What does the Bible say about a Christian taking vengeance?
While reading proverbs chapter six the verses 27 through 35 shocked me! Does this mean a man is allowed to take vengeance on the man who had the adulterous affair with another mans wife? I am personally going through such an ordeal. I need answers to this question.
Proverbs 6:27 - 35
NKJV - 27 Can a man take fire to his bosom, And his clothes not be burned? 28 Can one walk on hot coals, And his feet not be seared?
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Asked March 11 2020
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Matthew Miller
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Tim Maas
First of all, I extend my sympathy with regard to your situation. I understand (as I would say Solomon also did) your desire for personal vengeance (as opposed to legal or civil remedies) under the circumstances that you describe. However, I would not interpret the cited passage from Proverbs as sanctioning such an action. In my opinion, Solomon's focus is on the foolishness of the individual who is committing adultery with another man's wife. His words about the actions of the wronged husband are merely meant as a description of a common "real world" outcome to such a situation (similar to his description of actions "under the sun" in Ecclesiastes), and are not meant to have the same force or applicability as other passages (such as Leviticus 19:18, Deuteronomy 32:35, and Proverbs 24:29) in which God (and even Solomon himself) commanded or advised against such an action. (Also, Jesus further reinforced those verses through His own teaching in passages such as Matthew 5:38-39.) To me, these are the standards that would apply to a Christian (as difficult as such restraint might be under your circumstances from a human standpoint, in the absence of God's assistance).
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