Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this your were called so that you may inherit a blessing.
-1 Peter 3:9
They say it is the nature of man to get even when wronged, to avenge an offense, to exact vengeance. They say the laws of society have been placed to put restraints, provide redress and give justice, to what would otherwise be a wild, violent, deadly and disorderly way of life.
Paying back evil for evil seems Just, and sensible. An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth is sensible Justice. One may accept this as a rational response. Or is it really rational or sensible? Vengeance begets vengeance to no end.
God’s Word has the last say on this matter. Do not repay evil for evil. Do not pay back insult with insult. Do not trade violence with violence, nor a life for a life.
This is a very hard thing to do. What is even remarkable is that if one were to exact payment for a wrong or an evil done, he should pay it back with Blessing. This is the exact opposite of human nature.
God commands us not to be carried away by the blind rage of vengefulness. There is no victory in fighting evil with evil. It is a losing battle which goes on and on. Instead, God commands us to Bless those who curse us; do good to them who do us harm. “Do not be overcome by evil but overcome evil with good.”(Romans 12;21) To this we were called so that we may inherit a blessing.
This is a tall order. But if mankind would only take the effort to obey this command, this world would be a far, far better place.
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