Quote by Martin Luther King Jr.
God will not let any violence go unpunished, but He Himself will take vengeance on our enemies and will send home to them what they have deserved by the way they have treated us. As He Himself says (Deut. 23:55): Vengeance is Mine, I will repay. On the basis of this, St. Paul admonishes the Christians (Rom. 12:19): Never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God. These words are not only instruction but also consolation, as if He were to say: Do not take it upon yourselves to avenge yourselves on one another or to speak curses and maledictions. The person that does you harm or injury is interfering with the office of God and sinning against God as gravely as this man has sinned against you. Therefore, keep your fist to yourself. Leave it to the charge of His wrath and punishing, for He will not let it remain unavenged, and His punishment is more severe than you would like. This man has not assailed you but God Himself, and has already fallen into His wrath. He will not escape this. No one ever has. So why get angry with him when the anger of God, immensely greater and more severe than the anger and punishment of the whole world, has already come upon him and has already avenged itself more thoroughly than you ever could? Besides, he has not injured you one tenth as much as he has injured God. When you see him lying under the severe condemnation, why so many curses and threats of vengeance? Rather you should take pity on his plight, and pray for him to be rescued from it and to reform.
Summary
This quote explains the concept of divine justice and vengeance. It suggests that God, who does not tolerate violence, will ensure that all acts of harm and injustice are repaid. Instead of seeking revenge, believers are advised to trust in God's wrath and punishment, as stated in Deuteronomy and reinforced by St. Paul's admonishment in Romans. The quote emphasizes that taking matters into one's own hands is unnecessary and suggests that those who harm others are ultimately defying God. Rather than anger or curses towards those who have harmed them, individuals are encouraged to show compassion, pray for their redemption, and acknowledge that God's punishment is far more severe and just than any human retaliation could be.
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