Our Favorite Proverbs: Proverbs 17:13

by David Chadwick

“If anyone returns evil for good, evil will not depart from his house.”

Proverbs 17:13

My kids used to listen to a Scripture memory song from Romans 12:21 when they were younger that said, “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. Do not be overcome by evil. With good. With good. Overcome evil with good.” Hearing them singing this verse will be forever etched in my mind.

Evil is everywhere. Our world is broken, and until Jesus returns, evil is an unfortunate reality we all must endure. As followers of Jesus, how should we navigate a world full of evil? Do not return evil with evil! Why not? Because when you return evil with evil, the person to whom you returned the evil will only enlarge his or her response to you. Responding to evil with evil will only escalate the evil.

Proverbs 17:13 says, “If anyone returns evil for good, evil will not depart from his house.” In other words, you become a house for evil when you repay someone’s goodness with evil.

This same command is repeated in the New Testament in Romans 12:19. “Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, ‘Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.’”

It’s called “lex talionis,” the law of retaliation. This Latin principle was what famously became known as “an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.” The punishment must fit the crime in full! This principle was rooted in vengeance and justice. But Gandhi was correct when he said that this teaching carried out will leave the world blind and toothless.

The only thing that can break this law of retaliation is grace, mercy, and forgiveness. The Bible says to forgive 70 times 7. Over and over again. Repeatedly. This is both for your benefit, for the benefit of the others, and for the health of society.

The key to you being able to forgive is to know Jesus’s forgiveness of you on the cross. He forgave you a $1 billion debt, one that you could never forgive. Therefore, you should easily be able to forgive the $10 debt someone may owe us.

Forgiveness sets you free! It is for your benefit. It stops the endless cycle of revenge. And it's for God’s glory.