The Word of God Today

[Mulongo]

“Revenge Is Mine.”

Romans 12:19-21 ESV
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.” To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

You have heard that it was said, ‘AN EYE FOR AN EYE, AND A TOOTH FOR A TOOTH.’ But I say to you, do not resist him who is evil; but whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if any one wants to sue you, and take your shirt, let him have your coat also. And whoever shall force you to go one mile, go with him two. Give to him who asks of you, and do not turn away from him who wants to borrow from you. You have heard that it was said, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR, and hate your enemy,’ But I say to you, love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you in order that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax-gatherers do the same? And if you greet your brothers only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect (Matthew 5:38-48).

The natural man seeks to pay back those who persecute him, plus interest. He would not be content with “an eye for an eye” but would seek two eyes for an eye. This is revenge. The man of integrity seeks only that which is appropriate repayment or retribution. This is justice. The Christian must return blessing for cursing, good for evil. This is grace.

12:17-21)
17 Never pay back evil for evil to anyone. Respect what is right in the sight of all men.18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men. 19 Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. 20 “But if your enemy is hungry, feed him, and if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in so doing you will heap burning coals upon his head.” 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Translation
Revenge is categorically forbidden—never is it to be practiced nor done to anyone. No exceptions are named; no excuses are accepted. Why? Five answers are given below:
1. Revenge is like you are admitting that good is powerless, and only evil can make things happen.
2. If you pay evil with evil deeds, it’s like you have been converted to the bad faith.
3. How can you blame the one who is persecuting you, when you are doing the same thing?
4. Revenge succumbs to evil rather than overcoming evil with good.
5. Revenge usurps a task which belongs only to God.

Consider now why revenge is wrong, categorically and without exception, for each of these reasons
Acts 16:16-34).Chapter 11 holds the key. In our text, Paul warns, “Do not be wise in your own estimation” (verse 16). An almost identical expression is found only in Romans 11:25:

[Omumbejja]

Tweyanzizza obugambo bwotuledde obuzimba omwooyo

[Alex Kigongo]

EKIGAMBO KYA KATONDA EKYA LEERO
Waliwo omusajja omu eyalina endiga ze musanvu. Nga waliwo omusajja omulala nga ye talina kintu kyonna, mwaavu lukyoolo. Omusajja omugagga lumu yasalawo, nakwaata endigaze omukaaga ku musanvu gweyalina, naazitonera omusajja omwaavu, agende ezikozese byonna byaayagala. Nga omuntu yenna alimu ak’obuntu, nga bakuwadde ekyo bwereere, omusajja omwaavu yebaza. Wabula ate teyakoma awo, nagamba Omusajja Omuggaga nti, ” Neeyo gyosigazza nayo gimpe.” Awo bwobeera nga ye ggwe mugagga awadde, owulira otya era okola ki?

Naye ate naffe bwetukola. Katonda yakola ennaku musanvu, natuwaako mukaaga, tuzikozese byonna byetwagala.Olunaku olusooka, olw’okubiri, olw’okusatu, olw’okuna, olw’okutaano, olw’omukaaga nga zonna zaffe ku bwaffe. Naye olw’omusanvu naalusigaza nti olwo lulwe, nga lweerw’okugenderako okumusinza mu masinzizo. Kyokka ate noolwo nalwo tulugaanira netulwesigaliza okugenda okulukolerako ebyaffe. Nga ddala tulinga omusajja omwaavu gwebaawa endiga omukaaga, ate nasaba ney’omusanvu.Omulundi ogujja bwebukya ku lunaku lwa Mukama, newesanga nga olina emirimu egikugaana okugenda mu nyumba ye, jjukira omusajja oyo.

Twegayirire Katonda waffe, olwekisa kye, atusonyiwe ebyonoono byaffe, ebikolwa byaffe bibeere nga bisaanidde mu maaso ge. Awulire era ayanukule bulijjo okusaba kwaffe. Amiina.

Zabbuli 122:1
1 Nasanyuka bwe baŋŋamba nti Tugende mu nnyumba ya Mukama.

[Alex Kigongo]

EKIGAMBO KYA KATONDA EKYA LEERO
Waliwo endogoyi gyebayitanga Yakobo nga ebeera wamu ne maama waayo okumpi ne kibuga Yerusalemi.Lumu Yesu yatuma abayigirizwa nti, “Mugende mu mbuga ebali mu maaso, amangu ago munaalaba endogoyi ng’esibiddwa, n’omwana gwayo nayo; muzisumulule, muzindeetere. Abayigirizwa ne bagenda, ne bakola nga Yesu bwe yabalagira ne baleeta endogoyi, n’omwana gwayo, ne bazissaako engoye zaabwe; n’azituulako.Abantu bangi ab’omu kibiina ne baaliira engoye zaabwe mu kkubo; abalala ne batema amatabi ku miti, ne bagaaliira mu kkubo.Ebibiina ebyamukulembera, n’ebyo ebyava ennyuma ne byogerera waggulu, ne bigamba nti Ozaana eri omwana wa Dawudi: Aweereddwa omukisa ajja mu linnya lya Mukama: Ozaana waggulu mu ggulu.

Ebyo byonna Yakobo bweyabiwulira nokubiraba nelowoza nti eteekwa okubeera nga ye ndogoyi ensinga okubeera eyawaggulu mu Yerusalemi mwonna, kabe kasinge ne munsi yonna.Yasula nsanyufu nnyo, era nga yesunga okuddayo mu Yerusalemi. Nga esuubira nti abantu ate ku luno bajja kusukka nekubajjo obungi, oba oli awo bagiwe nebirabo.
Enkeera nga maama waayo tannazukuuka yakeera nnyo negenda mu Yerusalemi. Yayita wakati mu kkubo nga egenda yeyagala,ekyakala, naye nga tewali agifaako. Kyeyava ekowoola abantu bagilabe, naye tewali wadde omuntu omu eyagissako maaso, oba okugiwubiira amatabi, yadde okugikubira emizira, oba okwalirira engoye zaabwe etambulireko.

Yadduka neddayo ewa maama waayo nga ekaaba. Nga yebuuza lwaki abantu jjo bagiyisa nga Kabaka ate leero nebabeera nga abatagimanyi? Maama waayo yagigamba nti jjo Kabaka yabadde akwebagadde, abantu kyebavudde bakuwa ekitiibwa. Watali ggwe tolina kyoli.

Bwetutyo naffe oluusi tufuna amalala, nga Mukama atukozesa emirimu gye. Ate oluvanyuma netunakuwala, nga emirimu giwedde, nga tulowooza nti twali ku maanyi gaffe.

Twegayirire Mukama atukozese emirimu emirungi egigasa Nyaffe Buganda. Abaganda n’abantu abalungi ababeera awamu naffe, ffenna ayongere okutulaga ekisa nokusasira kwe. Amiina.

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