God’s Word for Today

28 May, 2025

28 Be not a witness against your neighbor without cause,

and do not deceive with your lips.

29 Do not say, “I will do to him as he has done to me;

I will pay the man back for what he has done.”

-Prov 24:28-29 ESV

AVOID HAVING A VENGEFUL ATTITUDE

Being a witness carries a legal language suggesting things like formal witness testimony in court (Ex 20:16; Pro 19:5). Here, however, it does not refer to someone lying. Rather, it simply says not to speak against others "without cause." There's a marked difference between speaking out about sin and wrongdoing, versus putting others out of spite or jealousy. The lesson here is broad, harmonizing with other verses regarding peace and unity (Mat 5:9; Rom 12:18).

The Lord had commanded the Israelites to love their neighbor as themselves (Lev 19:18) But, they didn't always obey His command. Disputes among themselves are inevitable. How to settle disputes? Leviticus 19:17 says, "You shall not hate your brother in your heart, but you shall reason frankly with your neighbor, lest you incur sin because of him." Let us take note that "deceit is in the heart of those who devise evil."[ Prov 12:20] It is always wrong to speak against others as well as flattery (Prov 29:5; Psa 12:2–3). Telling people what they want to hear, when it's not true or purposefully exaggerated is as much asin as lying (Prov 24:24–26).

On the other hand, we often hear this statement, "I don't get mad. I just get even." The first part is biblical but the second is entirely wrong. (Psa 37:8–9; Prov 16:32; Col 3:8), One attempts to "settle the score" by hurting another. Is it right to hurt to "make things even"? This will lead to petty offenses turning into feuds and insults leading to open war. Romans 12:17 commands: "Repay no one evil for evil." Hebrews 10:30 reminds us again that vengeance belongs to the Lord. When a believer believes someone has wronged him, he should resist the temptation to hurt that person (Prov 20:22). Instead, he should entrust it the Lord who is the perfect judge.

God is much better at it than we are. Thus, Paul admonishes us to "leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, 'Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord'" (Rom 12:19). Paul cites Deut 32:35 where God takes on the role of an avenger. Psalm 94:1 also refers to the Lord as "God of vengeance." Whatever we think we might accomplish by our feeble efforts is counter-productive. Let us remember that the best response to sin and insults is to let the God of the universe make things right.

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