Overcoming Evil

Sermons of Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones

Martyn Lloyd-Jones

Christianity, Religion & Spirituality

4.8 • 602 Ratings

🗓️ 4 May 2026

⏱️ 54 minutes

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Summary

The Christian must ask themselves if they truly love those who desire to do them wrong and if it is enough to not return evil with evil. According to the apostle Paul in Romans 12:20–21, God requires much more from Christians. The return of evil with good raises the Christian perspective far above secular morality. It lifts it to the supernatural. How do Christians achieve such a supernatural response? In this sermon on Romans 12:20–21 titled “Overcoming Evil,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones explores this question and others in his exposition of Romans. In addition to discerning the meaning of Paul’s citation of Proverbs 25:21–22, Dr. Lloyd-Jones explains why the principle of returning evil with good is essential. Dr. Lloyd-Jones puts Paul’s words in the broader context of the Bible’s teaching on spiritual warfare. Instead of overcoming evil by doing positive good, Christians allow themselves to be overcome by evil by retaliating. The key is to think of themselves less and put the situation in the proper perspective, understanding that life is more about the spiritual than the physical. The Christian commends the gospel and personally grows as they overcome evil with good. Heed the words of Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones as he teaches on the Christian’s response to enemies.

Transcript

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0:00.0	I should like to call your attention this evening to the last two verses, namely verses 20 and 21,
0:07.0	in the 12th chapter of Paul's epistle to the Romans.
0:10.7	Therefore, if thine enemy hunger, feed him, if he thirst to give him drink.
0:17.5	For in so doing, thou shalt heap coves of fire on his head
0:22.2	be not overcome of evil
0:25.0	but overcome evil with good
0:27.8	now this is obviously connected with
0:30.3	what has gone before and what we were
0:32.7	considering last Friday night in the
0:34.7	19th verse
0:35.8	purely beloved avenge not yourselves,
0:40.0	but rather give place unto wrath.
0:43.9	For it is written,
0:45.5	vengeance is mine.
0:47.7	I will repay, saith the Lord.
0:50.7	Therefore, if thine enemy hunger, feed him, etc. This statement, in other words, completes the previous
1:01.6	statement that we've been considering about the way in which we react to and treat those
1:08.5	who hurt us and who offend us.
1:12.4	That's the theme, as you know.
1:14.3	Indeed, it's a part of this entire theme which the apostle has in this section of this
1:20.9	great and practical chapter.
1:23.8	It's the question of maintaining peace.
	...

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