If I become this kind of guy or gal, two major things will happen. For thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, and the LORD shall reward thee. But the LORD honors such choices on our part. For thou shalt heap hot coals upon his head, and the Lord will reward thee. Of course, sometimes we have to do this even when we don’t feel like doing it. The Apostle Paul restated this amazing truth in his list of attitudes and actions we are to practice in our dealings with others (Romans 12:9-21). For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends. But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’. As the modern wise saying goes – “kill them with kindness!” Matthew 5:43-45 ESV / 54 helpful votesHelpfulNot Helpful. In doing so, I can really destroy my enemy – destroy them by making them my friend. So, taken together, these verses suggest – when I see my enemy struggling with something (hungry, thirsty), I should do something to help (food, drink). But our verses are using such an action as a metaphor to feeding that person and giving them drink. Of course, literally doing this burning coals thing would kill them. The first verse says if I see that someone who hates me, my enemy, “is hungry” or “thirsty” I am supposed to “give him food to eat” (and don’t poison it!) and/or “given him water to drink.” That is not generally my first response!īut the second verse adds, when I do respond like this, I “will heap burning coals on his head.” And, on top of that, “the LORD will reward me.” Now, that’s what I’m talking about! Jesus doesn’t allow us to hate our enemies (Mt 5:44), so if there is any hating going on, it’s their choice, not mine! Throughout the Bible, my enemy is not someone I hate – it’s someone who chooses to hate me. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head, and the LORD will reward you.Īnother enemy verse in Proverbs. Heavenly Father, help me to treat those who may be enemies of mine with the kindness You show me.If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat if he is thirsty, give him water to drink. So, the word for you today is – treat your enemy with kindness. You can experience the short-term satisfaction of retaliating and get into trouble with God for doing it, or show mercy and kindness and be rewarded by God for doing it. When you treat an enemy this way, the Bible promises, ‘The LORD will reward you.’ You have a choice. ‘Heaping burning coals on someone’s head’ came to be a popular expression for a spontaneous and courteous act one person would voluntarily do for another. Thanks to the thoughtful generosity of a few folks, they would arrive at the site with a pile of burning coals on their head, and a ready-made fire for cooking and keeping warm. So, as the individual passed beneath second-story windows, thoughtful people who had extra hot coals in their possession would reach out the window and place them in the container atop their head. The container was commonly carried on the head. It shows us how to be kind in practical ways. Exodus 23:4-5 teaches us to love our enemies. 5 If you see the donkey of someone who hates you fallen down under its load, do not leave it there be sure you help them with it. Frequently, a person would run low on hot coals and need to replenish his or her supply. 4 If you come across your enemy’s ox or donkey wandering off, be sure to return it. What does it mean to ‘heap coals of fire on his head’? Charles Swindoll explains that in ancient days, homes were heated and meals were fixed on a small portable stove, somewhat like our outside barbecue grills. ‘If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink for so you will heap coals of fire on his head, and the LORD will reward you’ (vv. It’s not enough to simply leave your enemies alone you must demonstrate God’s love towards them. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head, and the LORD will reward you.
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