[Be not overcome of evil] Be not "vanquished" or "subdued" by injury received from others. Do not suffer your temper to be excited; your Christian principles to be abandoned; your mild, amiable, kind, and benevolent temper to be ruffled by any opposition or injury which you may experience. Maintain your Christian principles amidst all opposition, and thus show the power of the gospel. They are overcome by evil who suffer their temper to be excited, who become enraged and revengeful and who engage in contention with those who injure them. ~Barnes

Note: What I love about this particular segment of commentary is the reference to our being a product of the gospel.  We might not always think of it this way, but it is a fact.  The gospel is much more than a message about the World Tomorrow we spread to the world.  It is about a life lived God's way.  In 2 Corinthians 5:20, Paul calls us "ambassadors for Christ."  How can we be ambassadors unless we are and act as He does?  Jesus was never overcome of evil and He is our example.

[But overcome evil with good] That is, subdue or vanquish evil by doing good to others. Show them the loveliness of a better spirit; the power of kindness and benevolence; the value of an amiable, Christian deportment. So doing, you may disarm them of their rage, and be the means of bringing them to better minds. ~Barnes

[Be not overcome of evil] Do not, by giving place to evil, become precisely the same character which thou condemnest in another. Overcome evil with good-however frequently he may grieve and injure thee, always repay him with kindness; thy good-will, in the end, may overcome his evil. ~Clarke

Note: Both commentaries say the same thing.  Christ is instructing us to act as He would thus having an impact on the minds of others.  The gospel message is touching their minds.  God can and will use this now and in the resurrection.

Notice now some scripture that support this principle of displacing evil with good.

Prov 16:32

He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city.

Luke 6:27-30

But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you, Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you.  And unto him that smiteth thee on the one cheek offer also the other; and him that taketh away thy cloke forbid not to take thy coat also.  Give to every man that asketh of thee; and of him that taketh away thy goods ask them not again.

1 Peter 3:9

Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing.

Prov 25:21

If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink:

Matt 18:15  [see Menu item 43 of the Menu-driven Bible Study to see how to conduct the Matthew 18 Process]

Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.

Matt 18:21-22

Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?  Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.

Rom 12:14

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

Eph 4:32

And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.

Lesson 18: Instructions – Overcome evil with good [displace the evil by invoking good]
 
 1] Be a product of the gospel.
 2] Be not vanquished or subdued by injury received by others.
 3] Maintain your Godly principles amidst all opposition.
 4] In all things show the power of the gospel.
 5] Act as the ambassador of Christ you were called to be.
 6] Displace all encountered evil by invoking the power of the Holy Spirit in the form of goodness and righteousness.

back to Lesson 18