Vengeance
Summary
Vengeance in Scripture refers to the just retribution that belongs exclusively to God, who repays wrongdoing according to His righteous judgment rather than arbitrary or vindictive reprisals.
☩Divine Prerogative
The term 'vengeance' (Greek ekdikesis) in the New Testament never carries the suggestion of arbitrary or vindictive reprisals but always denotes just retribution inflicted by God Himself or His appointed instruments. Paul quotes Deuteronomy 32:35: 'Vengeance belongeth unto me; I will recompense, saith the Lord.' This establishes vengeance as a divine prerogative that humans must not assume. Even when associated with divine wrath, it represents God's eternal righteousness acting in harmony with His revealed will.
☩Human Response to Wrong
Christ's teaching revolutionized the response to wrongdoing. He swept away the Old Testament permission of retaliation and the scribal interpretations that encouraged it. Believers are commanded to accept suffering, replacing hatred with love and forgiveness. The negative prohibition requires a corresponding positive: love must replace hatred, and 'enemy' must be removed from the Christian vocabulary. Christ taught His disciples to forgive without limit, even making God's forgiveness of a person dependent on that person's forgiveness of others.
☩Theological Foundation
The prohibition of personal vengeance rests on the nature of God as love and forgiveness. The spirit of malevolence and vindictive dealing is alien to God's spirit and must be banished from those who would be His children. To avenge oneself is to assume God's prerogative. Christ demonstrated this teaching throughout His ministry, enduring abuse without retaliation and praying from the cross, 'Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.' Love, not vengeance, is the most potent moral force—capable not merely of punishing wrongdoers but of conquering them and winning them to God.
Related Verses39 mentions
See Also
References
- 1.James Hastings (ed.), "Vengeance," in Dictionary of the Apostolic Church, vol. II (T. & T. Clark, 1915–1918).
- 2.James Hastings (ed.), "Vengeance," in Dictionary of Christ and the Gospels, vol. II (T. & T. Clark, 1906–1908).