Heap coals of fire on their head, Romans 12:20

What on earth does Romans 12:20 mean? Many have asked. Let’s take a look at it. 

Romans 12:20 – "If your enemy is hungry, feed him;  If he is thirsty, give him a drink; For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head."

This verse is not about some secret way to punish someone, as some may think. It’s quite the opposite. When explaining a verse, study the context first. The entire nearby context is about loving your enemies. But Paul actually begins Romans 12 by teaching us we have to be transformed to be and live like God. We’re being told we must not be like everyone else but act differently from the rest of the world.

It will help you understand Romans 12:20 if you take the time to first read the entire chapter carefully to see the full context.  But let’s start with the beginning. 

Romans 12:2 “"Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect". 

Paul continues in Romans 12 to give many examples of how we can be different, with practical examples. By the time we get to verse 17, Paul says “Do not repay anyone evil for evil.”  We use good to fight evil, as Rom 12:14 says, “Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them.”

So that’s the context. And of course Yeshua also in many different ways told us to LOVE everyone, even our enemies and to pray for them and do good to them (Matthew 5:44-47). 

So what does Romans 12:20 mean, that we will be heaping burning coals on someone’s head when we do good things for our enemy, like feeding him if he’s hungry, or giving him a drink if he’s thirsty?

Did you realize Romans 12:20 is actually a quote from Proverbs?

Proverbs 25:21-22 "If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat; if he is thirsty, give him water to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head, and YHVH will reward you."

It helps us to understand that expressions and idioms from various times and various countries can seem confusing to someone not from that time or area. 

In the ancient world, coals of fire could picture conviction of one’s conscience, or purification or burning shame.  It could be telling us that our kind reactions to their meanness may prick their heart and make them ashamed of the way they were treating us – and possibly even lead them to repent and becoming your friend. It’s like the old expression, “Kill them with kindness.” 

Paul is actually just saying, using the idioms and expressions of their time, that we shouldn’t be trying to hurt our enemies but to show them acts of  kindness instead. Various ones have offered similar versions  but the point is: be kind to those who are being mean to you.

We don’t let what they’re doing to us control how we respond to them. Instead, we are to respond the way Yeshua would: we choose peace as our response. Overwhelm them with goodness, kindness, so that Romans 12:21 ends by saying, “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”  

That’s the point. No matter what the idiom fully exactly meant, the point is – our kindness just may be able to turn around your enemy to have him actually end up being your friend and ally.