Romans 12:19

Romans 12:19 Avenge not yourselves, beloved, but give place unto the wrath of God: for it is written, Vengeance belongeth unto me;. will recompense, saith the Lord.

'Avenge' -'Never take your own revenge' (NASV)

'give place' -'leave room' (NASV), 'But leave the field clear for' (Mon) 'Make room for the law of divine retribution to operate whether now or on the 'day of wrath'.' (F.F. Bruce p. 230)

Christians need to realize that when someone is sinning, the wrath of God is 'already' on the move. (2 Peter 2:3 'their judgement from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep').

'for it is written'. Deuteronomy 32:35

'belongeth unto me' -'His mind is clouded by no passion, biased by no prejudice, deceived by no false appearances, mislead by no lying testimony, warped by no ill will.' (McGarvey p. 504) (Hebrews 10:30) 'The idea of personal vindictiveness must be eliminated from the word here..it is rather full meting out of justice of all parties (when vengeance is used in reference to God)' (Vincent p. 163)

We tend to be vindictive, when we forget or never have grasped how bad hell is. If we really realized what the unrepentant will face, we would make every effort to save them and not desire their destruction. 'Bitterness, spite, vindictiveness' are attitudes that creep into my life, when. have forgotten the horrible fate that my enemy stands daily in danger of, with only the thin thread of life keeping him/her from it. (Judges 1:22)