The End of Revenge at the Cross (Proverbs 24:29)
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Proverbs 24:29
Do not say, “I will do to him as he has done to me;
I will pay the man back for what he has done.”
John Trapp, with his usual holy sharpness, once wrote:
"Nothing is more natural than revenge of wrongs, and the world approves it as right temper, true touch, as to put up wrongs is held cowardice and unmanliness. But we have not so learned Christ."
How true that is. Proverbs 24:29 uncovers the anthem of fallen man — the natural response to being wronged.
“I will do to him as he has done to me;
I will pay the man back for what he has done.”
This is, in many ways, the world’s gospel: bruise for bruise, insult for insult, strike for strike. It feels natural, even noble. To put up with wrong is branded as weakness. But Jesus gives us the true gospel.
The Nazarene will not have His disciples sharpening the swords of revenge. Instead, He calls us to the strange strength of mercy. He does not whisper, “Get even”; He thunders, “Forgive.”
“Do not repay evil for evil,” Paul echoes, “but bless those who persecute you.” And our Lord Himself speaks plainly in Matthew 5:38-40:
“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.
And if anyone would sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well.”
When the world clutches its fists, Jesus opens His arms. He turns cheeks, surrenders cloaks, and walks extra miles — not out of cowardice, but out of Calvary-strength.
The cross is God’s great contradiction of revenge.
So what does this mean? It means Jesus does not train our hands for vengeance, but teaches them to bless — even when wounded. He does not balance the scales; He breaks them, pouring out grace where wrath was due.
As we discussed yesterday, a lot has gone on here this week (and past few weeks for that matter) in our country. A lot of violence. Most recently a school shooting in Colorado. It’s awful. It’s frustrating. These things are heartbreaking. They make you angry. Everything in you says: “This is wrong. Someone has to set this right.”
And that instinct is not wrong. Righteous anger is not sinful. To long for justice is to reflect the heart of God Himself. He hates evil more than we ever could. But here’s the dilemma: when we take justice into our own hands, it only escalates. Retaliation never ends the cycle; it multiplies it.
That’s why the cross matters. At Calvary, God did not shrug at evil. He judged it. But He also bore the judgment Himself. It is finished, and that means we can forgive — not because evil isn’t significant, but because it's so significant that we dare not take it into our own hands. We entrust it to the only One who can bring perfect justice and perfect mercy together.
Let’s pray.
