What Did Jesus Say about seeking
revenge and “getting even”?
The sinful human nature in mankind
seeks revenge and wants to “get even”, as it were, for every
little wrong done unto us. The law of the old testament declared
that for every wrong deed done to someone, the wrong doer was to
receive the same thing done unto him: an eye for an eye, and a tooth
for a tooth. If you slap my face, I will slap yours, if you kill
my dog, I will kill yours, etc. The attitude was that if I can't have
something, I don't want you to have it either, thus: envy, strife,
and contention.
Unfortunately, this same attitude
prevails in the world today, even among some Christians, I am ashamed
to report. We are always complaining like school children about
what is fair, and that which seems to be unfair to us.
When Jesus came, he taught a whole
new set of rules and standards that God's redeemed children ought to
adhere to. Instead of revenge and getting even, we ought to be more
ready to forgive and pardon one another even as God forgives us
through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. We ought to have pity and
feel sorry for the one who does us wrong, and if possible bring him
into the fold of the redeemed of God. Jesus said: “Ye have heard
that it hath been said, an eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth:
But I say unto you, that ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall
smite thee on thy right check, turn to him the other also. And if a
man sue thee at the law and take away thy coat, let him have thy
cloke also, and whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him
twain. Give to him that asketh of thee, and from him that would
borrow of thee, turn not thou away.” Matthew 5: 38-42. Why not go
the extra miule and show mercy?
The apostle Paul, speaking to
Christians said: “Now therefore there is utterly a fault among you
because ye go to law one with another,
why do ye not rather take wrong? Why do ye not rather suffer
yourselves to be defrauded?” 1Corinthians 6: 7.
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