40 Days of Preparation Day 39

Today, Tuesday April 3, 2012, is the thirty-ninth day of preparing our hearts, souls and minds for the most high of all Christian holy days, Easter Sunday. Today I need to “put off” retaliation (getting even) and “put on” returning good for evil.

¹⁷ “ ‘If anyone takes the life of a human being, he must be put to death. ¹⁸ Anyone who takes the life of someone’s animal must make restitution—life for life. ¹⁹ If anyone injures his neighbor, whatever he has done must be done to him: ²⁰ fracture for fracture, eye for eye, tooth for tooth. As he has injured the other, so he is to be injured. ²¹ Whoever kills an animal must make restitution, but whoever kills a man must be put to death. ²² You are to have the same law for the alien and the native-born. I am the Lord your God.’ ” Leviticus 24:17–22 (NIV)

Yet even though this was the Jewish law, the writers of the Old Testament still struggled to square the concept for retaliation with the concept of forgiveness.

²⁹ Do not say, “I’ll do to him as he has done to me; I’ll pay that man back for what he did.” Proverbs 24:29 (NIV)

Jesus’ taught us that in reality the desire to retaliate is human, and of the flesh, but that the willingness to forgive is from God.

⁴³ “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ ⁴⁴ But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, ⁴⁵ that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. ⁴⁶ If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? ⁴⁷ And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? ⁴⁸ Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect. Matthew 5:43–48 (NIV)

Whenever you and I are harmed we have the right to retaliate up to the point where we inflict an equal amount of pain upon the person or persons who have harmed us. This is right, just and equitable. As Jesus says, however, even tax collectors and pagans can live by this form of justice. The kingdom ethic is different and higher than this form of retaliation. Those who will follow Jesus are called to be perfect as God is perfect.

If God is the standard by which we are to measure our desire to retaliate or to forgive those who harm us, then each of us who have ever been guilty of harming another have only one legitimate course of action in this regard. As a recipient of God’s forgiveness, and as one who has received forgiveness from others whom I have harmed, it is only just and right for me to forgo my right to retaliate and to instead choose to forgive.

How is it possible to forgive rather than to retaliate? Jesus answers this question when He tells us to “love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” If I am practicing this love and prayer for my enemies then it will be much easier for me to extend grace and mercy to them whenever they harm me. The desire to retaliate or to forgive is a choice. You and I need to choose to “put off” retaliation (getting even) and “put on” returning good for evil.

Followers of Jesus Christ are to be known for extending grace and mercy more than for retaliating against those who have harmed them. Paul explains this concept practically to the church at Rome.

¹⁷ Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. ¹⁸ If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. ¹⁹ Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” 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.” Romans 12:17 – 20 (NIV)

I am not to repay evil for evil. When I forgo my right of taking my own revenge I am leaving room for God’s wrath. Whenever I forgo my rights and instead act as Christ would have me behave I am subjecting my rights to God and trusting Him to avenge.

Paul does recognize, however, that everyone will not be able to meet this very high standard. Paul gives us a qualifying statement, “if it is possible, as much as lies with in you” then live at peace with all men. This is one of those biblical principles whose application is left up to each individual person. Some will be able to bear much, others will be able to bear less, but the goal of each is to live at peace with all people. Today you and I need to “put off” retaliation (getting even) and “put on” returning good for evil for to do so makes us more like Christ.