Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, "Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord." To the contrary, "if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head." Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
-Romans 12:17-21 (ESV)
Before we get to the main subject, it's important to look at the context. This is found at the beginning of the chapter 12.
We ordinarily think that mercy involves helping the poor or the weak among us. However, mercy shines brightest when it is given to the most undeserving. And who are the most undeserving of our mercy than our enemies? Consider this,
Paul also says that we should no longer be conformed to the pattern or value system of this world, but be so transformed in our thinking that we are able to discern the will of God. The world says to love only those who love you. Don't love your opponents, critics, and those who are different from you. Jesus says that if you love that way, it is of no profit to you. How are you any different from the world if you follow their values in regards to treating your enemies (Matthew 5:46-48)?
Romans 12:17-21 is an application of the theology in Romans 12:1-2. It's important to understand the connection. We were once enemies of God. We became recipients of God's mercy through Jesus Christ. We treat our enemies in the same way.
I appeal to you therefore, brothers by the mercies of God to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
-Romans 12:1-2 (ESV)
For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!
-Romans 5:10 (ESV)
That's who we were before we came to faith in Christ! We were God's enemies and God showed his great mercy towards us. In the Old Testament, there was a propitiatory sacrifice and a dedicatory sacrifice. Propitiation means appeasement. The blood of Jesus is a propitiatory sacrifice that brought forgiveness of sins (Romans 3:25). We were objects of God's wrath but the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross is the propitiation that brought favor with God. A dedicatory sacrifice was a response of thanksgiving for the forgiveness of sins. So Paul says that because we experienced God's mercy through the propitiatory sacrifice of Jesus, we respond by offering our lives in thanksgiving as a sacrifice of dedication.
Paul also says that we should no longer be conformed to the pattern or value system of this world, but be so transformed in our thinking that we are able to discern the will of God. The world says to love only those who love you. Don't love your opponents, critics, and those who are different from you. Jesus says that if you love that way, it is of no profit to you. How are you any different from the world if you follow their values in regards to treating your enemies (Matthew 5:46-48)?
Romans 12:17-21 is an application of the theology in Romans 12:1-2. It's important to understand the connection. We were once enemies of God. We became recipients of God's mercy through Jesus Christ. We treat our enemies in the same way.
1. Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all (Romans 12:17)
Mercy responds honorably. One reason why we find the command to love our enemies to be difficult is because it seems terribly unfair and unjust. We want to retaliate because we want punishment and justice meted out. Paul says, don't do that. Rather, we should give careful thought on how we should respond to the evil done against us. Paul says that our response should be honorable such that any reasonable person will agree that it was the right thing to do.
2. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.
Let's do all we can to live in peace with everyone and that includes our enemies. What's behind Paul's advice? I believe that Paul recognizes that even if we respond in the right way, it does not guarantee that our enemy will do the right thing. They may keep on hating, criticizing, or slandering us. Paul is encouraging us to continue being peacemakers even if our enemy does not reciprocate.
3. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, "Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord."
The word "avenge" here literally means "to punish". Avenging ourselves is repaying in evil. Paul tells us to leave it to God. Why? DA Carson's explanation :
According to Paul, one of the reasons why we are not to respond in kind, even when such response might formally be just, is that at the end of the day God himself will exact justice. In fact, we are to “leave room” for God’s wrath (Rom. 12:19). The theological reason is that all sins are first of all sins against God himself (cf. Ps. 51:4). So the forgiveness of sin, or the punishment of sin, remains first and foremost within his purview. To arrogate such authority to the individual human being is a kind of idolatry: it is to take the place of God.
-DA Carson, Love in Hard Places
Ultimately, it is God whom our enemy has offended. It is the Lord who will save us from the trap of the enemy. It is the Lord who will keep an account of their actions and judge them.
4. To the contrary, "if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head."
Paul is quoting Proverbs 25:21-22. Even though God will hold them into account, we are not to sit back in passivity. We are to to love through acts of mercy. Jesus said, "Blessed are the merciful for they shall receive mercy (Matthew 5:7)." This is how we are to treat our enemy and by so doing we will "heap burning coals on his head". Little is known about the meaning of this phrase. DA Carson comments,
5. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
This is how you win against your enemy. John Piper says, "It means either you triumph through the repentance of your enemy or you triumph through the judgment of your enemy." Don't respond in hostility, punishment, and sinful anger. Don't be discouraged, bitter, and resentful. The enemy has no power over your life. Don't be a victim. Jesus is your Lord, King, and Savior. He is the one who has power over you and controls you. John Piper further says, "When someone does evil to you, you should say, “You are not my Lord. I will not be controlled by you. I will not have my attitudes and thoughts and actions dictated by your evil. Christ is my Lord. Christ dictates my attitudes and thoughts and actions."
We have enemies big and small. Either we deal with them according to the world or according to God. Jesus triumphed over his enemies through love, not hostility. Our lives and our souls will be in a better condition if we learn how to live like this.
Love Your Enemies Part 1
4. To the contrary, "if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head."
Paul is quoting Proverbs 25:21-22. Even though God will hold them into account, we are not to sit back in passivity. We are to to love through acts of mercy. Jesus said, "Blessed are the merciful for they shall receive mercy (Matthew 5:7)." This is how we are to treat our enemy and by so doing we will "heap burning coals on his head". Little is known about the meaning of this phrase. DA Carson comments,
Many contemporary commentators have argued that the metaphorical use of “you will heap burning coals on his head” means something like “you will drive them to feel ashamed of their actions” or the like....But live coals in the Old Testament invariably symbolize God’s anger (2 Sam. 22:9, 13; Ps. 18:9, 13) or punishment of the wicked (Ps. 140:11) or an evil passion (Prov. 6:27-29). It is therefore intrinsically unlikely that Paul would be using “coals of fire” in a good sense to refer to human conscience.Our acts of mercy lead to two possible outcomes: either he sees his wrong and makes things right or he continues to do wrong and in so doing, his guilt multiplies condemns him in God's wrath.
5. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
This is how you win against your enemy. John Piper says, "It means either you triumph through the repentance of your enemy or you triumph through the judgment of your enemy." Don't respond in hostility, punishment, and sinful anger. Don't be discouraged, bitter, and resentful. The enemy has no power over your life. Don't be a victim. Jesus is your Lord, King, and Savior. He is the one who has power over you and controls you. John Piper further says, "When someone does evil to you, you should say, “You are not my Lord. I will not be controlled by you. I will not have my attitudes and thoughts and actions dictated by your evil. Christ is my Lord. Christ dictates my attitudes and thoughts and actions."
We have enemies big and small. Either we deal with them according to the world or according to God. Jesus triumphed over his enemies through love, not hostility. Our lives and our souls will be in a better condition if we learn how to live like this.
Love Your Enemies Part 1
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