Vengeance Belongs to the Lord Romans 12:19

Paul the apostle told the believers in Rome to, “provide things honest in the sight of all men” and “if it be possible, as much as lies in you, live peaceably with all men”, and in chapter twelve and verse nineteen of Romans Paul tells the believers how the Lord says, “vengeance is mine, I will repay” where we read:

Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath:

for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, says the Lord. 

 

The verse begins, “Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath:” Paul began with the words, “dearly beloved” which means “esteemed, dear, favorite and worthy of love”, “avenge not” or “do not vindicate, protect, defend or punish a person for a thing” “yourselves” which refers to the believing people in Rome, “but” or “nevertheless, notwithstanding, moreover and” “give place” which means “grant, supply, furnish and deliver over a place, condition, station, opportunity and occasion for acting” “unto wrath” or “towards anger, temper, movement of the soul, impulse, desire and indignation”. Paul exhorted the believers in Rome not to “vindicate and defend” themselves, but “deliver over” “anger, temper and indignation”.

The verse goes on to say, “for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, says the Lord.”. Paul added the words, “for it is written” which means “because it is delineated with letters on a tablet, parchment, paper or other material”, “Vengeance” or “punishment and revenging” “is mine” which means “belongs to God”; “I will repay” or “God shall requite, recompense and render payment”, “says” which means “speaks, affirms, maintains, exhorts, advises, commands and directs” “the Lord” which refers to “he to whom a person or thing belongs, about which he has power of deciding; master and the title given to God the Messiah”. Paul referred to Deuteronomy chapter thirty four and verses thirty-five and forty-three as he declared “God” to be the “avenger” of “wrath”.

When we think through these words of Paul, we see how he recognized there would be times when the believers in Rome would encounter “opposition and wrath”, and his instruction was to “give over” their “vengeance” to God. Paul recalled the words from the “scripture” in Deuteronomy where God shared how He would “avenge” those who opposed Israel. People who have received Jesus Christ as their personal “Savior and Lord” will certainly face “wrath”, and when this occurs, Paul's instruction is to allow the Lord to “repay” it when it comes.

Next time Paul instructs the believers in Rome, “if your enemy hunger, feed him”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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