I Thessalonians: See and Seek.

“See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone.” (1 Thessalonians 5:15 (ESV)

Have you ever been hurt? I mean really hurt? Are you being hurt? It may be a physical, emotional, or a psychological wound, pain or injury you have suffered by the behavior and words from another individual, or individuals.

We hear of crimes committed by people against others almost on a daily basis. The 24-hour news networks report on these types of stories consistently. School shootings, workplace violence, sexual harassment, human trafficking, and mass genocide by people groups and governments against other people groups and governments are but a brief testimony of humankind’s fallen condition.

Living in a fallen world, one should expect hurtful treatment by unconverted and sinful people. It happens all the time. It is historical. Ancient and recent history is filled with stories of man’s inhumanity to their fellow man, woman and child. The 20^th century, in spite of its many technological, medical and cultural advances, is also known as one of, if not the most, violent century on record. Its wake is riddled with the remains of untold millions of human lives tragically impacted by the decisions and actions of others.

This does not even take into consideration the daily hurts we commit and others commit against us. How many of us have experienced the cold, unspoken stare by someone you knew as a friend but who no longer wants you nearby. What about the employer who belittles you in front of others because of an unintentional mistake on your part. What about a parent who makes fun of you in front of others? Can you recall the shock and pain you emotionally felt by such a betrayal?

Circumstances may change from person to person regarding the how, why, when, where and by whom you have experienced pain. However, one thing is certain and perhaps consistent with everyone who has suffered by someone at some time. Somebody has hurt you and there is a deep-rooted desire within your soul to hurt them back. To retaliate. You are angry by the actions of another against you and you want to get even.

One author writes, “Vengeance is one of the primal urges of human beings. When someone wrongs us, our first thought is usually that we should pay him back for what he has done. Our love for retaliation in kind has even entered our everyday language, appearing in phrases such as “Revenge is sweet.”

Christian author Jerry Bridges observes, “The opposite of retaliation is to entrust ourselves to God, who judges justly.”

The Apostle Paul did not shy away from addressing the problem of pain and suffering and how to respond to it. The apostle spoke of the subject in Rom. 12:17-21 and I Cor. 6:1-7. He demonstrated the believers’’ proper response to injustice in Philippi (Acts 16:16-34). Our Lord Jesus Christ taught how to respond to unjust suffering (Matt. 5:38-42). So also did the Apostle Peter (I Peter 2:21-23; 3:9-17).

In today’s featured text, Paul writes, ““See that no one repays anyone evil for evil.” He is writing to the entire church (I Thess. 1:1). No believer is exempt from this divine directive.

The command begins with the word “see” (ὁρᾶτε; horate). It is a present, active, plural, imperative verb. In this context, to see means to make something happen. The expressions “I’ll see to it,” or “See to it,” refer to the same idea. The individual believer in Christ, along with the local church, must actively obey this command.

Paul then wrote, “no one repays anyone evil for evil.”  No Christian is to repay (ἀποδῷ; apodo) pay back or recompense anyone evil (κακὸν; kakon) for evil (κακοῦ; kakou). The same Greek word is respectively used as an adjective and a noun. Evil is what is harmful, incorrect and bad. The Lord is the one who determines what is harmful, incorrect, bad and evil. Clearly, this is a distinctive Christian moral ethic accomplished only by the indwelling presence and power of the Holy Spirit in the believer. Such responsive behavior does not make anyone a believer in Christ, but it is one way to evidence you are a believer in Christ.

However, the text also provides a second command: “…but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone.” To seek (διώκετε; diokete) is also a present, active, plural imperative verb. It means to make every effort, to pursue and to press forward. It complements the previous verb “see.” Believers are to seek to do good (ἀγαθὸν; agathon). This refers to a positive moral and beneficial act.

“It is important to understand that neither Paul nor Jesus is saying that Christians should never seek the punishment of evildoers or that we should simply let people abuse us. The emphasis is on not responding in kind to personal insults. Tthe striking of the cheek that Jesus mentions in the Sermon on the Mount is a euphemism for put-downs. In other words, when we feel that our honor has been assaulted by others, when we have been insulted or otherwise harmed in ways that fall short of criminal activity, we are not to seek revenge,” explains Dr. R. C. Sproul.

“However, it is appropriate to take matters to the civil authorities in the case of abuse and other criminal offenses. The church must get this right, for we invite others to dishonor the name of Christ when we do not protect God’s children from violence, particularly when we fail to protect the defenseless among us and do not call upon the civil authorities to investigate criminal offenses in the church when such investigations are mandated by the magistrate (Rom. 2:23–24; 13:1–7).”

John Calvin comments, “We must not merely refrain from inflicting vengeance, when any one has injured us, but must cultivate beneficence towards all.”

The Lord calls believers in Christ to make every effort to do good to all people, even those who hurt us. We must not tolerate continual abuse, and we should contact the authorities when the law has been broken. However, we are not to seek payback for every personal wrong or insult committed against us. Let us pray the Lord will give us the strength today not to repay evil with evil, but rather to do good.

May the Lord’s truth and grace be found here. Have a God-honoring day.

Soli deo Gloria!