1 Peter 3:9...............
"Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing."
This is what Jesus taught us as well in Matthew 5:39.....
"But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also."
Now all us us have heard that over and over but allmost all of us missed what Jesus was teaching us.
Don't think so??? Go and read the posts on any Christian web site/forum including this one and you will see in black and white the "PRINCIPLE OF RETALIATION" in plain view. Some one says something and some disagrees and off we go to the races of attack and name calling over WHAT???
What then is the principle of RETALIATION? It is common in Hebreww and all the ancient law codes and traces back to 1700 BC and the Babylonians. It is referred to as the "CODE OF HAMMURAPI".
It is the judical penality of an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth and is found as well in
Exodus 21:24.........
"Eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot,
Burning for burning, wound for wound, stripe for stripe."
These verses were originally given as a means to end fueds. Jesus is clearly saying that this method is NOT a license or an excuse for personal vengence. The point Jesus was trying to make is that we should resist evil. Evil is seen here not as a STATE, but as the "action" of the evil ones or the malicious ones. It represents the evil and sinful element in man which provokes him to do any evil act. Does the Word of God speak to such a thing??????????? YES IT DOES!
1 Thessalonians 5:22 says clearly.............
"Abstain from all appearances of evil".
Folks, when we return evil for evil, we have in effect allowed the person hurting us by their words or actions, to control our emotions and our actions and thereby effect our lives.
That does NOT mean that we should not defend ourselves or our families but it does mean that we should not practice PERSONAL VENGENCE.
Deuteronomy 32:35
King James Version (KJV)
To me belongeth vengeance and recompence; their foot shall slide in due time: for the day of their calamity is at hand, and the things that shall come upon them make haste.
What should we do???
1 Peter 3:11............
"Let him eschew evil, and do good, let him seek peace and ensue it".
"Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing."
This is what Jesus taught us as well in Matthew 5:39.....
"But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also."
Now all us us have heard that over and over but allmost all of us missed what Jesus was teaching us.
Don't think so??? Go and read the posts on any Christian web site/forum including this one and you will see in black and white the "PRINCIPLE OF RETALIATION" in plain view. Some one says something and some disagrees and off we go to the races of attack and name calling over WHAT???
What then is the principle of RETALIATION? It is common in Hebreww and all the ancient law codes and traces back to 1700 BC and the Babylonians. It is referred to as the "CODE OF HAMMURAPI".
It is the judical penality of an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth and is found as well in
Exodus 21:24.........
"Eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot,
Burning for burning, wound for wound, stripe for stripe."
These verses were originally given as a means to end fueds. Jesus is clearly saying that this method is NOT a license or an excuse for personal vengence. The point Jesus was trying to make is that we should resist evil. Evil is seen here not as a STATE, but as the "action" of the evil ones or the malicious ones. It represents the evil and sinful element in man which provokes him to do any evil act. Does the Word of God speak to such a thing??????????? YES IT DOES!
1 Thessalonians 5:22 says clearly.............
"Abstain from all appearances of evil".
Folks, when we return evil for evil, we have in effect allowed the person hurting us by their words or actions, to control our emotions and our actions and thereby effect our lives.
That does NOT mean that we should not defend ourselves or our families but it does mean that we should not practice PERSONAL VENGENCE.
Deuteronomy 32:35
King James Version (KJV)
To me belongeth vengeance and recompence; their foot shall slide in due time: for the day of their calamity is at hand, and the things that shall come upon them make haste.
What should we do???
1 Peter 3:11............
"Let him eschew evil, and do good, let him seek peace and ensue it".
