Discover Bible Verses About Violence. Violence is an extreme form of aggression. Violence is defined as “physical force exerted for the purpose of violating, damaging, or abusing,” and sadly, violence is a part of everyday life. It’s in our movies and television shows, and we live in a world where power is often established through violence. But for Christians, the way of the world is always trumped by the Word of God. Note that violence in the mind is just as hurtful as violence by the hands. Leviticus 19:17 says, “Do not hate your brother in your heart. Rebuke your neighbor frankly so you will not share in his guilt.” When we know that someone is in sin, is it more loving to keep it quiet and build up hate and resentment towards them? God says we should speak frankly.
Jesus Christ tells us in Matthew 5:21-22 that murderous anger can lead the angry man to judgment from God as quickly as a physical blow. In fact, the violence he exhibits toward someone else can be brought back upon himself by the Lord God. What about violence in war? Exodus 20:13 had been incorrectly translated as “do not kill,” but it literally means “do not murder.” Notice that God has allowed for just wars throughout the history of His people. From Abraham to Deborah to David, the Lord God’s people have fought as instruments of judgment from a righteous and holy God. Romans 13:1-4 calls on us to submit ourselves to government authorities and that nations have the right to bear the sword against evildoers, both domestic and foreign.
Bible Verses About Violence
Brethren, the Bible commands us to love others and as such, we should not be violent toward them. Violence is not a characteristic of love. Violence is a demonstration of hatred which is highly condemned in the Bible.
Matthew 5:43-44 says, “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,”
Psalm 11:5 says, “The LORD examines the righteous, but the wicked, those who love violence, he hates with a passion.”
1 Corinthians 13:4-7 says, “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.”
Below are explicit characteristics of love from the Bible:
- Love is patient
- Love is kind
- Love is respectful
- Love is not envious
- Love is humble
- Love is selfless
- Love is trusting
- Love is calm
- Love is righteous
- Love is honest
- Love protects
- Love is hopeful
- Love is persistent
- Love banishes fear
- Love loves even those who don’t love it
- Love comes from God
- Love makes a great sacrifice
- Love loves through true actions
- Love loves itself
- Love binds a person’s good virtues in perfect unity
- Love gives you the confidence to face even the end of time
- Love is the greatest
Did God Condone Aggression or Violence?
In reading the Old Testament, many people are likely to ask why the Lord God ordered Moses and Joshua to be so aggressive that they killed thousands of people and plundered their cities. Behold, this is an issue that is clearly problematic and has been the source of discussion among theologians for centuries. One example of the passages that portray such comes from the sixth chapter of the Book of Joshua, where God is said to have authorized Joshua to march around the walls of Jericho until they had fallen, then to enter the city with the Israelite army and to slay its inhabitants. Some Biblical scholars might argue that the Canaanite culture was inherently immoral – given to bestiality, brutality, incest, and even human sacrifice – and that it, therefore, deserved God’s wrath. But the passage certainly does not seem to align with our Christian notions of nonviolence and peace.
Pope Benedict XVI addressed the topic in his 2010 apostolic exhortation “Verbum Domini”; in a section titled “The ‘Dark’ Passages of the Bible,” he explained that “God’s plan is manifested progressively and it is accomplished slowly, in successive stages and despite human resistance” – which is another way of saying that the fullness of truth is revealed only in the person, teaching, and ministry of Jesus Christ (No. 42). As such, we would draw an analogy to the passage in the Gospel of Matthew (19:1-12) where Jesus Christ is asked why Moses allowed divorce; Christ’s response was that it was because of the “hardness of your hearts.” God was working, over time, with imperfect people, gradually leading them to Christ.
Violence as a Biblical Evidence of the End Times
Jesus Christ gave us clear warnings about the end times and the sign of His return in Matthew 24. He said that near the end of the age, “because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold” (Matthew 24:12) and believers, “you will be hated by all for my name’s sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved” (Matthew 10:22). Likewise, the Apostle Paul wrote, “that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people” (2 Timothy 3:1-5).
When the love of many has grown cold, the hate of many has heated up. Men are going to be abusive, difficult, disobedient, reckless, treacherous, heartless, and brutal, which all lead to aggression and violence. Brethren, the increasing worldwide violence is part of the end-times scenario. As such, the increasing violence these days, especially against Christians will get worse before it ever gets better and it will only get better when Christ physically returns to judge the world in righteousness. Then all people who have rejected Jesus Christ will see another flood, but this will be a flood of God’s judgment (Revelation 2:8). Notice that if the Lord God has not yet brought you to Repentance and Faith in Christ, then today can be your Day of Salvation (2 Corinthians 6:2). Tomorrow may be too late.
Bible Verses About Violence
Psalm 11:5 – “The Lord tests the righteous, but his soul hates the wicked and the one who loves violence.”
Proverbs 3:31 – “Do not envy a man of violence and do not choose any of his ways,“
Matthew 26:52-54 – Then Jesus said to him, “Put your sword back into its place. For all who take the sword will perish by the sword. Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me more than twelve legions of angels? But how then should the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must be so?”
Titus 3:2 – “To speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people.”
Isaiah 60:18 – “Violence shall no more be heard in your land, devastation or destruction within your borders; you shall call your walls Salvation, and your gates Praise.”
Matthew 5:38-39 – “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.”
Group 1 – Bible Verses About Violence
Romans 14:1 – “As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions.”
Hebrews 10:30 – For we know him who said, “Vengeance is mine; I will repay.” And again, “The Lord will judge his people.”
Genesis 9:5-6 – “And for your lifeblood I will require a reckoning: from every beast I will require it and from man. From his fellow man I will require a reckoning for the life of man. “Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed, for God made man in his own image.“
1 Timothy 3:3 – “Not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money.”
Romans 13:4 – “For he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God’s wrath on the wrongdoer.”
Galatians 5:19-21 – “Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.”
Group 2 – Bible Verses About Violence
Psalm 144:1 – “Of David. Blessed be the Lord, my rock, who trains my hands for war, and my fingers for battle;“
Genesis 6:11 – “Now the earth was corrupt in God’s sight, and the earth was filled with violence.”
Matthew 7:1-2 – “Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you.“
Jeremiah 22:3 – “Thus says the Lord: Do justice and righteousness, and deliver from the hand of the oppressor him who has been robbed. And do no wrong or violence to the resident alien, the fatherless, and the widow, nor shed innocent blood in this place.”
Psalm 72:14 – “From oppression and violence he redeems their life, and precious is their blood in his sight.”
Romans 14:10-13 – “Why do you pass judgment on your brother? Or you, why do you despise your brother? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God; for it is written, “As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.” So then each of us will give an account of himself to God. Therefore let us not pass judgment on one another any longer, but rather decide never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother.“
Group 3 – Bible Verses About Violence
Hosea 4:2 – “There is swearing, lying, murder, stealing, and committing adultery; they break all bounds, and bloodshed follows bloodshed.”
Zephaniah 1:9 – “On that day I will punish everyone who leaps over the threshold, and those who fill their master’s house with violence and fraud.“
Proverbs 13:2 – “From the fruit of his mouth a man eats what is good, but the desire of the treacherous is for violence.“
Ezekiel 45:9 – “Thus says the Lord God: Enough, O princes of Israel! Put away violence and oppression, and execute justice and righteousness. Cease your evictions of my people, declares the Lord God.“
Proverbs 3:29 – “Do not plan evil against your neighbor, who dwells trustingly beside you.“
Psalm 55:15 – “Let death steal over them; let them go down to Sheol alive; for evil is in their dwelling place and in their heart.“
Proverbs 10:11 – “The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life, but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.“
Romans 12:17-21 –