Overcoming Evil
“And when Jesus went out He saw a great multitude; and He was moved with compassion for them, and healed their sick.” — Matthew 14:14
Jesus was the perfect example of how to respond in difficult times, showing us that the best way to extinguish the flames of evil is by doing good. In our human nature, when we’re wronged or hurt, the instinctive response is often to retaliate—to give someone a “piece of our mind,” seek revenge, or harbor resentment. But Scripture teaches us a different approach: “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” (Romans 12:21).
In today’s passage, we see Jesus displaying this principle in a powerful way. In Matthew 14:12, after Jesus received the devastating news that John the Baptist, His relative and faithful servant of God, had been beheaded. The Scripture tells us that Jesus went off to be alone, likely to process His grief and commune with His Father. However, the story takes a surprising turn.
Instead of being consumed by grief, Jesus is moved with compassion. When He sees the great multitude that has followed Him, He doesn’t turn them away or explain His need for personal time. Instead, He steps into their needs, healing the sick and then, miraculously feeding over 5,000 people.
Talk about overcoming evil with good! In a moment when He had every reason to withdraw, Jesus chose to pour out love and compassion. He could have easily said, “This isn’t a good time for me. My family is in crisis, and I need space,” or “I need to be alone to process this loss.” Yet, His heart was so in tune with God’s purpose that He responded with grace, even in the midst of His own pain.
It’s important to note that overcoming evil with good doesn’t necessarily mean we must directly engage with those who wronged us. Jesus didn’t seek out the one who beheaded John in this situation to do good to him. Instead, He focused on the people right in front of Him, those who needed His compassion and care. Jesus recognized that the real enemy was not the people or even the circumstances, but Satan, the source of all evil. By focusing on doing good, Jesus turned what could have been a moment of deep sorrow into an opportunity to show God’s love and power.
Today, I want to encourage you to remember that when evil comes your way, the best way to respond is with good. When your thoughts and emotions are pushing you to get even or do something even worse, choose instead to walk in God’s goodness and love. Right where you are, in whatever situation you face, let God’s light shine through you by overcoming evil with doing good and having compassion on others.
Today’s scripture reading: Matthew 14:1-21
1 At that time Herod the tetrarch heard the report about Jesus
2 and said to his servants, “This is John the Baptist; he is risen from the dead, and therefore these powers are at work in him.”
3 For Herod had laid hold of John and bound him, and put him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife.
4 Because John had said to him, “It is not lawful for you to have her.”
5 And although he wanted to put him to death, he feared the multitude, because they counted him as a prophet.
6 But when Herod’s birthday was celebrated, the daughter of Herodias danced before them and pleased Herod.
7 Therefore he promised with an oath to give her whatever she might ask.
8 So she, having been prompted by her mother, said, “Give me John the Baptist’s head here on a platter.”
9 And the king was sorry; nevertheless, because of the oaths and because of those who sat with him, he commanded it to be given to her.
10 So he sent and had John beheaded in prison.
11 And his head was brought on a platter and given to the girl, and she brought it to her mother.
12 Then his disciples came and took away the body and buried it, and went and told Jesus.
13 When Jesus heard it, He departed from there by boat to a deserted place by Himself. But when the multitudes heard it, they followed Him on foot from the cities.
14 And when Jesus went out He saw a great multitude; and He was moved with compassion for them, and healed their sick.
15 When it was evening, His disciples came to Him, saying, “This is a deserted place, and the hour is already late. Send the multitudes away, that they may go into the villages and buy themselves food.”
16 But Jesus said to them, “They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat.”
17 And they said to Him, “We have here only five loaves and two fish.”
18 He said, “Bring them here to Me.”
19 Then He commanded the multitudes to sit down on the grass. And He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, He blessed and broke and gave the loaves to the disciples; and the disciples gave to the multitudes.
20 So they all ate and were filled, and they took up twelve baskets full of the fragments that remained.
21 Now those who had eaten were about five thousand men, besides women and children.
The Daily Dose 