Paul said that God would repay those who had caused suffering among them. He was going to give relief from heaven with a flaming fire. He would inflict vengeance on those who do not know God or on those who disobey God. They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, separation from the presence of the Lord and his glory. On that day, the Lord will come in his glory. All will marvel at him. All who believed because of our testimony will be saved on the day of our Lord. Do you think that God is vengeful?
vengeance
Wear the bad judge out (Lk 18:5-18:5)
“Yet because this widow
Keeps bothering me,
I will grant her justice.
Thus,
She may not
Wear me out
By her continual harassment.”
διά γε τὸ παρέχειν μοι κόπον τὴν χήραν ταύτην ἐκδικήσω αὐτήν, ἵνα μὴ εἰς τέλος ἐρχομένη ὑπωπιάζῃ με.
Luke is the only synoptic writer with this parable about the widow and the bad judge. Luke indicated that Jesus said that because this widow (τὴν χήραν ταύτην) kept bothering or causing trouble (διά γε τὸ παρέχειν μοι κόπον) to this bad judge, he was going to grant her justice (ἐκδικήσω αὐτήν). Thus, she would not wear him out by her continual exhausting harassment (ἵνα μὴ εἰς τέλος ἐρχομένη ὑπωπιάζῃ με) anymore. In other words, this bad judge just wanted to get rid of this widow, because she was exhausting him with all her supplications and demands. Thus, he granted her a verdict of vengeance against her enemy. Have you ever had a favorable court ruling?
The widow’s petition (Lk 18:3-18:3)
“In that city,
There was a widow
Who kept coming
To him.
Saying.
‘Grant me justice
Against my opponent!’”
χήρα δὲ ἦν ἐν τῇ πόλει ἐκείνῃ, καὶ ἤρχετο πρὸς αὐτὸν λέγουσα Ἐκδίκησόν με ἀπὸ τοῦ ἀντιδίκου μου.
Luke is the only synoptic writer with this parable about the widow and the bad judge. Luke indicated that Jesus said there was a widow in that city (χήρα δὲ ἦν ἐν τῇ πόλει ἐκείνῃ). She kept coming to this bad judge (καὶ ἤρχετο πρὸς αὐτὸν). She said (λέγουσα) that she wanted justice or restitution (Ἐκδίκησόν με) against her opponent or adversary (ἀπὸ τοῦ ἀντιδίκου μου). Widows were the powerless and vulnerable in Jewish society, since they had lost the support of their husbands. People would always be reminded to help the poor and the widows, as they were considered the same class of people, since generally, older women without husbands were poor. This particular widow had a case against someone, so that she kept coming back to his bad judge to achieve justice or vengeance on her part. Have you ever sued anyone?
Love your neighbor (Lk 10:27-10:27)
“You shall love
Your neighbor
As yourself.”
καὶ τὸν πλησίον σου ὡς σεαυτόν.
Luke indicated that the lawyer said that they should love their neighbor (καὶ τὸν πλησίον σου) as themselves (ὡς σεαυτόν), using the second person plural. There is something similar in Mark, chapter 12:3, where Mark indicated that Jesus, not the lawyer, replied that the 2nd commandment was like the 1st one. since it was about love. Not only were they to love God, but they were to love their neighbors as themselves. There were no other commandments greater than these 2 commandments of love. Everything was based on the love of God and neighbor. Matthew, chapter 22: 38-39 had Jesus reply also, not the lawyer, that they were to love their neighbors as themselves, since all the commandments of the law and the prophets hung on these two commandments. This second commandment was based on Leviticus, chapter 19:11-18, that has become the basic fundamental cornerstone of Judaism and Christianity. Leviticus further explained the Ten Commandments and your neighbor. They were not to steal or deal falsely with their neighbor. They should not lie, swear, or defraud their neighbor. They were not to keep the wages of a laborer, or revile the deaf or the blind. They should not render an unjust judgment, since they should treat the poor and the great with equal justice. They should not slanderer or profit from the blood of their neighbors. They were not to hate in their heart any of their relatives. They should not take vengeance or bear a grudge, because they should love their relatives and neighbors as themselves. All the commandments of the law and the prophets depended on these two commandments of loving God and your neighbor. Do you love your neighbor?
Tell him what you have seen (Lk 7:22-7:22)
“Jesus answered them.
‘Go!
Tell John!
What you have seen
And heard.
The blind
Receive their sight.
The lame
Walk.
The lepers
Are cleansed.
The deaf
Hear.
The dead
Are raised up.
The poor
Have good news
Brought to them.’”
καὶ ἀποκριθεὶς εἶπεν αὐτοῖς Πορευθέντες ἀπαγγείλατε Ἰωάνει ἃ εἴδετε καὶ ἠκούσατε· τυφλοὶ ἀναβλέπουσιν, χωλοὶ περιπατοῦσιν, λεπροὶ καθαρίζονται, καὶ κωφοὶ ἀκούουσιν, νεκροὶ ἐγείρονται, πτωχοὶ εὐαγγελίζονται·
Luke said that Jesus answered the disciples of John (καὶ ἀποκριθεὶς εἶπεν αὐτοῖς). He told them to go tell John (Πορευθέντες ἀπαγγείλατε Ἰωάνει) what they had seen and heard (ἃ εἴδετε καὶ ἠκούσατε). The blind ones receive their sight (τυφλοὶ ἀναβλέπουσιν). The lame walk (χωλοὶ περιπατοῦσιν). The lepers are cleansed (λεπροὶ καθαρίζονται). The deaf hear (καὶ κωφοὶ ἀκούουσιν). The dead are raised up (νεκροὶ ἐγείρονται). The poor have good news brought to them (πτωχοὶ εὐαγγελίζονται). This is almost word for word like Matthew, chapter 11:4-5, indicating a possible Q source. Jesus responded or answered these disciples and their main question. He told them to report back to John after their journey what they had heard and seen. Then Jesus listed what he had been doing. The blind people have recovered their sight. The lame people were walking around. The lepers were cleansed. The deaf were able to hear. The dead were raised up. The poor and destitute people were getting good news brought to them. This is a very strong response, as if to say that he was the Messiah, the Christ, the anointed one, something that Jesus did not do often. This messianic expectation was based on Isaiah, chapter 35:4-6, when the savior, their God would come with a vengeance to make up for past problems. He would come to save them. Isaiah seems to indicate that there would be a reversal of fortune, a change in the ways that things happen. The blind would see. The deaf would hear. The lame would run. The mute people would speak. Have you had a change in your life?
The second commandment (Mk 12:31-12:31)
“‘The second commandment is.
‘You shall love
Your neighbor
As yourself.’
There is no other commandment
Greater than these.’”
δευτέρα αὕτη Ἀγαπήσεις τὸν πλησίον σου ὡς σεαυτόν. μείζων τούτων ἄλλη ἐντολὴ οὐκ ἔστιν.
There is something similar in Matthew, chapter 22:39-40, and Luke, chapter 10:27, but in a more condensed version. This was based on Leviticus, chapter 19:18. A further explanation of the commandments in Leviticus ends with this basic fundamental concept of love your neighbor as yourself, which became the cornerstone of Judaism and Christianity. They were not to hate in their heart anyone of their relatives. They should reprove their neighbor, but not take vengeance on him. They were not to bear a grudge, because they should love them as themselves. Mark said that Jesus replied that the 2nd commandment (δευτέρα αὕτη) was like the 1st one about love. Not only were they to love God, but they were to love their neighbors as themselves (Ἀγαπήσεις τὸν πλησίον σου ὡς σεαυτόν). There were no other commandments greater than these 2 commandments of love (μείζων τούτων ἄλλη ἐντολὴ οὐκ ἔστιν). Everything was based on the love of God and neighbor.
The second commandment (Mt 22:39-22:40)
“The second commandment
Is like it.
‘You shall love
Your neighbor
As yourself.
On these two commandments
Hang all the law
And the prophets.’”
δευτέρα ὁμοία αὐτῇ Ἀγαπήσεις τὸν πλησίον σου ὡς σεαυτόν.
ἐν ταύταις ταῖς δυσὶν ἐντολαῖς ὅλος ὁ νόμος κρέμαται καὶ οἱ προφῆται.
There is something similar in Mark, chapter 12:31, almost word for word, and Luke, chapter 20:27, but in a more condensed version. This was based on Leviticus, chapter 19:18. A further explanation of the commandments in Leviticus ends with this basic fundamental concept of love your neighbor as yourself, which became the cornerstone of Judaism and Christianity. They were not to hate in their heart anyone of their relatives. They should reprove their neighbor, but not take vengeance on him. They were not to bear a grudge, because they should love them as themselves. Jesus replied that the 2nd commandment was like the 1st one (δευτέρα ὁμοία αὐτῇ) since it was about love. Not only were they to love God, but they were to love their neighbors as themselves (Ἀγαπήσεις τὸν πλησίον σου ὡς σεαυτόν). All the commandments of the law (ὅλος ὁ νόμος) and the prophets (καὶ οἱ προφῆται) hang (κρέμαται) on these two commandments (ἐν ταύταις ταῖς δυσὶν ἐντολαῖς).
The response of Jesus (Mt 11:4-11:6)
“Jesus answered them.
‘Go on your way!
Tell John
What you hear!
Tell him
What you see!
The blind receive their sight.
The lame people walk.
The lepers are cleansed.
The deaf hear.
The dead are raised up.
The poor have good news
Brought to them.
Blessed is anyone
Who takes no offense at me!’”
καὶ ἀποκριθεὶς ὁ Ἰησοῦς εἶπεν αὐτοῖς Πορευθέντες ἀπαγγείλατε Ἰωάνει ἃ ἀκούετε καὶ βλέπετε·
τυφλοὶ ἀναβλέπουσιν καὶ χωλοὶ περιπατοῦσιν, λεπροὶ καθαρίζονται καὶ κωφοὶ ἀκούουσιν, καὶ νεκροὶ ἐγείρονται καὶ πτωχοὶ εὐαγγελίζονται·
καὶ μακάριός ἐστιν ὃς ἐὰν μὴ σκανδαλισθῇ ἐν ἐμοί.
This is word for word like Luke, chapter 7:22-23, indicating a possible Q source. Jesus responded or answered these disciples and their question (καὶ ἀποκριθεὶς ὁ Ἰησοῦς). He told them to report back after their journey to John (εἶπεν αὐτοῖς Πορευθέντες ἀπαγγείλατε Ἰωάνει) what they had heard and seen (ἃ ἀκούετε καὶ βλέπετε). Then Jesus listed what he had been doing. The blind recovered their sight (τυφλοὶ ἀναβλέπουσιν). The lame people were walking around (καὶ χωλοὶ περιπατοῦσιν καὶ χωλοὶ περιπατοῦσιν). The lepers were cleansed (, λεπροὶ καθαρίζονται). The deaf were able to hear (καὶ κωφοὶ ἀκούουσιν). The dead were raised up (καὶ νεκροὶ ἐγείρονται). The poor and destitute people were getting good news brought to them (καὶ πτωχοὶ εὐαγγελίζονται). The blessed, happy, and fortunate people were not scandalized, offended, or stumbled because of Jesus (καὶ μακάριός ἐστιν ὃς ἐὰν μὴ σκανδαλισθῇ ἐν ἐμοί). This is a very strong response, as if to say that he was the Messiah, the Christ, the anointed one, something that Jesus did not do often. The messianic expectation was based on Isaiah, chapter 35:4-6, when the savior, their God would come with a vengeance to make up for past problems. He would come to save them. Isaiah seems to indicate that there would be a reversal of fortune, a change in the ways that things happen. The blind would see. The deaf would hear. The lame would run. The mute people would speak.
Against the Philistines (Ezek 25:15-25:15)
“Thus says Yahweh God!
‘With unending hostilities,
The Philistines
Acted in vengeance
With malice of heart.
They took revenge
In destruction.’”
The Philistines were often mentioned in the biblical literature, especially as the enemies of King David. They were perhaps originally from the island of Crete. They were the five main Philistine coastal cities mentioned from the time of Joshua, chapter 13, Ashkelon, Gaza, Ekron, Gath, and Ashdod, all on the Mediterranean coast line of present day Israel. Thus the mention of unending hostilities with the Philistines did not seem out of place. Jeremiah, chapter 47, had also spoken against them. These Philistines acted with vengeance and malice, as they brought revenge on the Israelites with their destruction.
The punishment of Edom (Ezek 25:13-25:14)
“Therefore,
Thus says Yahweh God!
‘I will stretch out
My hand
Against Edom.
I will cut off from it
Humans,
As well as animals.
I will make it desolate.
From Teman
Even to Dedan,
They shall fall
By the sword.
I will lay my vengeance
Upon Edom
By the hand
Of my people
Israel.
They shall act
In Edom
According to my anger.
They shall act
According to my wrath.
They shall know
My vengeance.’
Says Yahweh God.”
Unlike Moab and Ammon, Yahweh was going to destroy Edom with the Israelites, and not with the people from the East. Yahweh was going to stretch out his hand against Edom, so that it would be cut off from all humans and animals. He was going to make it a desolate place from Teman to Dedan. Teman was perhaps a tribal group in northern Edom, since Teman was the name of the grandson of Esau. Dedan was a tribe involved in commerce in the south of Edom. They would all fall by the sword or they would end up in captivity. However, this vengeance was to come at the hands of Yahweh’s people, Israel. They would carry out the anger and wrath of Yahweh. Thus the Edomites would know the vengeance of Yahweh God.
Eugene Finnegan Bible Project 