Care for your enemies

The 24th Code of Conduct from is “Care for your enemy” found in verse 20. It reads as follows,

“20 Therefore; “If your enemy is hungry, feed him;

“If your enemy is hungry, feed him;

“If your enemy is hungry, feed him;

If he is thirsty, give him a drink;

For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.”

The concept of kindness towards our enemies is found throughout the scriptures. Our text is quote from , . We can see a great example of this in where the Prophet Elisha orders the King of Israel to show kindness to Syrian Army, that they had taken captive. Specifically to give them food and drink and then send them back to their master without harming them.

In , Jesus tells us ; 43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, 45 that you may be sons of your Father in heaven;.” This something only a person empowered by the Holy Spirit can do.

The New King James Version. (1982). (). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

The idea of “heaping burning coals on His head” is foreign to our modern life but the idea is that our kindness to our enemy would move them to “burning shame”. To stoop to vengeance is to be ourselves conquered by evil. Evil can never be conquered by evil. If hatred is met with more hatred, it is only increased; but, if it is met with love, an antidote for the poison is found. As the American educationist Booker T. Washington said, ‘I will not allow any man to make me lower myself by hating him.’ The only real way to destroy an enemy is to make that person a friend. (Barclay)

The Letter to the Romans Christians and Their Neighbours (Romans 12:14–21)

To stoop to vengeance is to be ourselves conquered by evil. Evil can never be conquered by evil. If hatred is met with more hatred, it is only increased; but, if it is met with love, an antidote for the poison is found. As the American educationist Booker T. Washington said, ‘I will not allow any man to make me lower myself by hating him.’ The only real way to destroy an enemy is to make that person a friend.