Dit vor dat. Tit for tat. Quid pro quo. Blow for blow.
The expression “tit for tat” is kind of odd. I recently discovered that its origin probably came from the Dutch expression dit vor dat, meaning “this for that.” It’s similar to the Latin quid pro quo, often heard in courtroom legalese — meaning “something for something.” Or, it may have come from the English, “tip for tap,” or “a blow for a blow.”
Whatever its etymology, it certainly indicates a tendency to repay in kind — I’m talking retaliation.
When someone hurts us, something inside us says, “I want you to hurt too.” Or maybe, “Nobody has the right to treat me so badly” — we’re talking payback.
Yeah, you may feel some guilt about your attitude, but at the same time a feisty stubbornness says, “I have every right to feel this way!”
But Jesus suggested a different attitude. He instructed us to love our enemies, to do good to those who hate us, to bless those who curse us, to pray for those who mistreat us, and to “do to others as you would have them do to you” (Luke 6:27-28,31). We find additional instructions in Romans 12 on the way to treat people: “Do not repay anyone evil for evil” (v.17) and “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good” (v.21).
That’s radical thinking, isn’t it? In fact, it’s almost the exact opposite of what you feel like doing. But when we harbor resentment in our heart, often we suffer the most. Those toxic emotions damage us, eat away at us, change us.
This, of course, doesn’t mean that you should ever be a doormat or continue to accept abuse from someone. That’s a serious issue which requires some serious help. But whenever it is possible — particularly when the person who hurt you is repentant — you should follow Jesus’ example.
Jesus was never about payback. He was about doing the unexpected. He was about turning the other cheek and offering forgiveness and exhibiting righteous living.
No dit vor dat. No tit for tat. No quid pro quo. No blow for blow. Jesus has always been about mercy and grace and love. — Cindy Kasper
DESTINATION POINTS * Is there someone in my life who has hurt me deeply? * What have I done in retaliation to hurt that person? * What will I do to begin healing by following Jesus’ words?
By doing good, you will overcome evil.