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He's quoting Proverbs 25:21-22, in both places it is not a matter of you getting even with him, but that getting even is only appropriate in God's hands. As it says one verse up in Rom 12:19; "Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord."
The fact that you are kind to your enemy has the side effect of humilating him. If he is a wise enemy, he may be turned. If he is an unwise enemy, he will be hardened, but in either case he has no cause to charge you with. There is no settled score.
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Originally Posted by tellville  Willing to elaborate? |
Okay. Allow me to elaborate.
The chosen Apostle, formerly named Saul, at this point in time called Paul, is in the aforementioned passage, alluding back to and quoting from that great passage found in the Old Testament, the 25th Chapter of Proverbs, and the 21st and 22nd verses of said chapter. In neither the 25th Chapter of Proverbs, and the 21st and 22nd verses of said chapter, nor the 12th Chapter of Romans, and verse 20 is the esteemed chosen Apostle (formerly named Saul, at this point in time called Paul) or the esteemed author of the quoted Old Testament passages intimating that one should understand said passages as a means by which one may and should get vengeance. You may be thinking to yourself and ask, "Now, why not?" To this I respond, "Recall it to your heart, young student of the Word, that in the preceding verse is found the quoted proclamation, not unfamiliar to much of mankind, 'Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.'
Rather, what the chosen Apostle (formerly named Saul, at this point in time called Paul) is exhorting all Christian believers unto is the very fact that by your kindnesses given and extended you usually render a state of great humiliation unto your enemy. This will typically effect (although, I must qualify the term
effect, for we know that we mere finite humans cannot
cause any other man's heart to be changed; thus, I mean
affect here in such a manner that would merely recognize a man as a chosen instrument and means by which God performs His work) one of two things in the person of your enemy. If your enemy is a wise man (and I won't go into different examples of wisdom (for example Solomon (David's (the son of Jesse) son) and his request for wisdom) for the sake of brevity) such kindnesses shown him may give him a great urge unto repentance (if the Lord so wills, I must qualify). If this enemy is not wise (and I won't go into the plethora upon plethora of examples of lack of wisdom (for example, many, many, men in the Bible (God's Word (literally God-breathed (inspired))) for the sake of brevity), then his heart will be hardened (as was Pharaoh's (Exodus 9, Romans 9, etc.).
Whatever result ensues, it is without question factual that you yourself are not held accountable or indebted to him in any way shape or form.
There.
(Just
joshing around)