Why are we commanded, “Do not avenge yourselves?” (Romans 12:19)

In Romans 12:19, the apostle Paul writes, “Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, ‘Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord’” (ESV). With these words, Paul challenges the human instinct for revenge and calls us to address wrongs by trusting God’s perfect justice. The command “Do not avenge yourselves” is not a restriction as much as it is an embrace of a higher Christian ethic grounded in love, faith, and humility.

God is the ultimate judge. When we suffer injustice, we are tempted to take matters into our own hands. However, Scripture reminds us repeatedly that vengeance belongs to the Lord. In Deuteronomy 32:35, the Lord declares, “It is mine to avenge; I will repay. In due time their foot will slip; their day of disaster is near.” Trusting that God is the avenger frees us from the burden of seeking revenge. We can rest assured that He will act according to perfect righteousness.

God’s justice is perfect and impartial, while the human approximation of justice is limited and often partial. This is especially true when we allow anger to drive us to take matters into our own hands. “Human anger does not produce the righteousness God desires” (James 1:20, NLT). When we obey God’s command not to exact revenge, we demonstrate faith in His ability to deal with wrongs better than we ever could.

The command “Do not avenge yourselves” does not prohibit us from seeking justice in a court of law. It is biblical to seek redress and work toward the punishment of crime. The governing authorities, including those who preside over courts, “are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer” (Romans 13:4). God’s justice is reflected (imperfectly) in human justice systems, and we can and should avail ourselves of seeking justice through proper channels.

Do not avenge yourselves calls us to humility. In seeking personal vengeance, we place ourselves on the bench as judges, a role that belongs exclusively to God. James 4:12 says, “There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy. But you—who are you to judge your neighbor?” Humility acknowledges our limited understanding and inability to administer perfect justice.

Jesus, the perfect Son of Man, chose not to retaliate when He suffered unjustly. He sought no revenge, but “when they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when He suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly” (1 Peter 2:23). By following Christ’s example, we can refrain from avenging ourselves. We, too, can entrust ourselves to God and His ability to make things right.

Embracing the command “Do not avenge yourselves” helps us overcome evil with good. Conflicts can become opportunities for showing grace and love. We can underline the truth that “mercy triumphs over judgment” (James 2:13).

Resisting the urge to avenge ourselves mirrors the character of Christ, who taught us to love our enemies (Matthew 5:44). We should not ignore injustices but address them in the proper way. When possible, we should seek restoration rather than retaliation. That way, we create opportunities for God to work in the hearts of everyone involved.

God’s Word challenges our natural inclination for revenge and invites us to embrace a Christian ethic of love, faith, and humility. By surrendering our desire for personal revenge, we respect God’s role as the ultimate Judge and protect ourselves from sin. Justice will be done, for God promises, “Vengeance is mine; I will repay” (Romans 12:19, ESV).