Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. On the contrary:
“If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.
In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.”
Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.Romans 12:19-21
During 2026, Peachtree Church is inviting everyone into Cultivate, a churchwide discipleship plan centered on the fruit of the Spirit and the kind of life God longs to grow in us. Throughout the year, we’ll explore how love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control take shape in everyday life through the Spirit’s work. Cultivate brings together worship, Scripture, group guides, and meaningful practices designed to meet you where you are and support growth in ways that fit your season. These twice-weekly devotionals are one way to stay connected, offering reflection and grounding for daily life with God. Whether you engage in many ways or just one, you’re invited to be part of this shared journey of becoming more rooted in who God has created and called you to be.
Devotional
In this passage about forbearance and leaving payback to the Lord, these burning coals are a shocking addition. You might wonder, Did Paul himself add that to this quotation? Well, no: because Paul is quoting Scripture from the book of Proverbs. Proverbs 25: 21-22 reads as follows:
If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat;
if he is thirsty, give him water to drink.
In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head,
and the Lord will reward you.
Many of Proverbs’ verses read like this, as sharp, canny advice written to those who want to live above the fray in a sinful world. Sometimes Proverbs reads strangely to Christian eyes, with people being called fools, wastrels, and sluggards.
Possibly aware of the shock of those burning coals, N.T. Wright says the verses in Romans are probably about treating enemies so well that they come to remorse and repentance. I don’t know how your enemies act, but mine would not be repentant after I heaped their heads with hot coals. They would be calling an ambulance and an injury lawyer!
And truly, Paul is not urging us to fire up the charcoal; he’s advocating treating an enemy so well that their own evil intent weighs on them.
But I’m mentally scratching my head about these burning coals in a passage about leaving vengeance to God and never returning evil for evil. I am uncomfortable with those burning coals.
And so I turn to Jesus. Did he ever quote such a proverb about enemies?
In Matthew 5: 43-45 Jesus says, “You have heard that it was said, Love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But I say to you, Love your enemies, pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven.”
Over and over, Jesus urges that we treat our enemies with grace, and he never tells us that by doing so, they will have burning coals heaped upon them. He never quotes the end of that Proverb. He never heaps burning coals on anyone.
In fact, he forgave those who crucified Him!
If you think about it, we were ourselves Jesus’ enemies, living in sin and hate before he transformed us. And instead of applying coals, Jesus welcomes us into the Kingdom of God. Jesus’ love is never a punishment; it is welcoming and life-changing.
For Reflection
- Does our intent matter when we do someone a good turn?
- Do we treat someone kindly, hoping they feel bad for their past actions?
- Or do we give not counting the cost, leaving that person in God’s hands?
Prayer
Dear Lord, if I leave punishment to You, if I leave setting everything right to You, I feel so light and free. I know You will do what is right and good in Your eyes. I remember that I am not the judge and jury of others and that I may safely leave it all in Your hands. What freedom You give me to give grace to others the way You’ve always given it to me. Help me to rest in You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
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