17/ Never pay back evil for evil to anyone. Respect what is right in the sight of all men.
18/ If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men.
19/ Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, “VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY,” says the Lord.
20/ “BUT IF YOUR ENEMY IS HUNGRY, FEED HIM, AND IF HE IS THIRSTY, GIVE HIM A DRINK; FOR IN SO DOING YOU WILL HEAP BURNING COALS ON HIS HEAD.”
21/ Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Since men became enemies to God, they have been very ready to be enemies one to another. And those that embrace religion, must expect to meet with enemies in a world whose smiles seldom agree with Christ's.
Recompense to no man evil for evil. That is a brutish recompence, befitting only animals, which are not conscious of any being above them, or of any existence hereafter.
And not only do, but study and take care to do, that which is amiable and creditable, and recommends religion to all with whom you converse. Study the things that make for peace; if it be possible, without offending God and wounding conscience.
Avenge not yourselves. This is a hard lesson to corrupt nature, therefore a remedy against it is added. Give place unto wrath. When a man's passion is up, and the stream is strong, let it pass off; lest it be made to rage the more against us. The line of our duty is clearly marked out, and if our enemies are not melted by persevering kindness, we are not to seek vengeance; they will be consumed by the fiery wrath of that God to whom vengeance belongeth.
The last verse suggests what is not easily understood by the world; that in all strife and contention, those that revenge are conquered, and those that forgive are conquerors. Be not overcome of evil. Learn to defeat ill designs against you, either to change them, or to preserve your own peace. He that has this rule over his spirit, is better than the mighty. God's children may be asked whether it is not more sweet unto them than all earthly good, that God so enables them by his Spirit, thus to feel and act.
38/ “You have heard that it was said, ‘AN EYE FOR AN EYE, AND A TOOTH FOR A TOOTH.’
39/ “But I say to you, do not resist an evil person; but whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also.
40/ “If anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, let him have your coat also.
41/ “Whoever forces you to go one mile, go with him two.
42/ “Give to him who asks of you, and do not turn away from him who wants to borrow from you.
43/ “You have heard that it was said, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR and hate your enemy.’
44/ “But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,
45/ so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.
46/ “For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same?
47/ “If you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same?
48/ “Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
The plain instruction is, Suffer any injury that can be borne, for the sake of peace, committing your concerns to the Lord's keeping. And the sum of all is, that Christians must avoid disputing and striving. If any say, Flesh and blood cannot pass by such an affront, let them remember, that flesh and blood shall not inherit the kingdom of God; and those who act upon right principles will have most peace and comfort.
The Jewish teachers by neighbour understood only those who were of their own country, nation, and religion, whom they were pleased to look upon as their friends. The Lord Jesus teaches that we must do all the real kindness we can to all, especially to their souls. We must pray for them. While many will render good for good, we must render good for evil; and this will speak a nobler principle than most men act by. Others salute their brethren, and embrace those of their own party, and way, and opinion, but we must not so confine our respect.
1 comment:
{To hate someone is like hating myself}
[He’s talking about the first true step to freedom, to releasing the energy, the baggage, the resistance that blocks us from a true authentic relationship with our family, our partners, our children and ultimately ourselves.
When you make others wrong, you judge them and judging protects us and blocks our vulnerability and connection to them.
As a result we become a reflector of what is wrong, a critic. We lose the ability to relate, to be with, to love openly.]
We CAN'T LOVE *GOD* rightly, or fully, when we hate; it just isn't possible, because *GOD* IS LOVE, and IN LOVE nothing wrong exists!!!
Hate, resentment, animosity, and all those negatives CONTRARY to LOVE, ARE as POISON to the being, and ARE against *GOD*, thus against the TRUTH of our existence, IF we are OF HIM! This is SUCH a COMPLEX area of understanding, but IS imperative to master, and the faster the better, in a world gone astray...
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