ROMANS 12:19

“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.”

We’ve all heard this statement from Scripture at some point in our lives. It comes from Deuteronomy 32:35 where it reads, “‘Vengeance is Mine, and retribution; in due time their foot will slip. For the day of their disaster is near, and the impending things are hurrying to them.’” We don’t have to worry about getting our own revenge on our enemies. God, in due time, will take care of that for us.

As Paul continues to tell us how to engage with others, he warns against taking our “own revenge.” The verb here is ekdikéō which means to “dispense justice, carrying a judgment completely through.” (HELPS Word-studies). This verb is used six times in the New Testament. In this verse we are warned against becoming our own self-appointed avenger. We are not in a position to judge anyone, are we?

APPLICATION

In Luke 18:1-8, Jesus tells the parable of the judge who reluctantly gave the woman justice who kept coming to him asking him to do that. That is the same verb used here in Romans. The woman could not avenge herself. She was reliant on the judge to do that for her. The same is true for us. God is the one who judges, not us.

The last time this verb is used is in Revelation 19:1-2. “1 After these things I heard something like a loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, saying, ‘Hallelujah! Salvation, glory, and power belong to our God, 2 BECAUSE HIS JUDGMENTS ARE TRUE AND RIGHTEOUS; for He has judged the great prostitute who was corrupting the earth with her sexual immorality, and HE HAS AVENGED THE BLOOD OF HIS BOND-SERVANTS ON HER.’” God will avenge His children. We may not live to see it done, but it will be done by a holy, just God.

Paul tells us in today’s verse to “leave room for the wrath of God.” Here is where we fail. We don’t leave room for God to avenge us. We retaliate first and then ask for forgiveness. That is not how God works. The word “wrath” is a strong word. Paul knew God had all power and was quite capable of handling his enemies. Can we do the same? If we can trust Him with our eternity, can’t we trust Him to handle our enemies? Surely, we can.

Lord, forgive me when I jump out in front of You to take vengeance on others.

If the Lord should lead you to support our ministry, check out our ministry page at Trans World Radio (www.twr.org/carl-willis).