Matthew 5:21 Ye have heard that it was said of them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment: 23 Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; 24 Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.
The law of God is spiritual in nature, and that's why the teachings of Christ focus so heavily on the mind. In the above passage of scripture, Jesus explains that the law which says "Thou shalt not kill" reaches into our thoughts and purposes, and the attitudes we may harbor toward our fellow man, when wrongs have been committed. In the sight of God the cherished attitude of hatred and revenge is equivalent to murder, for the sentiments and thoughts of our hearts become the springboard for all our actions.
Even when punishment is due, the disposition to be eager for just retribution is offensive to God and should not ever be cultivated in our hearts. As a general rule of thumb, human beings like to see justice meted out to the guilty, and that's why we have so many popular shows on television run by judges. This insatiable craving for justice does not come from God, and when it is indulged by Christians, it negatively affects our relationship with Him. Let's read:
Proverbs 24:17 Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth, and let not thine heart be glad when he stumbleth: 18 Lest the Lord see it, and it displease him, and he turn away his wrath from him.
In the recent case involving Mr. Donald Sterling, owner of the basketball team, The Clippers, the racist comments that were made ignited a firestorm, with millions of prominent people taking to the airwaves and twitterverse to vent their deeply wounded feelings, and their desire to see justice done immediately. Now while it is true that the words spoken by Mr. sterling were not seasoned with grace, yet the great desire for revenge and retribution is not a godly characteristic, and must therefore be placed in its proper context. Let's read:
Luke 9:51 And it came to pass, when the time was come that he should be received up, he stedfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem, 52 And sent messengers before his face: and they went, and entered into a village of the Samaritans, to make ready for him. 53 And they did not receive him, because his face was as though he would go to Jerusalem. 54 And when his disciples James and John saw this, they said, Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elias did? 55 But he turned, and rebuked them, and said, Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of. 56 For the Son of man is not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them. And they went to another village.
God delights in mercy and takes no pleasure in the demise or embarrassment of the sinner, even though He in no way sanctions evil. When we fall and make grave mistakes in life, whether accidentally or deliberately, God's first thought towards us is how can He retrieve, heal and reinstate as soon as possible. The thoughts of man on the contrary are how can we denigrate, humiliate and punish as quickly as possible. Two entirely different attitudes emanating from two completely different sources.
In our daily lives, let us try by the grace of God to follow in the footsteps of Christ, who when he was reviled, reviled not again, but rather sought to forgive and heal broken hearts and lives, and may God grant us His grace, so that our minds be not imbued with the spirit of revenge and hatred, with which we bombarded almost every day. We therefore end with a passage of scripture that calls us to forgiveness, love, and genuine concern for those who have wronged us. Let's read:
1st Peter 2:19 For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully. 20 For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God. 21 For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: 23 Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously.
May God grant us His grace so that this admonition would be fulfilled in our lives. God bless!