Sermon A: 16 S Pent: Rom 12:20

For the 16th Sunday after Pentecost, the three assigned readings are Jeremiah 15:15-21; Romans 12:9-21 and Matthew 16:21-28. Chosen to preach on at Nokomis, IL is Romans 12:20, “Therefore if your enemy hungers, feed him; if he thirsts, give him a drink; for in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.”

Doesn’t sound very Christian at first reading, does it? Give someone something to eat and something to drink for the purpose of heaping coals of fire on his head? Once more we find a verse that appears to contradict the picture of our LORD Jesus Christ as a loving and gracious Savior.

However, the character of Scripture is consistent in that there needs to be a movement from the apparently contradictory to the clarity of being a paradox. A paradox is a statement that at first appears to be contradictory to the human mind but upon further reflection helped by Biblical definition and distinction, results in a statement understood through the eyes of faith.

Apart from faith, the Bible remains a sealed book without understanding. But through faith, the distinctions between Law and Gospel become clearer. It may seem strange that a morsel of food and a drink of water can be given as the work of the Law, not the Gospel. How so?

Note well that this verse about feeding another is not about your brother but is about your enemy. What Paul is speaking about is the fact that when you do something gracious to one who is your enemy, he can become embarrassed by how he has treated you in light of your unexpected response to him. Anything that wakes another up to the accusing finger of the Law is preparation for the hearing of the Gospel.

While most of the Pharisees were not impressed by Jesus’ attitude and words, clearly at least two of them were; namely, Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea. By doing what is not expected, your gracious behavior has overcome your enemy’s intent to demean and curse you. It’s what Jesus did to the Pharisee who was threatening arrests and death to the Christians. His name was Saul, now Paul.

The hammering of the Law can result in an experience likened to coals of fire heaped upon one’s head when his hated venom is returned as a gracious gift of food and drink. It’s a metaphor of what God Himself did for you in the death and resurrection of His Son as your substitute. Thus the more we look to the cross, the more we become contrite and repentant over our daily sins of thought, word and deed. Thus, even the giving of the Law in that way is an act of love as evil is overcome with good.