Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good. (Romans xii. 21.) Our Epistle today is from the twelfth chapter of St. Paul s Epistle to the Romans. The first eleven chapters describe the spiritual condition of both Jews and Gentiles and call attention to the folly of the Jew s efforts at righteousness. In this twelfth chapter, he describes God s love. He describes how it is shown in the Incarnation, the Crucifixion and the Resurrection. We may not associate love with the Crucifixion and the Resurrection. However, only true love can make the necessary sacrifice for the good of all mankind. Finally, he begins to show in detail how Christians can follow God s law of love. He acknowledges how difficult it is to show God s love to those who persecute us. But, with Christ s example, he insists that we must do so. As with all Christian endeavors, if we are to apply this guidance to our everyday lives, we must start with humility. Pride, when offended requires recompense. Intellectually, we know that repaying one offense with a like offense creates a never ending escalation of hatred. Almost all of the political hot spots in the world are examples of that process. Along with this guideline, we are also told to provide things honest in the eyes of all men. We are told to provide truth to the extent that all men can see its value and reality. It means we must pursue and present the truth as God created it. Men s interpretation of the truth as they see it or wish it to be is not adequate. Paul s next statement may strike you as odd. If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. Paul is known for being direct. The commandments Epiphany3fwb20170122.doc 12/29/2016 Page 1
Christ gave are as absolute as the Law of Moses. We can look at them as Thou shalt nots, or we can look at them as Thou shalts. In either case we know there are no shades of gray in them. How can Paul equivocate and say, If it be possible? When Paul is quoting an unalterable command, he says It is written or some similar qualifier. When no divine commandment seems to directly apply or when clarification is necessary, Paul gives his own precept. In this particular case, Paul is being pastoral; urging us to do the best we can in light of our human frailty. Paul says, Recompense to no man evil for evil : and Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good. These are Paul s words, but they clarify and illustrate the Will of God. These are not suggestions; they are commands. They are required of Christians in every circumstance - in every time and place. Paul says, If it be possible, ; we know not all things are possible in every situation we encounter. But, if it be possible, as much as lieth in you, ; we also know we don t always have the same capacity to endure others. So, he said, If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. This is once case in which he says, Do the best you can. He follows that with Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath. That, too, is good advice; but even better is the direct command from Scripture. For it is written, Vengeance is mine, I will repay, saith the Lord. Paul is clear in stating Christ s mind in our text today. Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good. He is also pastoral in encouraging us to do the best we can in penitence and faith. Now he gives us an example. If thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing, thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. Epiphany3fwb20170122.doc 12/29/2016 Page 2
This can be confusing. We are told, vengeance is the Lord s: and yet we seem to be encouraged to heap coals of fire on the head of our enemy. When Paul talked of God s vengeance he was quoting from Deuteronomy where God said, To me belongeth vengeance and recompense. When Paul talks of heaping coals of fire on the head of our enemy, He is quoting from Proverbs. Obviously, the two phrases must come together in fulfilling God s Will. People who give food and drink are not invoking vengeance on God s behalf. We know God is the judge and he is the enforcer of his judgments. These two phrases do come together if we remember God s world is not like our world. A different perspective brings these together in a new light. Instead of trying to get even with those who ve hurt us, we can offer kindness. The coals of fire heaped upon their head are simply feelings of remorse in their minds. They are pangs of conscience for unjustified hostility. If their enmity has been based on fear or prejudice, it ll likely vanish as the result of our generosity. However, you may not always enjoy such immediate success. The result will depend largely upon the hardness of the enemy s heart. Nonetheless, the value to us as Christians is significant. Show kindness to our enemies. Let our desire to get even be overcome by a zeal to show God s love. Let our actions be a following of Jesus in the conquering of self; rather than the putting down of a foe. In so doing, our desire for vengeance will be tempered, and we shall ourselves be more pleasing to the Lord. This is a realistic interpretation of Paul s words and shows a higher understanding. Instead of heaping coals of fire on our enemies and having them dumped back on us, the coals can cool wherever they fall. Patient suffering on our part Epiphany3fwb20170122.doc 12/29/2016 Page 3
with concrete expressions of good will show that we seek only to be dutiful children of the Lord most high. There is another curious saying of Paul s. He quotes the fourth verse of the fourth Psalm. Be ye angry and sin not. In our Book of Common Prayer, it reads, Stand in awe and sin not. These may not seem to convey the same message. We must remember that the Holy Scriptures read by St. Paul would have been the Septuagint. This was a Greek translation of the Hebrew Old Testament completed in the second century Before Christ. If we read the same Psalm out of the Septuagint, we find, Be ye angry and sin not; let not the sun go down upon your wrath. Now we see why Paul said, Be ye angry and sin not. It is appropriate to be angry if the judgment is right and the cause is a good one. Yet even that anger must serve the fulfilling of God s Will. Even righteous anger must be released quickly to keep it from resulting in temptation and sin. Just before our Epistle reading today is another phrase that is commonly misunderstood. Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not. Blessing is a term we often under-estimate. Blessing someone does not consist of making a cross in the air while saying, God Bless You. That is a symbolic act of the actual blessing itself. True blessing is much more. There are three parts to a genuine blessing. First, you must have a real desire to see good come to someone. If you do not have a real desire to see them benefit from your blessing, it is hollow. Second, any real desire to see someone benefit from your blessing will result in prayer. We pray for everything we really want to see happen. Third, any genuine prayer on behalf of another person must result in our Epiphany3fwb20170122.doc 12/29/2016 Page 4
willingness to assist in the process. Our effort and actions on behalf of their welfare are the natural result of sincere prayers. This more thorough understanding of the extent of blessing fits in nicely with our text today. Bless them which persecute you. Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good. They are simply two sides of the same coin. We have accepted Christ s law as our guide to life. It is his law that we hope to fulfill with the grace of God. Jesus Christ is the Way, the Truth and the Life. Jesus Christ is the only Way, the only Truth and the only Life. All of these sayings, exemplify a life lived by Christ s law. Recompense no man evil for evil. Live peaceably with all men. If your enemy hunger, feed him. If he thirst, give him drink. Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good. While we have time, let us do good unto all men; and especially unto them that are of the household of faith. (Galatians vi. 10.) Epiphany3fwb20170122.doc 12/29/2016 Page 5