Episode Transcript
WEBVTT
1
00:00:00.560 --> 00:00:04.160
We're here. We are coming to
the end of Romans Chapter Twelve, a
2
00:00:04.639 --> 00:00:10.910
remarkable passage of scripture that has been
building on so much, well, everything
3
00:00:11.070 --> 00:00:15.630
that Paul has written up to this
point. If you want, if you're
4
00:00:15.630 --> 00:00:21.109
a note taker and you want the
conclusion of this sermon, I'll tell you
5
00:00:21.190 --> 00:00:25.500
it right now. It's in Verse
Twenty One. Do not be overcome by
6
00:00:25.660 --> 00:00:31.620
evil, but overcome evil with good. It's such a simple thing, but
7
00:00:31.739 --> 00:00:35.969
it's such a powerful statement, isn't
it? These strong categories, as I
8
00:00:36.009 --> 00:00:40.450
mentioned earlier, evil versus good,
right, and then this verb overcome.
9
00:00:42.049 --> 00:00:46.049
So a lot of strong verbs out
there and this is certainly one of the
10
00:00:46.250 --> 00:00:52.719
one of them to overcome. First
we hear don't be overcome, don't be
11
00:00:52.920 --> 00:01:00.039
overcome by evil, but overcome evil
with good. You all know what this
12
00:01:00.200 --> 00:01:03.629
word means, I'm sure, to
be overcome. When you're overcome by something,
13
00:01:04.510 --> 00:01:08.150
it can be good or bad.
Usually I think of it as a
14
00:01:08.189 --> 00:01:12.150
bad thing. That's just my own
proclivities, I guess. I remember one
15
00:01:12.230 --> 00:01:15.670
time being in the ocean. It
was one of my first times trying to
16
00:01:17.349 --> 00:01:22.659
surf and I was overcome by the
waves. It's not a nice feeling.
17
00:01:23.420 --> 00:01:29.379
You are enveloped. You're over overwhelmed, you don't know which way is up,
18
00:01:29.540 --> 00:01:33.849
you don't know which way is down. You feel pressure all around you.
19
00:01:33.969 --> 00:01:42.810
It feels a really hopeless being overcome
by something often means losing control,
20
00:01:44.290 --> 00:01:49.200
losing control of your life, because
you're overcome by something else, something more
21
00:01:49.359 --> 00:01:53.879
powerful, and that might be a
wave, might be an emotion. We
22
00:01:55.040 --> 00:02:01.030
talked about being overcome with rage,
jealousy, but good things to love,
23
00:02:02.109 --> 00:02:08.990
peace. In a sense, it's
something comes into us that controls the rest
24
00:02:09.030 --> 00:02:16.939
of us. We can be overcome
by poverty, by illness, by death
25
00:02:19.860 --> 00:02:23.379
and, as we see here too, it's possible even to be overcome by
26
00:02:23.620 --> 00:02:30.569
evil. That is not a good
feeling. To be overcome by evil,
27
00:02:30.650 --> 00:02:34.009
strikes me, is perhaps one of
the most terrifying things that a person could
28
00:02:34.050 --> 00:02:39.289
experience. We've considered a few different
times in Romans, chapter twelve and other
29
00:02:39.409 --> 00:02:46.719
places in scripture, of course,
persecution that Christian's face, sometimes even from
30
00:02:46.840 --> 00:02:53.560
within the church and from without,
out without, to have evil things over
31
00:02:53.879 --> 00:02:59.909
come you, to lose control and
feel entirely powerless at the force not of
32
00:03:00.110 --> 00:03:07.069
something that seems well, at the
force of something that is bad. I
33
00:03:07.150 --> 00:03:12.389
think it's all the more frightening things
that are dark and wicked and black.
34
00:03:13.500 --> 00:03:16.139
I think these things are even more
frightening to us because they suggest to our
35
00:03:16.259 --> 00:03:24.020
minds that either God is not good
or that he's not powerful. When we're
36
00:03:24.139 --> 00:03:29.930
overcome not just by an emotion or
by a circumstance, but by something that
37
00:03:30.050 --> 00:03:36.650
we might describe as evil, when
we feel out of control, it's hard
38
00:03:36.969 --> 00:03:42.360
for us to understand who is in
control, if it's certainly not us,
39
00:03:43.000 --> 00:03:46.759
and if it is evil, well
then where does God stand in this?
40
00:03:46.400 --> 00:03:53.919
How could God let something evil overcome
us these things? When things like this
41
00:03:53.960 --> 00:04:00.270
happen, it suggests to us that
maybe the world lacks a positive direction.
42
00:04:00.750 --> 00:04:14.860
When we're overcome by evil, hope
vanishes, zeal for fighting perhaps, but
43
00:04:15.060 --> 00:04:19.699
the reality of being overcome by evil
is not just expressed us. We're told
44
00:04:19.939 --> 00:04:25.009
do not be overcome by evil,
and then given this second great phrase,
45
00:04:25.529 --> 00:04:30.209
but overcome evil with good. So
in this one phrase we see the evil
46
00:04:30.290 --> 00:04:34.449
is very powerful, but at the
same time we see that it can be
47
00:04:34.649 --> 00:04:42.680
overcome. Even the greatest and most
strongest forces of evil can be overcome with
48
00:04:42.920 --> 00:04:47.439
good. Here is the promise that
we face in the darkness, when we
49
00:04:47.800 --> 00:04:53.750
face evil and we struggle not to
be ruled by it. We are promised
50
00:04:53.790 --> 00:05:01.949
that good does overcome evil, good
overpowers evil, good terrifies evil and makes
51
00:05:01.990 --> 00:05:09.300
it lose control, and that's wonderful. To be overcome, to be overpowered
52
00:05:09.660 --> 00:05:14.819
in that kind of way as a
wonderful thing. Have you ever been overcome
53
00:05:14.939 --> 00:05:21.370
by, let's say, someone else's
forgiveness or someone else's patience or love?
54
00:05:24.329 --> 00:05:29.970
If you ever been overcome by someone
else's generosity, just hardly having the words
55
00:05:30.089 --> 00:05:36.319
to speak because of what has been
given to you? Have you ever been
56
00:05:36.360 --> 00:05:42.759
saved? Fortunately, I was able
to kind of pull myself out of the
57
00:05:42.800 --> 00:05:45.959
water and I had friends nearby,
but have you ever been in a situation
58
00:05:46.240 --> 00:05:53.350
where somebody actually rescued you? Somebody
overcame the evil of your situation and brought
59
00:05:53.350 --> 00:05:58.509
you out? I know many of
you were not born into Christian families,
60
00:06:00.870 --> 00:06:05.699
but somebody saved you. Jesus,
of course, saved you, and he
61
00:06:05.779 --> 00:06:11.259
sent people to speak the Gospel into
your lives, to tell you the good
62
00:06:11.379 --> 00:06:16.060
news, to tell you that in
him good does overcome evil. And if
63
00:06:16.100 --> 00:06:20.610
you weren't, if you didn't become
a Christian as an adult, then as
64
00:06:20.649 --> 00:06:26.649
a child, your parents were telling
you this from the very earliest days,
65
00:06:27.970 --> 00:06:31.610
that in God, who is good, through his son, who is good,
66
00:06:32.319 --> 00:06:38.839
he has overcome evil, and this
is great, great news to us
67
00:06:38.879 --> 00:06:42.160
when we read this verse. Do
not become or sorry, do not be
68
00:06:42.279 --> 00:06:47.949
overcome by evil, but overcome evil
with good. It is possible, not
69
00:06:48.110 --> 00:06:54.110
in our own strength, as Paul
has been saying all along, but in
70
00:06:54.189 --> 00:07:00.910
Christ's. Good and evil, therefore, are not sort of two equivalent forces
71
00:07:00.189 --> 00:07:05.379
that need to be balanced in some
way. They're not a kind of black
72
00:07:05.420 --> 00:07:10.860
and a white this and of that, things that need to just sort of
73
00:07:10.939 --> 00:07:15.889
be carefully coordinated and balanced in our
lives. No, they are at war
74
00:07:15.209 --> 00:07:19.009
with one another and one is going
to win and the other is going to
75
00:07:19.129 --> 00:07:26.290
lose, and the Bible tells us
that good is going to win ultimately through
76
00:07:26.370 --> 00:07:30.279
what Jesus has done in coming into
the world and crushing the head of the
77
00:07:30.399 --> 00:07:34.800
serpent and dying on a cross to
forgive the sins of the world. In
78
00:07:35.000 --> 00:07:41.399
doing these things, Jesus has accomplished
the ultimate good and promises to bring us
79
00:07:41.480 --> 00:07:46.589
into a new heaven's and a new
earth that are characterized only by good and
80
00:07:46.829 --> 00:07:50.589
have no presence of evil at all. That is what God has done in
81
00:07:50.629 --> 00:07:54.990
the world. That is the life
into which we have been called. And
82
00:07:55.189 --> 00:07:58.779
so now there is this question that
stands, or that each of us have
83
00:07:58.939 --> 00:08:05.259
to answer, this question dealing which
the in between times, the time after
84
00:08:05.300 --> 00:08:09.660
Christ is come and done this work, but the time before he has come
85
00:08:09.779 --> 00:08:13.329
to bring all these things into consummation. What do you do when you're on
86
00:08:13.410 --> 00:08:16.810
the side of the great victory,
when you're on the side of good and
87
00:08:16.970 --> 00:08:22.649
you have won all things through him? Do you give up? Of course
88
00:08:22.769 --> 00:08:28.720
not. Do you fall back?
Do you retreat? Do you let evil
89
00:08:28.920 --> 00:08:33.840
simply win the day because it seems
like it's too strong? No, everything
90
00:08:33.919 --> 00:08:41.279
in scripture is testifying to us that
God is more powerful than anything that is
91
00:08:41.399 --> 00:08:46.950
evil. Even in the darkest times
of that we see in people's lives,
92
00:08:46.029 --> 00:08:52.429
it's always under the sovereign control of
God. Imagine, for example, the
93
00:08:52.509 --> 00:08:58.860
Joe of the evils. That job
suffered the the loss of his family,
94
00:08:58.779 --> 00:09:03.860
the loss of his wealth, the
loss of his own physical body. They
95
00:09:05.139 --> 00:09:11.409
being dealing with plagues and disease and
various things, great sorrows and all kinds
96
00:09:11.450 --> 00:09:16.889
of torments, and to remember also
that all of this was being caused by
97
00:09:16.049 --> 00:09:22.769
Satan himself, the Great Evil One. What could be worse than to suffer
98
00:09:22.970 --> 00:09:31.639
all of these things directly by the
great persecutor and tempter? His friends and
99
00:09:31.759 --> 00:09:37.200
his own wife were hardly any help
to him. He suffered great evil,
100
00:09:39.309 --> 00:09:43.029
but Joe didn't give up because he
understood that all the time there was something
101
00:09:43.070 --> 00:09:48.590
more powerful than all of the things
that he was experiencing and seeing. By
102
00:09:48.750 --> 00:09:54.779
faith, he remembered that God was
king and none of this could happen outside
103
00:09:54.779 --> 00:10:00.220
of his sovereign control. And that's
absolutely true. We of course, know
104
00:10:00.379 --> 00:10:03.100
this from the very beginning of the
story, because at the very beginning we
105
00:10:03.220 --> 00:10:07.889
see that Satan is not allowed to
do any of these things except up by
106
00:10:07.889 --> 00:10:15.210
the permission and will of God.
This has a way of characterizing and changing
107
00:10:15.450 --> 00:10:20.889
how we perceive the evils of this
world, their strength, their power.
108
00:10:20.919 --> 00:10:26.279
They're all subject to God. And
so if that's true, again I ask,
109
00:10:26.440 --> 00:10:31.159
how are we to live? We're
to live like job. We sorrow,
110
00:10:31.200 --> 00:10:37.629
when we cry and we mourn,
but we don't lose hope. And
111
00:10:37.750 --> 00:10:46.549
could give many other examples, but
Paul takes us to some specific instructions and
112
00:10:46.830 --> 00:10:52.139
how we are to live in the
midst of all of this conflict. How
113
00:10:52.220 --> 00:10:56.460
are we to live when evil presses
down on us, when bad things are
114
00:10:56.539 --> 00:11:01.740
in particular, bad people do bad
things to us? And he gives us
115
00:11:01.779 --> 00:11:07.690
a couple instructions I want to not
just point your attention to, but really
116
00:11:07.769 --> 00:11:11.049
impress upon your hearts and call you. These are things that you must remember
117
00:11:11.090 --> 00:11:16.850
as Christians living in the light of
God's grace and under the power of his
118
00:11:18.090 --> 00:11:24.320
kingdom. He gives us instructions for
how we ought to live. So notice
119
00:11:24.360 --> 00:11:31.200
what he says. First, in
verse seventeen. We pay no one evil
120
00:11:31.240 --> 00:11:35.429
for evil, but give thought to
do what is honorable in the sight of
121
00:11:35.509 --> 00:11:41.429
all. If possible, so far
as it depends on you, live peaceably
122
00:11:41.190 --> 00:11:48.659
with all. So this first command
here, repay no one evil for evil.
123
00:11:48.700 --> 00:11:52.580
You might summarize it very simply this
way and kind of the way children
124
00:11:52.740 --> 00:12:00.340
talk. No paybacks, right,
no paybacks. When somebody does something evil
125
00:12:00.460 --> 00:12:05.490
to you, you're not allowed to
pay them back or return it with evil.
126
00:12:07.649 --> 00:12:13.129
If someone steals your toy, you
are not allowed to steal someone else's
127
00:12:13.210 --> 00:12:18.759
toy payback. You're not allowed to
do an evil thing in response to an
128
00:12:18.799 --> 00:12:24.639
evil thing. Does that make sense? It's a really simple thing, but
129
00:12:24.720 --> 00:12:28.200
it is hard. Just because it's
simple doesn't mean it's not easy to follow.
130
00:12:30.230 --> 00:12:33.269
We have phrases that remind us of
this even outside of scripture. Two
131
00:12:33.350 --> 00:12:37.350
wrongs don't make a right right.
This is an argument for this. Don't
132
00:12:37.470 --> 00:12:43.429
repay evil for evil, because what
you have more evil. But what does
133
00:12:43.549 --> 00:12:48.620
God want? He gives us this
sort of right action at the beginning of
134
00:12:48.700 --> 00:12:52.659
verse seventeen, and then he gives
us a reason for that. He says
135
00:12:52.019 --> 00:12:56.379
repay no one evil for evil,
but give thought to do what is honorable
136
00:12:56.860 --> 00:13:01.090
in the sight of all. So
this action is to be grounded in a
137
00:13:01.169 --> 00:13:07.450
certain mindset. We are to give
thought or to give consideration to do what
138
00:13:07.649 --> 00:13:15.320
is honorable, or it could be
translated simply good before everyone's eyes or in
139
00:13:15.399 --> 00:13:20.080
the presence of all people. We
are to be those who are concerned with
140
00:13:20.320 --> 00:13:24.000
good. That, of course,
makes sense right in light of what Jesus
141
00:13:24.039 --> 00:13:28.350
has done, in light of his
goodness and the goodness of his kingdom.
142
00:13:28.750 --> 00:13:33.629
If the Kingdom of God is good
and if Jesus is good, does it
143
00:13:33.789 --> 00:13:41.659
make sense for his citizens to then
repay evil with evil, to pile up
144
00:13:41.940 --> 00:13:46.940
wicked things? Of course not.
Two wrongs don't make right. Evil Plus
145
00:13:48.059 --> 00:13:52.899
Evil doesn't make more good. And
we are to be people. We are
146
00:13:52.940 --> 00:13:58.049
to be people, verse Seventeen says, who give thought or consideration or focus
147
00:13:58.210 --> 00:14:05.289
our minds to do what is good
or honorable in the presence of all people.
148
00:14:05.289 --> 00:14:09.570
As we live our lives in this
world and people are watching US and
149
00:14:09.690 --> 00:14:16.480
paying attention. How do the citizens
of the Kingdom of God Act? We
150
00:14:16.600 --> 00:14:28.710
are to do good. The second
command that God gives here is a little
151
00:14:28.710 --> 00:14:31.870
bit, yeah, I would say
even harder, at least a little bit
152
00:14:31.909 --> 00:14:37.190
harder to understand. We are to
be living peaceably with all as much as
153
00:14:37.309 --> 00:14:41.980
possible, instead of piling up evil
and all of these kinds of things.
154
00:14:41.019 --> 00:14:46.820
But then we get we get to
verse nineteen. It says, beloved,
155
00:14:46.980 --> 00:14:52.809
never avenge yourselves, but leave it
to the wrath of God. If we
156
00:14:54.009 --> 00:14:58.009
might describe the first one is no
paybacks, we might decide the second one
157
00:14:58.769 --> 00:15:07.009
as no justice. Sometimes we're tempted
to pay back evil for evil, and
158
00:15:07.090 --> 00:15:11.720
that sort of obviously bad. But
what about when we're attempted to pay back
159
00:15:11.799 --> 00:15:16.960
or receive what is just? That's
a little bit harder. That feels fair
160
00:15:18.320 --> 00:15:22.750
and it makes sense in a way
to say that people made in the image
161
00:15:22.789 --> 00:15:31.230
of God should seek justice. Right, God is not evil, so it
162
00:15:31.309 --> 00:15:35.059
makes sense for us to seek good. But God is just. Why is
163
00:15:35.220 --> 00:15:43.940
Paul telling us not to avenge ourselves
when we have been wronged? God is
164
00:15:43.220 --> 00:15:48.980
just, and even in the next
chapter he's going to specifically state some ways
165
00:15:48.019 --> 00:15:52.769
in which we are to seek justice. He tells us that there that God
166
00:15:52.850 --> 00:16:00.529
has appointed governing authorities in the state
that bear the sword for the very purpose
167
00:16:00.690 --> 00:16:04.799
of justice. So this command comes
to us a little bit differently. The
168
00:16:04.919 --> 00:16:08.679
first one tells us don't repay evil
for evil, and we all say,
169
00:16:08.840 --> 00:16:12.200
well, the right of course evil
is bad and God is not evil.
170
00:16:14.639 --> 00:16:18.750
But what about when he says don't
avenge yourselves when somebody has wronged you?
171
00:16:18.830 --> 00:16:26.590
You're not to seek justice, it
says, how can we be told not
172
00:16:26.629 --> 00:16:30.429
to pursue it when we know that
God himself is just and we know that
173
00:16:30.509 --> 00:16:34.419
they are are means for pursuing justice, as will get two in chapter thirteen.
174
00:16:37.940 --> 00:16:41.220
One Way to answer this question is
to make a distinction between justice and
175
00:16:41.299 --> 00:16:47.370
vengeance, and there may be some
truth to that, but ultimately God's vengeance
176
00:16:47.529 --> 00:16:52.169
is also good, and it's good
because it's just. In other words,
177
00:16:52.210 --> 00:16:56.250
we're not just talking about sort of
cold hearted justice and mean hearted justice.
178
00:16:57.289 --> 00:17:03.519
God Avenges himself, he avenges his
holy ones, he repays, he pours
179
00:17:03.640 --> 00:17:12.920
out fire, he is wrathful when
he comes to condemn sin. So a
180
00:17:14.039 --> 00:17:21.910
better answer is to remember that justice
is good in its appropriate times, and
181
00:17:22.069 --> 00:17:25.349
this is true of a lot of
things. This their good and appropriate perhaps
182
00:17:25.430 --> 00:17:30.339
in one situation, but it doesn't
necessarily mean that they're good and appropriate in
183
00:17:30.460 --> 00:17:34.220
all situations. It's good and for
a husband and a wife to be intimate,
184
00:17:34.900 --> 00:17:41.180
but not in a grocery store.
It's good to run and exercise,
185
00:17:41.420 --> 00:17:48.130
but not in a funeral home.
And while it is good to achieve justice,
186
00:17:48.250 --> 00:17:51.970
to administer it, to seek it
in the right ways and in the
187
00:17:52.049 --> 00:17:56.009
right times, that doesn't give us
license to all be vigilantees. Might think
188
00:17:56.089 --> 00:18:02.400
of it that way. Justice is
a good thing, justice is an appropriate
189
00:18:02.640 --> 00:18:07.079
response to sin and to wrongdoing,
but that doesn't give us the right to
190
00:18:07.720 --> 00:18:11.519
seek it in whatever way we want. Now there as of course, takes
191
00:18:11.559 --> 00:18:19.509
a lot of wisdom. Not every
situation is equally is easily decided. But
192
00:18:19.750 --> 00:18:25.390
here we have an important rule,
and God gives us some instructions on how
193
00:18:25.430 --> 00:18:29.660
we are to understand this a perspective. Just as before, he gives us
194
00:18:29.700 --> 00:18:33.579
this right action and then he gives
us a reason behind it. He says,
195
00:18:33.700 --> 00:18:38.299
first of all, for he says, leave it to the wrath of
196
00:18:38.500 --> 00:18:45.009
God. This first point is important
because he's not saying forget about justice,
197
00:18:45.329 --> 00:18:48.329
it's not important, God's not just, because that would be to say God's
198
00:18:48.369 --> 00:18:55.170
not good. No, instead,
he says leave it to the wrath of
199
00:18:55.289 --> 00:18:59.799
God. This is how we are
to pursue justice. We are to leave
200
00:18:59.880 --> 00:19:04.119
it in the hands of the Lord. And pulled grounds this by giving a
201
00:19:04.200 --> 00:19:08.839
scriptural argument, from Deuteronomy, from
the song of Moses. He says,
202
00:19:10.029 --> 00:19:15.390
for it is written, vengeance is
mine. I will repay how appropriate it
203
00:19:15.589 --> 00:19:18.869
is to remember that this is from
the song of Moses. After the Israelites
204
00:19:18.910 --> 00:19:23.579
have come out of Egypt, do
you remember why they were in Egypt?
205
00:19:23.579 --> 00:19:30.220
Do you remember how God rescued them? Did the did the did the Israelites
206
00:19:30.460 --> 00:19:34.099
escape in the middle of the night, secretly, when no one was watching,
207
00:19:34.500 --> 00:19:37.930
and the Egyptians woke up one morning
and said, oh no, how
208
00:19:38.009 --> 00:19:42.009
did this happen? So that's not
the story, is it? No,
209
00:19:42.490 --> 00:19:48.650
over and over again God told eat
the told Pharaoh, you will obey my
210
00:19:48.890 --> 00:19:52.160
commands or you will suffer. Obey
or you will suffer. Obey or you
211
00:19:52.240 --> 00:19:56.960
will suffer, and he suffered greatly. Ten plagues fell upon Egypt and even
212
00:19:57.039 --> 00:20:00.839
his own household. Eventually, as
they crossed through the Red Sea, all
213
00:20:02.039 --> 00:20:07.869
of Pharaoh and his chariots were drowned
in the waters. Vengeance is mine,
214
00:20:07.869 --> 00:20:15.390
I will repay. The Lord does
not forget his chosen ones. We are
215
00:20:15.430 --> 00:20:21.460
reminded of this over and over again
in scripture. Even in revelation we have
216
00:20:21.819 --> 00:20:26.940
the martyred saints crying out to God, how long o Lord, and he
217
00:20:26.099 --> 00:20:33.299
promises them that he will repay.
This should make every enemy of the Lord,
218
00:20:33.380 --> 00:20:38.410
every doer of evil, shake in
their boots to know that God is
219
00:20:38.609 --> 00:20:42.730
on the side of goodness, is
on the side of holiness, and promises
220
00:20:44.210 --> 00:20:49.519
constantly and continually, over and over
and over again, that he will repay
221
00:20:51.119 --> 00:20:56.680
that vengeance is mine. It belongs
to him. It's not something that is
222
00:20:56.039 --> 00:21:00.599
even us, a sort of set
apart from him or beside him. He
223
00:21:00.960 --> 00:21:07.829
owns it and he will bring it
to pass. You cannot live your life
224
00:21:08.150 --> 00:21:15.990
and neglect this truth, or your
fool to neglect that true justice happens and
225
00:21:17.430 --> 00:21:22.380
always happens, even if not in
this world, most certainly in the Great
226
00:21:22.420 --> 00:21:26.980
Day of judgment to come, God
will bring justice, and he's telling that
227
00:21:27.220 --> 00:21:33.170
to people now who are seeking justice. It's, of course, warning to
228
00:21:33.289 --> 00:21:37.170
those who think they will escape it, but here he means it as a
229
00:21:37.529 --> 00:21:45.769
as a comfort to us. I
know I've heard stories, I've experienced things
230
00:21:45.809 --> 00:21:51.839
and I know you have to where
justice isn't done people who have done terrible
231
00:21:52.000 --> 00:21:56.640
things to you, to your family, to people you love and care for,
232
00:21:56.240 --> 00:22:07.829
and nothing has happened. Nothing here
is one of the great comforts the
233
00:22:07.990 --> 00:22:15.980
God gives us. God is good
and something will happen. Justice always happens.
234
00:22:17.579 --> 00:22:22.099
Vengeance is mine, I will repay. So here he's reminding us,
235
00:22:22.099 --> 00:22:25.819
he's assuring us. You don't have
to just sort of let it go or
236
00:22:25.940 --> 00:22:30.569
give up, but you give it
up to God, you give it to
237
00:22:30.650 --> 00:22:34.769
him and you let him take care
of it. You say you don't pay
238
00:22:34.849 --> 00:22:41.730
them back with evil, you don't
seek out vengeance or revenge or justice even
239
00:22:41.769 --> 00:22:45.839
in a way, but you leave
it to God and his ways in his
240
00:22:45.000 --> 00:22:48.440
times. Now out, of course, is at the very end and,
241
00:22:48.559 --> 00:22:52.559
as will consider in chapter thirteen.
That might also include the here and now,
242
00:22:52.599 --> 00:22:57.829
as we have a government, as
we have a government to pursue these
243
00:22:57.869 --> 00:23:03.069
things, to achieve these goals at
the right place and the right time.
244
00:23:04.349 --> 00:23:11.230
But even still, and especially when
we are persecuted, Jesus calls us just
245
00:23:11.509 --> 00:23:18.259
hold back, to wait or,
to put it even more strongly, to
246
00:23:18.460 --> 00:23:29.930
turn the other cheek. He gives
a second reason, or you can mike,
247
00:23:30.009 --> 00:23:33.609
Think of it as the corollary.
He says, if your enemy is
248
00:23:33.690 --> 00:23:41.920
hungry, feed him, if he
is thirsty, give him something to drink.
249
00:23:44.000 --> 00:23:48.400
When people do wrong to us and
people do evil to us, it's
250
00:23:48.440 --> 00:23:52.039
of course tempting to pay them back
with evil, but perhaps a little more
251
00:23:52.079 --> 00:23:55.950
evil, or a little more subtle, I meant to say, but maybe
252
00:23:55.990 --> 00:24:03.470
evil to a little more subtle is
the kind of payback that happens in quieter
253
00:24:03.670 --> 00:24:10.220
ways. A person does evil to
you and there you see them in their
254
00:24:10.299 --> 00:24:17.660
need and you simply pass by.
Doesn't exactly look like payback. You haven't
255
00:24:18.019 --> 00:24:21.380
maybe done anything really wrong. You
know, maybe it's their own fault that
256
00:24:21.460 --> 00:24:23.410
they're hungry, or maybe it's their
own fault that they're thirsty. Their own
257
00:24:23.450 --> 00:24:27.650
evil ways put them in this mess. You might say, and if somehow
258
00:24:27.730 --> 00:24:33.289
it feels fair, it feels fair
to leave them in their misery and feels
259
00:24:33.369 --> 00:24:37.009
fair to leave them in their suffering
because, well, after all, look
260
00:24:37.009 --> 00:24:44.240
what they did to me. The
Lord says, don't do this. He
261
00:24:44.359 --> 00:24:48.559
says instead, they have a need, especially your great need like this,
262
00:24:51.400 --> 00:24:55.750
fulfill it for and then he gives
this a reason, for by doing so,
263
00:24:56.589 --> 00:25:02.349
you will keep burning coals on his
head. This is a phrase that
264
00:25:02.430 --> 00:25:11.900
we don't use. Ever, it's
about an English idiom that we use often,
265
00:25:11.740 --> 00:25:17.859
and in fact scripture, or commentators
on scripture, kind of go back
266
00:25:17.940 --> 00:25:22.690
and forth on what exactly this means. It comes from proverbs, Chapter Twenty
267
00:25:22.769 --> 00:25:26.650
Five, Verse Twenty One, where
basically the same thing as said, and
268
00:25:26.769 --> 00:25:30.369
to feed your enemy, to give
drink, for by doing so you will
269
00:25:30.450 --> 00:25:36.480
heap burning coals on his head.
And then proverbs twenty five includes a promise
270
00:25:36.559 --> 00:25:40.960
for reward or a reward for this
as well. What does this mean?
271
00:25:41.599 --> 00:25:48.759
There's a couple possibilities one to one
possibility is that you are in a way,
272
00:25:48.960 --> 00:25:53.869
by doing a nice thing to a
person, you are kind of furthering
273
00:25:55.029 --> 00:26:00.430
their condemnation. Right. So,
with every act of love you are getting
274
00:26:00.509 --> 00:26:07.619
to put this sort of Memento of
God's wrath on them. Right and and
275
00:26:07.819 --> 00:26:11.980
in so it and in a way, and in a way that scripture talks
276
00:26:11.980 --> 00:26:17.420
about people storing up wrath for themselves
by going against God's word. Every time
277
00:26:17.539 --> 00:26:22.049
you are loving and their mean back
they you are putting this coal on them
278
00:26:22.130 --> 00:26:27.289
head, or they are heaping up
you are heaping up burning coals or wrath
279
00:26:27.569 --> 00:26:33.839
on them, perhaps now, in
the moment, and most certainly at the
280
00:26:33.839 --> 00:26:40.160
Day of judgment to come. This
interpretation is, of course, somewhat reasonable,
281
00:26:40.240 --> 00:26:45.200
but it's difficult to square for one
big reason. The whole motivation of
282
00:26:45.319 --> 00:26:49.029
this passage seems to be one of
doing good, not seeking vengeance, and
283
00:26:51.190 --> 00:26:56.470
to have an idea that we're placing
a burning coal on someone's head every time
284
00:26:56.470 --> 00:27:00.740
we're doing a loving thing seems to
go against the very purpose of what God
285
00:27:00.900 --> 00:27:07.859
is saying here. To leave it
to the Lord. Happily, though,
286
00:27:07.859 --> 00:27:11.859
there is another and I think better
interpretation of this verse, and that's that
287
00:27:11.980 --> 00:27:18.289
there's an idiom being used here for
repentance. And may not seem that way
288
00:27:18.329 --> 00:27:22.009
at first, but we have various
examples of this phrase being used in the
289
00:27:22.049 --> 00:27:30.279
ancient Near East there's one story in
particular about an Egyptian who, after stealing
290
00:27:30.319 --> 00:27:34.119
a magic book from a great or
something like that, he has an active
291
00:27:34.240 --> 00:27:41.279
repentance for his sin, put burning
coals or coals on his head and carried
292
00:27:41.480 --> 00:27:45.549
these in this way, probably in
a bowl or something like that, the
293
00:27:45.630 --> 00:27:48.789
idea there being that it wasn't a
judgment on him, but it was a
294
00:27:48.829 --> 00:27:53.349
way of him expressing this kind of
repentance. It was a sort of an
295
00:27:53.390 --> 00:27:56.990
act, sort of like getting on
your knees or something like that, or
296
00:27:57.109 --> 00:28:03.779
tearing your clothes or being in sackcloth
and ashes, this burning coals on one's
297
00:28:03.819 --> 00:28:10.940
head as a sign of repentance,
of a way of showing that of maybe
298
00:28:11.099 --> 00:28:19.170
affecting affecting humiliation in a positive in
a positive way. This is how Augustine
299
00:28:19.210 --> 00:28:25.529
and also jerome interpreted this. The
coals of fire referring, referring to the
300
00:28:26.009 --> 00:28:32.319
burning pains of shame. Now,
those two ideas of shame and wrath or,
301
00:28:32.359 --> 00:28:36.960
of course, very linked. But
the hope here is that there might
302
00:28:37.000 --> 00:28:42.109
be repentance. That's the idea here, that by showing love and mercy to
303
00:28:42.269 --> 00:28:48.750
those who are doing wrong to you, you have the opportunity to bring about
304
00:28:48.309 --> 00:28:53.390
repentance in a person, to sort
of keep up a shame in them that
305
00:28:53.589 --> 00:29:03.380
affects a reconciliation with them and God
and maybe even with you. And then
306
00:29:03.420 --> 00:29:07.380
that brings us to verse Twenty One. Do not be overcome by evil,
307
00:29:07.460 --> 00:29:12.930
but overcome evil with good. Here
we have imagined for us this, this
308
00:29:14.690 --> 00:29:19.210
conflict, this a Christian or US
as Christians, and conflict with people attacking
309
00:29:19.369 --> 00:29:23.680
and hurting and harming. And instead
it says, leave justice to God.
310
00:29:25.799 --> 00:29:33.319
Instead, show them mercy and perhaps
good will come of this. There is,
311
00:29:33.400 --> 00:29:37.480
of course, the good of justice
itself, but there's also a hope
312
00:29:37.559 --> 00:29:45.589
for repentance and reconciliation as those who
once sinned and now turn in their shame
313
00:29:45.789 --> 00:29:52.750
and guilt to Christ. This is
what we see, for example, in
314
00:29:52.059 --> 00:29:56.740
the Apostle Paul on the Lord meets
him on the road of Damascus, on
315
00:29:56.779 --> 00:30:00.700
the roads Damascus, and he says
to him, why are you persecuting me?
316
00:30:02.019 --> 00:30:07.450
And he closes his eyes and he
brings to him the the realization of
317
00:30:07.529 --> 00:30:12.210
his blindness, of his darkness,
of his sin. Paul comes to life
318
00:30:12.569 --> 00:30:18.130
and look what great good he does
as he experiences the salvation of God.
319
00:30:19.609 --> 00:30:25.519
He could there be any person who
was more close and more connected and more
320
00:30:25.759 --> 00:30:30.720
in love with the people of God. After Paul was called to serve the
321
00:30:30.839 --> 00:30:37.230
Lord in this way, after the
Holy Spirit changed him, it was hard
322
00:30:37.430 --> 00:30:42.269
for those early Christians to understand.
I think it was probably very hard for
323
00:30:42.349 --> 00:30:48.630
them to obey, when the spirit
told them, here this great persecutor your
324
00:30:48.630 --> 00:30:53.779
church, show him some hospitality,
take care of his needs, feed him
325
00:30:55.740 --> 00:31:02.819
cloth and watch over him. But
they did it and all were very blessed.
326
00:31:06.170 --> 00:31:11.130
If it's difficult to see how this
good might be done, I think
327
00:31:11.250 --> 00:31:15.049
beyond the lives of the saints,
it's very appropriate for us to look to
328
00:31:15.130 --> 00:31:21.880
Christ himself. It's more than appropriate, it's necessary, because this is the
329
00:31:22.680 --> 00:31:26.079
this is the person and the work
and the things that God has done in
330
00:31:26.200 --> 00:31:32.480
which our actions are grounded and which
they flow out of. No one has
331
00:31:32.519 --> 00:31:40.029
ever been more unjustly treated, more
unfairly punished and attacked and persecuted then our
332
00:31:40.109 --> 00:31:45.549
King Jesus Christ. And yet no
one was more readily willing to give up
333
00:31:45.589 --> 00:31:51.059
his life and to provide for the
needs of others, even beyond food and
334
00:31:51.180 --> 00:31:56.460
drink in this life, to give
the bread of life and the living waters
335
00:31:56.500 --> 00:32:06.289
of eternal life. That's what Jesus
gave to you and to me when we
336
00:32:06.970 --> 00:32:10.410
persecuted him, when we did wrong
to him, when we paid evil to
337
00:32:10.609 --> 00:32:21.400
him. If we have an opportunity
to show this kind of grace and to
338
00:32:21.519 --> 00:32:25.359
do it in the name of Jesus, and especially for Jesus, if we're
339
00:32:25.359 --> 00:32:31.470
experiencing persecution for his namesake, to
act in a way that corresponds with his
340
00:32:31.589 --> 00:32:37.549
own actions, to bear forth the
fruit that comes from the seed that was
341
00:32:37.670 --> 00:32:46.259
born in our own lives is a
great testimony to who Jesus is, to
342
00:32:46.420 --> 00:32:52.900
what he has done. It's an
expression of thankfulness, it's an opportunity for
343
00:32:53.059 --> 00:33:02.170
hope and possible salvation of others,
and it overcomes evil with good. What
344
00:33:02.250 --> 00:33:17.640
could be greater than that? Let's
pray our father in heaven. We freely
345
00:33:17.720 --> 00:33:19.279
confess that
