Vengeance is mine…

This is part 4 of a series based upon the Parable of the Marriage Feast in Matthew 22:1-14. Each part stands alone with the other parts supplementing and adding to the whole.

Just like so many other Scriptures that we have looked at in the past, this Passage is so incredibly rich. It just seems like almost every word is oozing with rich, deep meaning. And so to clarify what is being said, we’ll be looking at various Scriptures, concepts, and precepts that are expressed throughout all of the Bible, but primarily throughout the renewed covenant (N/T).

They violently abused and murdered them
Yesterday we discussed verses 5-7 with an emphasis on verses 5 & 6. Today I would like to invite you to consider those same verses, but with an emphasis on verse 7.

5 But they made light of it , and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his market store: 6 And the rest of the people took the king’s servants, and violently abused , and murdered them.⁷ But when the king heard thereof, he was very angry and provoked. He sent forth his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city. (modified KJV)

Matthew 22:6-7 

In verse five we read that many of the invited guests felt that they had more important things to do than attend the king’s wedding feast that he was hosting for his son. In verse six we read that the others violently abused and even murdered the king’s messengers.

When the king learned of how his messengers were mistreated he was provoked to anger: He was outraged.

Consequently, He then sent forth his armies. He destroyed those murderers and burned up their cities.

The God of the Tanakh is the God of the Renewed Covenant.
It is well agreed upon that the king in the parable represents God the Father. However many believe that the God of the “Old Testament” is a “god” of law and judgment: “Different” than the God the Renewed Covenant who they see as a “God of Grace” and “love”; opposite of the “god” of the “OT”.

Of course, the God of the Tanakh (OT) is the very same as the God of the Renewed Covenant.

Once that issue is addressed then we are left to deal with the question; what is this verse referring to? Most commentators will point you toward the destruction of Jerusalem. While I believe that is probably one application: For us, I believe the fulfillment of this verse in the destruction of the Kingdom of evil.

There will be a final putting away of evil which I believe verse 7 is primarily addressing. However, as those in the family of God, I believe that there is also a very real application for us here and now; today.

To be clear, nowhere in the Scripture does Yahweh God promise that we will not be offended or attacked in this life. As a matter of fact, He promises that we will be and of course history bears witness to that.

All through history, the people of God have suffered great persecution in spirit, soul, and body. Of course, this is still going on today.

In Roman’s 12:19 Apostle Paul quotes Deuteronomy 30:35 as he admonishes us to avenge not ourselves, but rather to allow God to take vengeance on our behalf.

It is important to note that the Scriptures distinctly differentiate between revenge and self-defense or personal protection which the Scriptures clearly endorse.

“Vengeance is mine…..”
I believe that there are at least a couple of reasons that Father God reserves the right to vengeance.

One is we should not bear that burden and the other is God is far more capable of executing the precise judgment that a perpetrator needs without it being too extreme or lax.

Those two reasons can be supported Biblically. There is another reason that I believe God declares “Vengeance is mine” but I can not give you a chapter and verse for it. However, I believe that one reason God reserves that right of vengeance for himself is that He is very, very protective of His people and He doesn’t want to entrust the detail to anyone else.

“Vengence is mine saith the Lord.”

As a parent, God is very protective of his Children. If you mess with a child of God, then you had better know that you are going to have hell to pay in a very literal way.

This is related very clearly in Matthew 18:6 -7.
But whosoever shall offend one of these little ones which believes in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depths of the sea. Woe unto the world because of offenses against my people, for it must needs be that offenses come; but woe to that man by whom the offense is come.

It is important to note that this offense that Yeshua is referring to here is for those who are actively representing God

These principles are all through the Bible
Another portion of Scripture that lays these principles out even more explicitly is 2 Thessalonians 1:3-11. For our purposes, I am not going to review that Scripture here and now but for further study, you really should review it because it makes all of this very, very clear.

And when the king heard of it, he was provoked to anger. And he sent out his armies and destroyed the murderers and burned up their cities.

This is exactly what you have to look forward to in regard to the enemies of God that have persecuted you for His sake. This is why Yahweh God says “vengeance is mine”.

Praise God. If you are His child of his, then He cares for you and takes note. Remember that today as you go forth representing Him.

Blessings in Yeshua, 
Parson Rayphe
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