If your enemy is hungry, feed him; you will heap BURNING COALS on his head

[tonychanyt]

Paul gave a piece of super smart advice in Romans 12:

18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.

Have peace.

19 Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.”

Dumb people get angry with their enemies and have no peace. Smart people do not react like that. Paul continued,

20 to the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink;

Do it sincerely with love and peace. Leave the rest to God:

for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Paul quoted Solomon's proverb in Pr 25:21-22. By treating our enemies with undeserved kindness, we leave them exposed to God's righteous wrath. That's the smart way to go. Try not to overthink it too much.

What is this expression "burning coals on his head"?

It came from the imprecatory Psalm 140:

9 As for the head of those who surround me, May the mischief of their lips cover them. 10 “May burning coals fall upon them; May they be cast into the fire, Into deep pits from which they cannot rise.

That's what Paul had in mind: divine vengeance. Psalm 18:

12 From the brightness before Him passed His thick clouds, Hailstones and coals of fire. 13 The LORD also thundered in the heavens, And the Most High uttered His voice, Hailstones and coals of fire.

Be nice to your enemies, loving and peaceful. God will do the rest. We are to love our enemies.

 

[Richard T]

Paul gave a piece of super smart advice in Romans 12:


Have peace.


Dumb people get angry with their enemies and have no peace. Smart people do not react like that. Paul continued,


Do it sincerely with love and peace. Leave the rest to God:


Paul quoted Solomon's proverb in Pr 25:21-22. By treating our enemies with undeserved kindness, we leave them exposed to God's righteous wrath. That's the smart way to go. Try not to overthink it too much.

What is this expression "burning coals on his head"?

It came from the imprecatory Psalm 140:


That's what Paul had in mind: divine vengeance. Psalm 18:


Be nice to your enemies, loving and peaceful. God will do the rest. We are to love our enemies.

A good topic as always and a fair interpretation. There are some alternative views on this though worth mentioning. It could be connected to divine vengeance but it also could be connected to repentance, that the kindness opens the door for the enemy to be shamed and repent.

Some also teach this about burning coals
"His Kingdom Prophecy lists a couple of interesting interpretations. for example, they quote Kenneth Samuel Wuest (1893-1962): Source: What is the meaning of "heap burning coals on his head"?

"In Bible times an oriental needed to keep his hearth fire going all the time in order to insure fire for cooking and warmth. If it went out, he had to go to a neighbour for some live coals of fire. These he would carry on his head in a container, oriental fashion, back to his home. The person who would give him some live coals would be meeting his desperate need and showing him an outstanding kindness. If he would heap the container with coals, the man would be sure of getting some home still burning. The one injured would be returning kindness for injury."

God bless, I appreciate your many questions that many leave unanswered.