Do you "pay back" others who have hurt you?



TODAY'S PROVERB: Do not be a witness against your neighbor without cause, and do not deceive with your lips. Do not say, “I will do to him what he has done to me; I will pay him back for his deed!” Proverbs 24:28-29

What is the difference between justice and revenge?

JUSTICE is a process to use the law fairly to judge and punish crimes and criminals.
REVENGE seeks to hurt someone in return for an injury or wrong.

JUSTICE is served by a court of law.
REVENGE is enforced by an individual or group.

JUSTICE aims to right a wrong to demonstrate the power of the law.
REVENGE demonstrates the power and intimidation of an individual or group.

JUSTICE is meted out by an impartial individual or group who can assess both sides.
REVENGE is meted out with emotion by the offended person who can only see one side--theirs.

JUSTICE leaves room for mercy and forgiveness.
REVENGE shows no mercy or forgiveness.

Now that we have a better idea of the difference between justice and revenge, who is the only one allowed to exact revenge when justice isn't served? GOD. (Deuteronomy 32:35; Romans 12:19)

Does GOD exact revenge any time justice is not served? No. Remember that GOD is omniscient. He sees all--past, present, future. He sees into our hearts. He loves us all and wants all of us as His own. So, we never know how events are tied to His plans. Even injustice.

In today's proverb, the person wants to be a false witness to an alleged crime. The neighbors clearly have had issues over time--maybe years. Now the offended party sees his opportunity to get back at his neighbor by lying about being a witness to the crime. The false witness is exacting his revenge for his offense. Whether his neighbor did the crime or not doesn't matter--he gets his revenge.

This sort of thing happens more times than we think--and not just in courtrooms. It happens with whispers and justifications for bad behavior against another.

The root of this sinful behavior is unforgiveness. When we don't forgive we tie ourselves to bitterness, that morphs into more sinful behavior such as revenge. Even if our "neighbor" never repents or apologizes, we must forgive because our Heavenly Father forgives us. (Ephesians 4:32)

It's that easy. And that difficult. Revenge is His. We aren't to steal that from Him.

May we only be true witnesses, my friends.

Proverbs 24:28-29, Tree of Life Bible Society, Tree of Life Version - TLV #tlvbible #tlvproverbs

[WATCH Tree of Life Bible Society's CEO, Daniah Greenberg and me, Terri Gillespie, Author dig a little deeper with this proverb. Check us out at Tree of Life Bible Society, Monday through Friday, LIVE at 8:30am EST. Watch previous episodes there as well. Stay wise, my friends!]

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