Note to Readers: A reader friendly blog post on this subject can be found at this link.
REVENGE IS PERMISSIBLE BUT NOT PROFITABLE
In most cultures it is permissible, even encouraged, to seek revenge for harms done. This is not the case for God’s kingdom where vengeance is permissible but not profitable. Here is what the bible says in 1 Corinthians 10:23-24 in three different bible versions:
All things are permitted, but not all things are of benefit. All things are permitted, but not all things build [people] up. 24 No one is to seek his own [advantage,] but rather that of his neighbor. NASB
“I have the right to do anything,” you say—but not everything is beneficial. “I have the right to do anything”—but not everything is constructive. NIV
All things are lawful [that is, morally legitimate, permissible], but not all things are beneficial or advantageous. All things are lawful, but not all things are constructive [to character] and edifying [to spiritual life. Amplified Bible
All three bible versions disagree with the permissions that all cultures give to people who feel a need to revenge wrongs done to them, to their family, to a group to which they belong, or to their nation. Those legal rights make this scripture easy to ignore. If a culture society says I am free to seek vengeance, retribution and reparations for any offense I may have suffered, why not do it? If someone harms me or steals from me, why should I be the one to suffer while the perpetrator is allowed to avoid the consequences?
The answers to these questions are clear: You are free to seek revenge but if you do it for your own satisfaction with no view in mind for the opportunity to build someone (not necessarily the perpetrator) up, you are using your freedom for the wrong reasons (i.e. your satisfaction) — not for the benefit of your neighbor. In this case, you put your interests ahead of possible benefits to others. More to the point, you put your own interests ahead of God’s word.
When you use the freedom to seek vengeance that your culture offers, your culture will not judge you, but God will judge your because you because you have put cultural laws ahead of God’s spiritual laws. Here is what God’s spiritual laws say about every situation:
- Do what builds people up.
- Do what is beneficial and constructive for others.
- Do not seek your own advantage.
- Do whatever you can do to create an advantage for your neighbor.
These attitudes and practices fulfill God’s command to love your neighbor. Choosing to use the permission your culture gives you to seek revenge is evidence that you do not have God’s laws written on your heart is not consistent with Godly love and is not what God means by sacrificial love. Sacrificial love requires that you sacrifice the legal, cultural, religious rights you have in favor of constructive advantages for your neighbor.
Yes you are free to seek revenge, but when you do, you miss an opportunity to make the world a little bit better for someone else. You may never see when, where and how the world becomes better, but needing to see the results of is a very selfish need. We sacrifice that desire to know that we have made a difference in the world when we restrain ourselves from seeking revenge because we trust that someone (i.e. a neighbor) will benefit from our restraint.
The natural, human response to hurts, offenses, disappointments and betrayals is to strike back passively or overtly. These responses are not what the bible teaches, These responses are not what Jesus taught or did in response to his tribulations.
NEED FOR REVENGE IS EVIDENCE OF UNFORGIVENESS
The need to punish someone with revenge is clear evidence of unforgiveness. Forgiveness, on the other hand, is evidence of trust that God will avenge wrongdoing with justice without involvement of the one who has been wronged. God sees unforgiveness as evil as we see in these scriptures:
- Ephesians 4:31-32 “Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another…”
- Hebrews 12:15 “Looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled.”
These scriptures directly equate unforgiveness (bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, slander) with “evil behavior.” They contrast unforgiveness with the virtues of kindness, tenderheartedness, and forgiveness that are evidence of neighborly love.
See this link for more about forgiveness. See this link for more about justice.
BLESS YOUR ENEMIES — DO NOT CURSE THEM
Gossip is a common human practice that is permissible in all cultures and even require in some cultures but is never constructive. The ultimate purpose of gossip is to tear down our enemies — not to build them up. Tearing down others is one way that weak people build themselves up in their own eyes and in the eyes of others.
Some people might be able to restrain themselves from overt vengeance when they are hurt, offended, disappointed and betrayed. They may not, however, be able to restrain themselves from gossiping with third parties about things done to them. Gossipers are out of control. Here are a few key facts about gossip:
- Gossip is vengeance by another name.
- Gossip may seem benign, but the intent of gossip is to tear people down — not build them up.
- Smooth words do not disguise the evil intent of gossip.
- Gossip causes more trouble by dividing friends.
- Gossip is the evil opposite of blessing: gossip is curse.
We bless someone when we say and do things to build them up in their own eyes and in the eyes of others. We bless them when we forgive them.
Romans 12:9-219 Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. 10 Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. 11 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. 12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. 13 Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality. 14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. 16Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. c Do not be conceited. 17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. 18If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 19 Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” d says the Lord. 20 On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.” e 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. Luke 6:35-36But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. 36 Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. Leviticus 19:18Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against any of your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD. Deuteronomy 32:35Vengeance is Mine; I will repay. In due time their foot will slip; for their day of disaster is near, and their doom is coming quickly.” COMMENTARY: This verse says that sooner or later wrongdoers will receive justice. It says, in effect, that there is no need for victims to seek justice because God is in charge of justice. Proverbs 25:21-22 If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat; if he is thirsty, give him water to drink. 22 In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head, and the LORD will reward you. COMMENTARY: This verse can be interpreted both literally and symbolically. The literal interpretation is clear: Give to your enemies whatever they might need. This unexpected, loving response may change their hearts and behaviors, but even if it does not change them, you have obeyed God’s command. The symbolic meaning of this verse is to share truth with your enemy. Speaking truth is what Jesus did.
Proverbs 24:17-18Romans 12:13-1613 contributing to the needs of the saints, practicing hospitality.
14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.
15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.
16 Be of the same mind toward one another; do not be haughty in mind, but associate with the lowly. Do not be wise in your own estimation.
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.
Proverbs 24:10-1210 If you are slack in the day of distress, Your strength is limited.
11 Deliver those who are being taken away to death, And those who are staggering to slaughter, Oh hold them back.
12 If you say, “See, we did not know this,” Does He not consider it who weighs the hearts? And does He not know it who keeps your soul? And will He not render to man according to his work?
Romans 12:13-16Proverbs 15:11 A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.
Proverbs 15:1818 A hot-tempered person stirs up conflict, but the one who is patient calms a quarrel.
Proverbs 9:7-87 Whoever corrects a mocker invites insults; whoever rebukes the wicked incurs abuse.
8 Do not rebuke mockers or they will hate you; rebuke the wise and they will love you.
Proverbs 13:1A wise son heeds his father’s discipline, but a mocker does not listen to rebuke. Proverbs 23:9Do not speak to a fool, for he will despise the wisdom of your words. COMMENTARY: Truthtellers may occasionally need to speak, or write, directly to wrongdoers. This verse calls for judgment about the wrongdoer before speaking or writing. If judgment says that this person is a fool who will probably not listen, it may be wise to decline a direct confrontation and look for an alternative, indirect confrontation. Proverbs 15:4
4 The soothing tongue is a tree of life, but a perverse tongue crushes the spirit.
Proverbs 15:55 A fool spurns a parent’s discipline, but whoever heeds correction shows prudence.
Proverbs 15:77 The lips of the wise spread knowledge, but the hearts of fools are not upright.
Proverbs 15:1212 Mockers resent correction, so they avoid the wise.
Proverbs 15:3232 Those who disregard discipline despise themselves, but the one who heeds correction gains understanding.
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