Feed Your Hungry Enemy Romans 12:20

Paul the apostle told the believing people in Rome, “avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, says the Lord”, and in chapter twelve and verse twenty of Romans, Paul tells the believers, “if your enemy hunger, feed him” with others where we read:

Therefore if your enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink:

for in so doing you shall heap coals of fire on his head.

The verse begins, “Therefore if your enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink:” Paul began with the words, “therefore” which means “then, accordingly, consequently and these things being so” “if your enemy” or “when the believers in Rome's hateful, odious and opposing person” “hunger” which means “suffer want and need, crave ardently and seek with eager desire”, “feed him” or “nourish and supply with bits of food in his mouth”; “if he thirst” which means “when the believer in Rome's hateful, odious and opposing person suffer, want, and eagerly long for those things by which the soul is refreshed, supported and strengthened”, “give him drink” or “grant, imbue and bestow upon that person water and refreshing irrigation”. Paul exhorted the believers in Rome to “feed” and “give drink” to their “enemies” if they were “hungry or thirsty”.

The verse continues, “for in so doing you shall heap coals of fire on his head.”. Paul added the words, “for in so doing” which means “because when producing, constructing, forming and fashioning these practices” “you shall heap” or “the believers in Rome will load up, overwhelm and pile upon them” “coals” which refers to “live or burning coals” “of fire” or “pertaining to that which is burning and fiery” “on his head” which means “the crown of the body wherein the supreme, chief and prominent thoughts exist”. Paul shared how the burning within would occur in the “hungry and thirsty enemies” to whom they “feed” and “give drink”.

When we consider these words of Paul, we may be reminded of Jesus' words, “But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you, Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you. And unto him that smites you on the one cheek offer also the other; and him that takes away your cloke forbid not to take your coat also.” (Luke 6:27-19) Paul continued this idea by challenging his believing readers to “feed and give drink” to “hungry and thirsty enemies”. This is possible when Jesus Christ is received by a person and the Holy Spirit of God enters them. Normally, revenge and vengeance are expected toward “enemies”, and lack of care and happiness is a normal response to “enemies” who are “hungry and thirsty”. Christians are to be different, and when their “enemies” have need and want, they are to supply them with that which they need. In doing so, Christians exemplify Jesus Christ who said on the cross, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do”. (Luke 23.34)

Next time Paul instructs the believers in Rome what to do with, “evil”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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