Romans 12:20

"Don’t seek revenge yourselves, beloved, but give place to God’s wrath. For it is written, “Vengeance belongs to me; I will repay, says the Lord.”"

Key Reflection

Romans 12:20 instructs believers not to take personal vengeance, urging them instead to allow God to handle such matters. This command is rooted in the belief that God alone has the authority and power to exact justice, as stated in the quoted scripture from Deuteronomy (Deut. 32:35 WEB): "Vengeance belongs to me; I will repay," which emphasizes God's exclusive role in dealing with those who wrong us. This teaching encourages Christians to trust God’s sovereignty and mercy, rather than seeking personal retribution, reflecting a higher ethic of spiritual maturity and reliance on divine justice.

From the Scholars: Barnes' Notes

Verse 20. Therefore if thine enemy hunger, etc. This verse is taken almost literally from Pr 25:21,22. Hunger and thirst here are put for want in general. If thine enemy is needy in any way, do him good, and supply his wants. This is, in spirit, the same as the command of the Lord Jesus, (Mt 5:44,) "Do good to them that hate you," etc. In so doing. It does not mean that we are to do this for the sake of heaping coals of fire on him, but that this will be the result. Thou shalt heap, etc. Coals of fire are doubtless emblematical of pain.

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