Romans 12:17, Recompense to No Man Evil for Evil
Romans 12:17 Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men.
The word “recompense” means literally to pay back or give back. It comes from the compound word with the preposition “from” and the verb “give” intimating the need to fulfil the obligation of paying back a debt. It denotes a responsibility to be discharged that is not optional. Here in our text, it is used in a negative sense to “pay back” or “get even” for what they have given us, to return tit for tat. This word is in the continuance tense teaching that the believer is to do this action habitually.
The Apostle Paul is reiterating here what our Lord Jesus teaches in Matthew 5:38 Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: 39 But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil…
Our Lord forbids an unforgiving and revengeful spirit, by being quick to take offence, retaliating, having a quarrelsome and contentious demeanour, a keenness to assert one’s right, is contrary to the mind of Christ. The world may be at peace with such attitudes but our Lord says “ye resist not evil.” But rather, you are to have a spirit of universal love and charity. You should put away all such malice.
Jesus went on to say in Matthew 5:39b, “but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also. 40 And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloke also. 41 And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain. 42 Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away.”
What the Lord is saying here is this – you slap my face, instead of slapping you back, I have a heart within me that I am so changed by my God that I have a heart to think “Why did you slap me?” You must be very angry, right, for you to slap me because this is one of the most humiliating act. I must have caused you great anger, it must be something very offensive that I have done. Then if I can appease your anger, I am willing to offer you the other cheek (side).
The Lord is saying the heart is so changed, you have so much of God’s love, that my reaction is not that you slapped me but to realise that I must have caused you a lot of hurt so much so that you to slap me. If I can appease him, I will do it. It’s not that he is stupid. You take out my outer coat, again it is humiliating, have I offended you so much that you are so angry? If I can appease you, I will give you the garment.
That is the essence of His law. Are we willing? Are we more concerning with the other person’s feeling or concerned about myself. That’s why Jesus says, if you want to talk about the law, Jesus says “love thy neighbour as thyself”. How you love yourself, love your neighbour. That’s enough.
May the Lord grant us His grace to love our neighbour as ourselves. Amen.