If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. Romans 12:20-21
Providing for the needs of our enemy is a way to repay evil with good. But is it really good if the result will heap burning coals on his head? That seems passive aggressive. Are we nice as a way of vengeance, secretly hoping they will get theirs? That doesn’t seem consistent with God’s call to love our enemy.
Paul brings this difficult instruction from the Psalms and puts it in his letter to the Romans. There must be an important lesson for us if can discern what he meant.
One common interpretation is that God will judge our enemy. There is a contrast to our righteous act and it highlights their evil – even to them if they will see it. Maybe the coals are the shame they feel or that God is searing their conscience. I’m not comfortable with this interpretation because it seems the intentions are to hurt this other person, regardless of our outward good deed. I don’t see that in the character of God.
Or maybe the realization and shame they feel will lead them to repentance and reconciliation – which is a good outcome.
Let’s look at it from a cultural perspective. What would they have heard? Ancient peoples needed to have fires in their home for heat and cooking. Occasionally the coals might go out necessitating a trip to a neighbor to get some burning coals to restart their fire. They would bring a disc-like pan and put some coals on it. If the neighbor was generous, it would be heaping and they would carry it on their head. Sending a heap of coals instead of a few would also ensure they stayed warm on the trip home for an easy restart of the fire. Could the idiom of heaping coals on their head be a way of showing you’ve turned this enemy into a friend? That seems more consistent with the theme in Romans 12 about overcoming evil with good.
I have another thought on this, too. Coal shows up in Isaiah as a purifying agent.
Then one of the seraphs flew to me, having a live coal in his hand, snatched with tongs from the altar. And he laid it on my mouth and said, Lo, this has touched your lips; and your iniquity is taken away, and your sin purged. 6:6-7
Staying consistent with the theme of Romans 12 to overcome evil with good, is it possible that by caring for our enemy we may be sanctifying them in a way? We are bringing them to a path of reconciliation with us and with God. If you are skeptical and still like the first interpretation of judgment better, consider the final sentence? “And the Lord will reward you.” When does God reward us for taking vengeance? That’s His job.
God has called us to love our enemy and to overcome evil with good (see HERE for a reminder this isn’t a “be a doormat” message). I want to be a reconciler where I can. As much as it depends on me, I need to reconcile with those who have hurt me, or others, and point to the ultimate reconciliation with God. How awesome would it be to be used by God in turning my neighbor toward Him. I want my “enemy” to have a heap of coals as a gesture of my friendship and may it lead to repentance and sanctification before God. I know that makes God smile.
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