I was sitting in a coffee shop this week when I overheard a young woman make this statement. She said, “Forgiveness runs deep in our family.”

I have no idea what was behind this comment, but it made me think that forgiveness should run deep with all those that profess Christianity.

A visiting preacher said in his lesson on Sunday that God is not sitting up in heaven watching us to catch us in sin. He is there for the purpose of forgiving us. He wants us to do right. He knows we will do wrong, and He wants to provide a way for us to be sorry for our sins and ask for forgiveness.

We sometimes hold things against others, forgetting that God is going to forgive us as we forgive others (Matthew 5:14-15). We can’t expect forgiveness if we can’t forgive our family, friends, and even our enemies.

What does the Bible say about how we should treat our enemies? What should be our attitude toward those that we know want to do us harm?

Let’s look at a passage in Romans 12:17-21. The apostle Paul says, “Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, ‘Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.’” To the contrary, ‘if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.’ Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good” (ESV).

From this passage we learn:

1. We should not return evil for evil. This is a command. This is the behavior God wants from His people.

This is different than in the Old Testament where the law said, “Eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burn for burn, wound for wound, stripe for stripe” (Exodus 21:24-25). Jesus mentions this passage in Matthew 5:38-30, “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.”

Paul says in I Thessalonians 5:15, “See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone.” Notice that Paul says to “always seek to do good.” Once again, this is a command, not a choice.

2. We are to overcome evil with good. Jesus said, “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust” (Matthew 5:44-45). Once again, we have a direct command to do good.

3. Vengeance belongs to God. There is a similar statement made by the writer of Hebrews. He says, “For we know him who said, ‘Vengeance is mine; I will repay.’ And again, ‘The Lord will judge his people’” (Hebrews 10:30). God will take care of whatever punishment is necessary in the Day of Judgment.

4. We are to feed our enemy if he is hungry and give him water if he is thirsty. I have mentioned these verses before, but they are worth repeating. Matthew 25:31-46. Jesus tells us that only those who show concern for the needy will enter the kingdom of heaven. That includes our enemies!

We can’t return good for evil without forgiving our enemies. We can’t overcome evil with good without forgiving our enemies. We can’t recognize that only God has the right to deliver punishment and continue to punish those that mistreat us unless we stop trying to do His job for Him. It will be very hard to hold grudges when we feed, give water, clothe, and visit those that are our enemies.

God wants us to be merciful, and the only ones that will receive mercy are those that show mercy (Matthew 5:7).

God wants us to be peacemakers in order to be called children of God (Matthew 5:9).“Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord” (Hebrews 12:14).

So, does forgiveness run deep in your family? If not remember the words of Jesus in Matthew 7:12. “So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.”

Sandra Oliver