See that none render evil for evil unto any man, but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men. 1 Thessalonians 5:15
Think about this: To return evil for good is demonic; to return evil for evil is brutal, to return good for good is human; to return good for evil is divine. Not sure where that comes from, but it tells much about the heart that responds. Based on this, rendering evil for evil is acting no better than a wild beast. And that is certainly no way for a Christian to act. Our text makes that clear. No matter how anyone treats us, our response should always be good. That’s how the Lord Jesus responded when He lived among us. Because He expects us to do the same.
If anyone offends us in any way, our response should be with grace and not with wrath. That is the divine approach of rendering good for evil. That’s not always easy, because as human beings, we are inclined to render good for good. In our text, Paul tells us that this gracious approach should prevail among the Lord’s people. The sweet spirit of forgiving one another and overlooking one another’s faults will tell others that we belong to the One Who, when He was reviled, reviled not again.
Our text does not limit rendering good for evil just to other Christians; this divine principle applies to everybody we encounter. Yes, it’s a good testimony and may draw others to our Saviour. But it is also simple obedience to our Lord in following Him. -Jim MacIntosh
Here is the link to the video of this message: https://youtu.be/wiIPUKhUAQQ