Under the old covenant, they were mandated to appoint as a penalty “life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burn for burn, wound for wound, and bruise for bruise” (see Leviticus 24:17-23; Exodus 21:24-25; Deuteronomy 19:21). It is therefore not surprising to find prayers such as those David prayed in Psalm 109 and in other places, where he prayed against his enemies.
Jesus acknowledged the law by which the people of old lived, when He told them that “You have heard that it was said, ‘an eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth” (Matthew 5:38) and “You have heard that it was said, ‘you shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy” (Matthew 5:43)”. But Jesus, categorically told them to abandon that for the new requirement He was bringing under the New Covenant, when He told them:
“But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so? Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect” (Matthew 5:44-48).
Now, if Jesus, who Himself is the Word, acknowledged the old order of living and told His followers not to live in that manner anymore, then we have no justification to go for those same references under the Old Covenant to continue in the very thing we have been told to stop, i.e., avenging ourselves, whether through prayer or some other means. As we see in 2 Corinthians 3:14-16, without seeing the Law or Old Testament in the light of the new covenant, we will all be like those who have a veil over their hearts, and have their minds hardened. In this way, we are unable to understand the Scriptures nor the Father’s love.
This new commandment of Jesus, is reiterated in the epistles as well. 1 Peter 3:9 reads, “Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing”. Romans 12:19-21 also says, “Do not avenge yourselves, beloved, but leave room for God’s wrath. For it is written: ‘Vengeance is Mine; I will repay, says the Lord’. On the contrary, If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him a drink. For in so doing, you will heap burning coals on his head. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good”. Our claim of loving God, while hating others, for example through taking our own revenge, is considered as a lie before God: “Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen (1 John 4:20)”.
The grave danger of avenging ourselves, even through dangerous prayers, can be found in James 2:13, which says, “…judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment”. This text, which was written to the church, teaches that if we refuse to show others mercy when they sin against us and repay them in their own coin, then we will also receive no mercy when we stand before God on the day of judgement. Meanwhile, it is by God’s mercy alone that any of us will be found guiltless before God in judgement. But if we deprive ourselves of God’s mercy because of our unwillingness to show others mercy or forgiveness, then we have no basis to even expect to enter heaven. It is the same thing Jesus said when He said “For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses (Matthew 6:14-15). Jesus repeated this same truth in Matthew 7:21: “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter”. Beloved, let us heed these admonitions from Scripture, and learn to show mercy and forgive. May we never put ourselves in eternal jeopardy by choosing to take our own revenge, instead of continuing in love and leaving room for God’s wrath just as we have been instructed (Romans 12:19-21, 1 John 4:7-8).
Is this an easy thing to do in the flesh? Certainly not. The entire Christian life will be impossible to live without the help of God’s Spirit. So, God has shed abroad His love in our hearts by His Holy Spirit whom He has given to all those who believe in Jesus as their Saviour (Romans 5:5). This means that we have been empowered by God to walk in love and love our enemies just as He commands us. Otherwise, God will be unjust to tell us to do something we cannot do but there is no injustice in Him (cf. Psalm 89:14).
Believe that God’s word is true, and you have His very love in your heart, because of your faith in Jesus, to do what God requires of you. Then, instead of praying dangerously to afflict, curse, or kill your enemies, rather step out in faith, as you look unto Jesus, to “love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven” (see Matthew 5:44-48).
Kwadwo Omari
(c) 2015
A Very Important Message
For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life (John 3:16). For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 6:23). Therefore, If you do not know Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour, I invite you to put your faith in Him. Pray the prayer below to accept Jesus Christ as your Saviour: “I come to you God in Jesus’ name and surrender my life unto you. I repent of my sins and I ask You to forgive me all my sins. I confess with my mouth that Jesus is Lord, and I believe with my heart that God has raised Jesus from the dead. I thank you God for saving me, in Jesus name, Amen”. If you sincerely prayed this prayer, believe and be assured that you are saved, for the Bible says that whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved (Romans 10:13, Romans 10:9-10, Acts 16:31). Find a Bible believing church to attend so that you can be taught and trained to grow in the ways of God. You can also email me ([email protected]) and I will be happy to grow together with you in Christ. God bless you.