Ver. 29.-Rendering evil for evil. It is interesting to note that this conduct is not only rebuked by Jesus Christ, but also forbidden in the Old Testament, and even in the Book of Proverbs, which is thought to deal too much in temporal and self-regarding motives. So utterly is it foreign to right-mindedness. Yet it is most common, and apparently most natural. J. LET US CONSIDER HOW IT SEEMS NATURAL TO RENDER EVIL FOR EVIL. 1. [t appears to be just. There is a. natural fitness in things, and this seems to be satisfied by the lex talionis, "An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a. tooth." 2. It oife1·s to checl~ evil. It appears to be a natural form of punishment. Indeed, it was sanctioned in rough, primitive times, though rnbject to judicinl inquiry (Exod. xxi. 24). 3. It satisfies the craving for revenge. This is tho reason which encourages it far more than considerations of abstract justice or anxiety about the public weal. "Reven~e is sweet," aud to restrain the impulse to strike an offender in return for his blow is hard nnd painful. 4. It agrees with prevalent customs. It is "arter the manner of man" to avenge a. wrong, and apparently the habit springs from innate instiucts. At all events, it works without reflection. Therefore it appearH to be a part of the economy of nature. To refuse it is like denying a natural appetite. II. LET us LEARN WRY IT IS WRONG TO RENDER EVIL FOR EVIL. 1. ThB sense of reve11ge lies in our lower nature. It is shared by the brute creation, like hun~er and lust. But it is aggravated by the sin of hatred and by selfishness. There is nothing noble or elevating in it. On the contrary, it drags us down. Long-suffering braces the moral fibres of the soul; revenge relaxes them. 2. We are not called upon to execute sentence on our fellow-men. If there is to be a requital, this must come from God, to whom belongs just vengeance (Rom. xii. 19). ,vc are usurping the rights of God when we impatiently take it into our own hands. Moreover, we are the worst possible judges of our own rights. When deeply wounded, or irritated by insults, or bliuded by passion, we are not in a fit condition to exercise judicial functions. Yet it is just on such occasions that we are most tempted to wreak vengennco on the head of an offender. 3. It is om· duty to forgive and save oiir fellow-man. E1·cn if punishment i68 THE PROVERBS. [orr. XXIV, 1-34,
be due to him, vengeance from us is not owing. Our business is to seek to reclaim by "heaping coals of fire" on our wrong-doer. Instead of doina to him as be has done to us, our Christian motto is to do to him as we would that be should do to us. 4. Revenge i.s t11n-Ohristlike. Ch!istians are called t? follow in the_ footsteps of the patient and brave Jesus, who was patient under provocation, even praymg for his enemies. 5, Revenge is uruieemly in those who needfO'l·giveness. We are dependent on the mercy of God. H~ has not taken vengeance on_ us. But if we forgive not men their trespasses, neither will our heavenly Father forgive us our trespasses, Thus Portia rightly says to Shylock- " Consider this- That in the course of justice, none of us Should see salrntiou: we do pray for mercy; And that same prayer doth teach us all to render The deeds of mercy."