12:19
We should not seek revenge, let God take care of this. Again we need to beware of how strong the tendency to see vengeance can be within us at times. We also need to be aware of the higher purpose that God has. Our rights are not irrelevant, but they are not the overriding concern. The honour of the name of Jesus, seeing people come to know Jesus are far more important. And bringing vengeance is not our responsibility. Now God’s wrath works in three ways. It normally and properly acts through human governments in this age, Paul will say more about this later. Secondly, God will sometimes intervene directly in this age. Governments are far from perfect, and sometimes downright corrupt. Sometimes God will intervene. Finally there is the final judgement.
12:20
Paul quotes from Proverbs 25:21,22, the advice he has been giving is not new. Now why do we want to heap burning coals on his head? This can work in various ways. If we treat him well then in the best outcome the enemy will be so amazed at our actions that he will realise the wrong he has done and will repent. This is the ideal outcome. In other cases he will just feel bad about himself but not change, and in others our acting in mercy and his refusal to respond will bring about even greater judgement on him.
12:21
This verse sums up the whole approach. We seek to overcome evil with good, we must not resort to using evil to overcome evil. A prime example of the latter is people using violence against abortion clinics and those who work in them. Abortion is evil but that does not justify using evil to overcome it.
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