Revenge
"You have heard that it was said, 'An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.' But now I tell you: do not take revenge on someone who wrongs you. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, let him slap your left cheek too. Matthew 5:38-39
Anybody who takes revenge is not obeying all that Jesus commanded.i Not taking revenge, is not a new concept introduced by Jesus:
"Do not bear a grudge against others, but settle your differences with them, so that you will not commit a sin because of them. Do not take revenge on others or continue to hate them, but love your neighbors as you love yourself. I am the LORD. Leviticus 19:17-18
David spent a lot of time on the run from king Saul, it would've been natural to want to kill the man who was trying to kill him. On 2 occasions while king Saul was hunting for David, (later to become king David) to kill him, David could have killed Saul but refused to do so. When king Saul was pursuing David to kill him, with 3,000 soldiers he went to the toilet in the cave where David and his men were hiding. David refused to kill Saul.ii Again king Saul was hunting for David with 3,000 soldiers in order to kill him. David took one of his men and sneaked into the camp at night, though the other man wanted to kill Saul David would not allow it but he took the king's spear and water jug before they left.iii On both occasions David refused to kill,iv or allow to be killed,v the man God had chosen as king. In both cases David demonstrated to the king that he had no intention of harming the king and the king went home.
Don't try to get even. Trust the LORD, and he will help you. Proverbs 20:22
That's not as far as it goes:
"If you happen to see your enemy's cow or donkey running loose, take it back to him. If his donkey has fallen under its load, help him get the donkey to its feet again; don't just walk off. Exodus 23:4-5
Syria was at war with Israel. With God's help Elisha captured a large number of Syrians, rather than telling the king of Israel to kill them he said to give them food and drink then send them home.vi
“If your enemies are hungry, feed them; if they are thirsty, give them a drink. You will make them burn with shame, and the LORD will reward you.” Proberbs 25:21-22
Whenever a person believes they have been wronged there is a natural urge to seek revenge, Jesus says to do good to those who are bad to us.
"But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, and pray for those who mistreat you. If anyone hits you on one cheek, let him hit the other one too; if someone takes your coat, let him have your shirt as well. Luke 6:27-29
"You have heard that it was said, 'Love your friends, hate your enemies.' But now I tell you: love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may become the children of your Father in heaven. For he makes his sun to shine on bad and good people alike, and gives rain to those who do good and to those who do evil. Why should God reward you if you love only the people who love you? Even the tax collectors do that! Matthew 5:43-46
When Stephen, the first martyr in the early church, was being stoned: “He knelt down and cried out in a loud voice, 'Lord! Do not remember this sin against them!' He said this and died.” Acts 7:60vii
Ask God to bless those who persecute you---yes, ask him to bless, not to curse... If someone has done you wrong, do not repay him with a wrong. Try to do what everyone considers to be good. Do everything possible on your part to live in peace with everybody. Never take revenge, my friends, but instead let God's anger do it. For the scripture says, "I will take revenge, I will pay back, says the Lord." Instead, as the scripture says: "If your enemies are hungry, feed them; if they are thirsty, give them a drink; for by doing this you will make them burn with shame." Do not let evil defeat you; instead, conquer evil with good. Romans 12:14 & 17-21
When we are cursed, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure; when we are insulted, we answer back with kind words. 1Corinthians 4:12b-13a
See that no one pays back wrong for wrong, but at all times make it your aim to do good to one another and to all people. 1 Thessalonians 5:15
Do not pay back evil with evil or cursing with cursing; instead, pay back with a blessing, because a blessing is what God promised to give you when he called you. 1Peter 3:9
It was to this that God called you, for Christ himself suffered for you and left you an example, so that you would follow in his steps. He committed no sin, and no one ever heard a lie come from his lips. When he was insulted, he did not answer back with an insult; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but placed his hopes in God, the righteous Judge. Christ himself carried our sins in his body to the cross, so that we might die to sin and live for righteousness. It is by his wounds that you have been healed. You were like sheep that had lost their way, but now you have been brought back to follow the Shepherd and Keeper of your souls. 1Peter 2:21-25
When Jesus was crucified, he not only took no revenge but on the cross he said: "Forgive them, Father! They don't know what they are doing."viii
© Ken Glasgow 2014 Last edited 14 March 2021
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iSee Matthew 28:18-20 especially verse 20
iiSee 1Samuel 24
iiiSee 1Samuel 26
ivDavid said to his men: "May the LORD keep me from doing any harm to my master, whom the LORD chose as king! I must not harm him in the least, because he is the king chosen by the LORD!" 1Samuel 24:6
vBut David said, 'You must not harm him! The LORD will certainly punish whoever harms his chosen king.' ” 1Samuel 26:9 Good News Bible
viSee 2Kings 6:8-23
viiSee also: Acts 6:8-7:59
viiiLuke 23:34 Good News Bible