Introduction

Vengeance is the propensity or the desire for retribution or repayment for those who harmed you.

You think you have been unjustly treated and so you act in such a way as to punish the evil doer.

You are judge and executioner.

Vengeance is only positive when in the hands of God or His government, when God demonstrates righteousness in compensating the wrong with right.

But were looking at the negative issue when you personally want to retaliate.

We live in society which people demand their own rights.

Unions demand rights, for example in the USA you have the civil rights movement.

When a car cuts in front of you, you feel your rights are infringed upon.

Deep down in all our hearts is a retaliatory vengeful spirit.

This is easily seen in the empathize one has for the movie actor responding in vengeance.

The John Wayne mindset.

When people live on the basis of their rights, selfishness becomes the dominant feature.

Having lots of selfish people, you invariably step on one another’s toes and what follows is often lawlessness.

We all have that inward sense of justice.

But in the fall that sense of justice was perverted into having a vengeful spirit.

We want to get even.

But in Christ kingdom, vengeance belongs to the Lord and not to you.

Jesus was addressed the matter of personal vengeance in the sermon on the Mount.

When your heart want vengeance, retaliation, reprisal a tit for tat, retribution.

 

Historical Background

 

The Jews misunderstood the idea of an Eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth as providing license for vengeance. A foundation for a vendetta.

In Matthew 5:21-48 Jesus brought greater understanding with regard to six Old Testament commands.

1. Murder – vv21-26
2. Adultery – vv27-30
3. Divorce – vv31-32 (what we’re looking at today)
4. Making false vows – vv33-37
5. Vengeance – vv38-42
6. Hating your enemies – vv43-48

These commands reveal how your righteousness needs to be far superior to the Scribes and Pharisees (Matthew 5:20), in fact it needs to be perfect (Matthew 5:48) to enter God’s kingdom.

This morning we’re looking at the commands relating to vengeance.

 

6 Truths That Show You God’s Perspective on Revenge:

1. Principle of revenge – vv38
2. Refrain from personal revenge – vv39a
3. When people disrespect you (Dignity) – vv39b
4. When people sue you (Security) – vv40
5. When people infringement on your personal liberty (Liberty) – vv41
6. When people want your stuff. (Property) – vv42

Bible References

 

1.   Principle of revenge – vv38

• Exodus 21-23
• Leviticus 24
• Deuteronomy 19
• Genesis 4: 23-24
• Deuteronomy 32: 35
• Romans 13: 4
• Romans 12:19
• Hebrews 9: 97
• Psalm 9:7-8
• Ecclesiastes 3:17
• Exodus 34:7

 

2.     Refrain from personal revenge – vv39a

• Matthew 5:39
• Romans 12:21
• Matthew 21:12
• James 4:7
• Galatians 2:11
• Romans 13:1-7
• Romans 12:17
• Romans 12:19

 

3.   When people disrespect you (Dignity) – vv39b

• Matthew 10: 16-23
• 2 Timothy 3:12
• Luke 23:34
• 1 Peter 2: 20-23

 

4.   When people sue you (Security) – vv40

• Exodus 22: 26-27
• 1 Corinthians 6: 6-7

 

5.   When people infringement on your personal liberty (Liberty) – vv41

6.     When people want your stuff. (Property) – vv42

• 2 Thessalonians 3:10
• Ephesians 4:28
• 1 Timothy 6: 17-19