February 25

Romans 12:14

Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not.

It is frustrating when we witness to someone about the Gospel and they will not receive the gift of eternal life and give themselves to Jesus. It is more frustrating when they get angry or scornful. But when they get abusive or hurtful in any way, it is human nature to want to pay them in the same coin. The key word here is HUMAN nature. But this was not the way Jesus taught us to respond. He said “Bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you, that ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven’’, Matthew 5:44. Compare Jesus’ teaching with the COUNTERFEIT RELIGIONS that advocate TAKING THE SWORD, and going on the war path. Jesus said, “I am not of this world”, John 8:23, and His teachings certainly prove this is so.

In one village where Jesus and the disciples were not well received, James and John (Sons of Thunder) wanted to call down fire from heaven and consume the people. Jesus said “Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of. For the Son of man is not come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them”. Luke 9:55. “The wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits”. James 3:17. “Therefore, Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not”. Romans 12:14.

Commentary by Francis L. Harris

"...what must I do to be saved?" Acts 16:30