The Old Testament Law was very specific when it came to personal injuries. Exodus 21:23-24 says, “But if there’s serious injury, you are to take life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burn for burn, wound for wound, bruise for bruise.” And Leviticus 24:19-20 went on to direct, “If anyone injures his neighbor, whatever he has done must be done to him: fracture for fracture, eye for eye, tooth for tooth. As he has injured the other, so he is to be injured.” So when Jesus spoke these words of passive resistance and tolerance rather than retaliation and revenge…it turned these Old Testament Laws on their heads. Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace, came to earth declaring a message of love and harmony with our fellow man…and not of repaying evil for evil. (Romans 12:17 & I Peter 3:9)
Tag: romans 12:17
Psalm 35: 12-13 ” They repay me evil for good and leave my soul forlorn. Yet when they were ill, I put on sackcloth and humbled myself with fasting.”
When the relationship is toxic and abusive…no matter what we do, it’s not good enough. The Scripture in Romans, “Don’t repay evil for evil” rings in our head as we’re assailed with angry words. For many times this attack comes from a close family member who really needs our help…but also feels comfortable in using us to vent their frustrations. If we can take a step back and ask the Lord to see that person through His eyes…we can often get a completely different perspective of why that person is behaving as they are. It may have nothing to do with us at all, but rather in the person’s loss of control, declining health, or other personal problems they feel overwhelmed with. It’s then that we can humble ourselves and persevere…relying on God’s grace and mercy.
Safetypinlove 