Hot coals - a new look

COMMENTARY ON ROMANS 12:20,21
by Glenn Tompkins and others.

Ro 12:20 Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.

It is most evident, from the whole connection of the place and the apostle's use of it, that the heaping of the coals of fire upon the head of the enemy is intended to produce not an evil, but the most beneficial effect; and the following verse is an additional proof of this.

Ro 12:21 Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good. (KJV)

Some scholars take the opposite view: JFB in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head--As the heaping of "coals of fire" is in the Old Testament the figurative expression of divine vengeance (Ps 140:10; 11:6, &c.), the true sense of these words seems to be, "That will be the most effectual vengeance--a vengeance under which he will be fain to bend"

This is best understood by looking to the O.T. passage quoted. This is taken from Pr 25:21,22, which without doubt supplied the basis of those lofty precepts on that subject which form the culminating point of the Sermon on the Mount.

Pr 25:21 If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink: 22 For thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, and the LORD shall reward thee.

In many cultures where matches are not used, the fire to cook the families food has to be kept going. If it goes out, a member of the family must go to a neighbor for hot coals.

Likewise, in many countries, bags of rice, and jars of water are carried on the head. Not all, but some places a pan of hot coals on some padding may be carrried on the head.

To heap coals on someone's head is to do good by giving a neighbor a fresh start for the family cooking fire.

Trivia about synagogues

Trivia about synagogues. by Glenn Tompkins

Every synagogue in the world is built so the worshiping congregation is facing toward Jerusalem. In Bible times there was an exception. The ruins of the synagogue at Capernaum show that the congregation would be facing away from Jerusalem. Why? Because it was built by a Gentile, and given to the Jews. See Luke 7:1-10 Gentiles did not know the tradition.