Sunday’s matchup between division rivals, Tampa Bay and New Orleans, was ugly for most of the game because of sloppy play. Then, in the 4th quarter with the score tied at 3, emotions boiled over and things got even nastier.

What began with Tom Brady arguing for pass interference on a play and Saints defender, Marshon Lattimore, yelling back at him, led to a larger brawl between the two teams.

At one point Lattimore and Bucs running back, Leonard Fournette, were pushing/punching each other when all of a sudden Bucs wide receiver, Mike Evans, stormed in and violently shoved Lattimore to the ground. Evans and other players started fighting while Lattimore got up and responded by going after Evans and tackling him to the ground.

The whole thing was an intense mess that resulted in Evans and Lattimore both being ejected from the game. Evans has also been suspended from the Packers game this Sunday.

Saints head coach, Dennis Allen, told the media about his conversation with Marshon Lattimore following the fiasco: “Yeah, he understands that he can’t retaliate, and that’s something that teams in this league are going to continue to try him on. You look at least a lot of the instances that I can think of [with Lattimore], and it’s generally been a retaliation deal.”

Lattimore and Evans have a history of going after each other and Lattimore typically retaliates instead of walking away. It will be interesting to see how these two interact when the teams play again later in the season.

Although most of us don’t end up in physical scuffles or brawls, as we interact with people and go about our day, we can still feel wronged and encounter something negative, evil, or disrespectful.

Whether intentional or not, someone can say something to offend or hurt us, or to get under our skin. Haven’t we all been cut off in traffic or listened to our friend or spouse say something that irritates or had a co-worker attack us in some way?

Such situations may not have the same intensity as a football game between divisional rivals, but we know what it’s like to be wronged, attacked or frustrated by something someone says or does to us.

When this happens, the question becomes, will we retaliate? Will we try and get even and allow our emotions to boil over as we respond in a costly way?

Just like coach Allen told Lattimore “he can’t retaliate,” Jesus tells us something similar about retaliation in Matthew 5:38-39 (AMP):

“You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth [punishment that fits the offense].’ But I say to you, do not resist an evil person [who insults you or violates your rights]; but whoever slaps you on the right cheek, turn the other toward him also [simply ignore insignificant insults or trivial losses and do not bother to retaliate—maintain your dignity, your self-respect, your poise].”

The reality is, retaliation only makes things worse. However, when we yield to the Holy Spirit to help us respond with love and patience, we’ll keep our honor and refrain from escalating a situation.

It’s very challenging (especially in our own power) to respond well and turn the other cheek when we’ve been wronged, but as Jesus commands us not to retaliate, He’ll also empower us to resist.

Today, let’s ask God to help us bite our tongue, walk away, and not react to our emotions and the desire to get back at someone.

When the attacks come, let’s try to remember these powerful verses:

“Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all” (Romans 12:17; ESV).

“Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good” (Romans 12:21; NIV).

“Don’t say, ‘I will get even for this wrong.’ Wait for the Lord to handle the matter” (Proverbs 20:22; NLT).

I’m Bryce Johnson and you can UNPACK that!

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, please fill me with peace and patience so I can respond properly when someone wrongs me. I pray You’d empower me to overcome evil with good and instead of retaliating, I’d respond in love. It’s very difficult and I need Your help to keep my poise, dignity, and self-respect as I desire to honor you in how I react. In Jesus’ name, I pray, Amen.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS FOR PACKS:

  1. In what ways have you been wronged recently and how did you respond?

  2. Why is retaliation celebrated in the world and how does refraining from retaliation reveal God’s power in us?