 16 - “Be of the same mind toward one another” - Paul is not advocating a Christian robot army all marching in lock-step, or ‘Stepford Wives’.
The direction Paul is aiming Chrstians is: Humility.Pride and arrogance are symptomatic of the ‘root’ sin - naming yourself as the god you will worship. Satan said, “I will be like God.” (See: Isa. 14:12-20; Ezek. 28:12-19; Luke 10:18; Rev. 12:7ff) Satan dangled that lure in front of Eve and Adam, and threw in the lie that God did not want them to be like Him. (Gen 3:1-6)
Humility is what we are called to. We are not to think too highly of ourselves. (Rom 12:3; Phil 2:1-8) For good reason. We can do nothing to save ourselves.
“Do not be haughty in mind” - One of the images I have of the Pharisees, Sadducees, and other Jewish leaders (as portrayed in the New Testament) is they looked down on everyone. Almost everybody around them was ‘unclean’ - women (especially women who were not their wives I’ve read that Pharisees did not tal to women in the public market place.); foreigners were unclean; Samaritans were unclean (after all, they were half-breeds - Jewish remnants that married foreign refugees (unclean) dumped in the area that had been the ten tribes).
What better description than “whitewashed tombs” - dead and rotting on the inside, pristine and beautiful on the outside.
Too often we are blinded to being reasonable by our overweening pride. A good modern example of this is the TV sitcom “Frasier” - (Frasier Crane and his brother Niles are exactly this - plus it is hilarious writing. This can only be seen by streaming.). Think of how many families are feuding because someone’s feelings were hurt (damaged pride). World War II was precipitated by German peoples’ wounded pride due to the punitive nature of the Treaty of Versailles ending Wold War I. Millions of people died in WWII because of revenge. Revenge is the wrath of wounded pride. Think of how many crimes and murders are committed in our large cities as a means of ‘getting mine’, or ‘payback’ for actual or perceived wrongs.
“Do not be wise in your own estimation.” - Don’t think too highly of yourselves. See: “Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes And clever in their own sight!” (Isa 5:21) Lack of humility, prideful arrogance, and over-estimation of your basic nature are all part of the same sin - placing yourself before and above God.
V. 17 - “Never pay back evil for evil to anyone.” - The first impulse when we have been wronged is to strike back, to get even. But that is not Jesus’ way for us. See: "You have heard that it was said, 'An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.' But I say to you, do not resist the evildoer. But whoever strikes you on the right cheek, turn the other to him as well. And if someone wants to sue you and to take your tunic, give him your coat also. And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two. Give to the one who asks you, and do not reject the one who wants to borrow from you. You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor' and 'hate your enemy.' But I say to you, love your enemy and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be like your Father in heaven, since he causes the sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Even the tax collectors do the same, don't they? And if you only greet your brothers, what more do you do? Even the Gentiles do the same, don't they? So then, be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” (Matt 5:38-48)
“Respect what is right in the sight of all men.” - Acting under your first impulse will almost always be the wrong action - driven by your fleshly, natural self rather than by the Holy Spirit. How do you know what is ‘right’? Won’t ‘rightness’ be a function of societal norms? Being right is not a function of political correctness or peer pressure. God has shown us what is good through His word, His prophets, His Son. It is imperative we spend time in God’s word, especially in the New Testament, so we can know God, and know what He expects from us. It is imperative we spend time in prayer, talking with God and seeking His guidance in our lives. “Then Jesus said to those Judeans who had believed him, "If you continue to follow my teaching, you are really my disciples and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." (John 8:31-32 )
Aso: “The person who has my commandments and obeys them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and will reveal myself to him." (John 14:21).
Jesus also said, "If anyone loves me, he will obey my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and take up residence with him. The person who does not love me does not obey my words. And the word you hear is not mine, but the Father's who sent me." (John 14:2-24)
Note the last sentence, He is telling them that He (Jesus) is not making up these statements. They didn’t just pop into His head as He started talking; this comes from God the Father. Jesus is saying what the Father has told Him to say. Much time was spent in prayer so that Jesus was prepared to do God’s will.
V. 18 - “be at peace with all men.” - This is not ‘peace at any cost’, but conditional. “If it is possible...”, implies there are instances and times when peace is not possible.
V. 19-20 - “Never take your own revenge” - These are not New Testament concepts. Vengeance is the Lord’s responsibility. He is the only one who can judge and act fairly and rightly. These quotes are culled from the OT. (See; Lev. 19:18; Deut 32:41; 2 Chr 1:11; Isa 1:24, 61:8; Nah 1:2) God will recompense as required. (See: Deut 32:41; Psa 62:12; Pro 19:17, 24:12; Isa 61:8; Eze 11:21, 17:19; Hos 4:9) There are a couple of instances in the OT where enemies (usually defeated in a battle) were fed and sent home in peace. (2 Ki 6:) See also: Pro 25:21, 22.
V. 21 - “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good - Ancillary or summary statement to: “If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men“ (Rom 12:18), and “Never pay back evil for evil to anyone” (Rom 12:17), and “Never take your own revenge.”(Rom 12:19) Revenge cannot defeat evil. Only God overcomes evil. This concept is seen in The Law: Exo 23:23-25; Lev 24:19-21; Deut 19:21. This concept, this direction for Christian living must be very important: It is repeated twice in this part of the letter.
This as an epiphany: the Law limits revenge! Jesus expands on this concept in His Sermon on the Mount. (See: Matt 5:38-48). Jesus takes us away from “getting even” in family feuds, tribal wars, and revenge, and leads us to love those who do us wrong.
Simple, isn’t it: “overcome evil with good!” Why? Because a God loves you enough to save you from your own evil ways. Follow His lead.
***end of chapter
