Opposition, to sin and evil

God opposes evil

Matthew 21:12–13 KJV 1900

And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves, And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.

See also Ex 4:24; Le 20:3; Le 26:14–17; Nu 22:22; Mal 3:2–5; Jas 4:6; 1 Pe 5:5; Re 2:16

God’s people should oppose evil

Within themselves

Colossians 3:5 KJV 1900

Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:

See also Mt 5:29–30; Ro 8:13

Among themselves

Galatians 2:11 KJV 1900

But when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed.

See also 1 Co 5:12–13; Eph 5:3

Examples of failure to oppose evil

Within the church

1 Co 5:1–2; Re 2:20

Within the family

1 Sa 3:13; 1 Ki 1:6

Within the state

Habakkuk 1:4 KJV 1900

Therefore the law is slacked, and judgment doth never go forth: For the wicked doth compass about the righteous; Therefore wrong judgment proceedeth.

See also Jdg 5:23; 1 Sa 15:9–11; Je 5:28

Examples of unwise opposition to evil

Mt 26:51–52; Jn 18:10–11; Lk 9:54–55; Ac 19:13–16

Opposing evil by doing good

Commanded by God

1 Peter 2:15 KJV 1900

For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men:

See also Mt 5:44; Ro 12:20–21; 1 Th 5:15

Exemplified in Scripture

Nu 12:13; 1 Sa 24:17; 1 Sa 26:11; 2 Ki 6:22; Lk 22:51; Lk 23:34

Motives for opposing evil

Concern for the honour and glory of God

Numbers 25:6–13 KJV 1900

And, behold, one of the children of Israel came and brought unto his brethren a Midianitish woman in the sight of Moses, and in the sight of all the congregation of the children of Israel, who were weeping before the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. And when Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, saw it, he rose up from among the congregation, and took a javelin in his hand; And he went after the man of Israel into the tent, and thrust both of them through, the man of Israel, and the woman through her belly. So the plague was stayed from the children of Israel. And those that died in the plague were twenty and four thousand. And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, hath turned my wrath away from the children of Israel, while he was zealous for my sake among them, that I consumed not the children of Israel in my jealousy. Wherefore say, Behold, I give unto him my covenant of peace: And he shall have it, and his seed after him, even the covenant of an everlasting priesthood; because he was zealous for his God, and made an atonement for the children of Israel.

See also 1 Ki 19:10; Eze 28:22; Jn 2:17

Concern for the good of others

Galatians 2:4–5 KJV 1900

And that because of false brethren unawares brought in, who came in privily to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage: To whom we gave place by subjection, no, not for an hour; that the truth of the gospel might continue with you.

See also Dt 17:12–13; 1 Ti 5:20