Some commands are easier for certain people to obey than others. Personally, I find this instruction difficult - - to say the least. Perhaps it was my training in the Marine Corps during the Vietnam era that drilled in me "vengeance at any price!" If I am wronged, my gut yells "retaliate!" Whether it's pride, vanity, or the imbedded self-survival instinct, I don't know. All I know is that the "urge" is there.
Two Scriptures come to mind, Romans 12:19, and Romans 8:28. These passages teach that vengeance belongs to God, and that if we remain true to Him, He will work things out to our eventual good.
The immediate context is Christians taking brethren to a pagan court with matters that should be settled within the church. The bigger picture is the shadow such actions cast on the church which may discourage a soul from obeying the Gospel. The remote context is any other situation that would produce the same results.
In thirty years of preaching, I've been castigated, insulted, gossiped about, falsely accused, and called more names by those professing to be Christians than those who don't. Each time, the "urge" is there to strike back or get even. Still, God says, "Don't do it. Leave it up to Me" (cf. Rom. 12:19). I must confess that it has taken some time to realize the extent of this command, and I was not 100% successful in my earlier years.
The greatest Preacher that ever walked on this earth, who spoke nothing but the Truth, and spoke it with more love than any other, was still blasphemed, insulted, falsely accused, mocked, and finally nailed to a Cross (Matt. 27:39-43). While He had Heaven's entire arsenal at His disposal (Matt. 26:53), He kept His mind on the "bigger picture" of doing the Heavenly Father's will (cf. Phil. 2:8). What a grand example He has given to those of us who truly desire to do the Heavenly Father's will!
Others may do us wrong, and may "cheat" us -- God won't. "He has appointed a day in the which He will judge the world in righteousness according to the One whom He has raised from the dead" (Ax 17:31).
Vengeance is a real temptation and we must overcome it. We put to death the deeds of the flesh by means of the Spirit (Romans 8:13). Somehow, obedience to the Word allows the Spirit of God to work in us to accomplish all things that God desires us to accomplish. If obeying God's Word means that we must accept a wrong done to us, be assured that God will make it right. We accept this by faith - - which comes by hearing the Word (Rom. 10:17). [Everything centers around knowing and obeying the Word]! -- Toby Miller
First Corinthians commentary: Get the new First Corinthians commentary from www.abiblecommentary.com. Preview the First Corinthians commentary through Google books at http://bit.ly/dfw86d. Other Bible commentary material from www.abiblecommentary.com includes a FREE on-line Romans commentary: http://bit.ly/3MRU5I
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