"Overcome Evil With Good"

As Jesus was passing through Samaria on His way to Jerusalem, He sent messengers ahead to prepare a place. However, the villagers refused Him because they had no association with Jews, just as the Jews did not associate with Samaritans (Luke 9:51-53; cf. John 4:9).

When James and John heard about the refusal, they fumed, “Lord, do You want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them?” (Luke 9:54). They had just been on the Mount of Transfiguration and had seen their Lord with Moses and Elijah. No doubt they recalled the story of Elijah calling down fire from heaven (2 Kings 1:9-12). But when they asked for a consuming fire, Jesus rebuked them (Luke 9:55).

He told them, “The Son of Man did not come to destroy men’s lives but to save them” (Luke 9:56). It should never be the desire of a Christian to seek vengeance.

Paul wrote: “Do not avenge yourselves …. for it is written, Vengeance is Mine, I will repay, says the Lord. Therefore If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good” (Romans 12:19-21; cf. 1 Samuel 24:16-19).

God treads the winepress of His wrath "alone" (Isaiah 63:3). He alone must be the dispenser of vengeance — not us.

As followers of Christ, our sole business is to bring the good news of salvation to the world (Matthew 28:19-20; Mark 16:15; Romans 10:14-15). Jesus calls us to show kindness to difficult people, for the purpose of motivating them to obey the saving gospel of Christ.

—Mike Riley, Gospel Snippets