Paul warns against repaying evil for evil and instructs that no one should avenge himself. Instead, place must be given to wrath because vengeance belongs to God, who will repay. The evil, wrath, and vengeance under discussion need not appear in dramatic forms. They can appear in subtle actions such as repaying gossip with hearsay or speaking a true fact about another when it is neither appropriate nor helpful. Such responses stem from hidden anger that seeks to bring another down in small ways.

Judah becomes filled with a hateful desire to avenge the malicious harm perpetrated on him and especially his family. Driven by the hate and the thought of revenge Judah spends the next three years as a condemned slave barely surviving in the bowels of Roman war ships. The sheik tells Judah that the Tribune Messala is the champion in the races at Jerusalem and that it would be an excellent opportunity for Judah to exact his revenge on Messala. Balthazar warns Judah that the hate and desire for revenge is eating him up and that only God has the right to judge. Esther begs Judah not to continue to let the hate of vengeance eat him up. The experience at the Valley of the Lepers drives Judah further into the depths of the hateful desire for revenge. Esther tells Judah that he has actually become Messala. Pilate warns Judah that he has had his revenge and that Messala has been destroyed. Judah replies that it would not be over until every Roman is driven from the streets of Judea. Judah cannot see that he himself is being shaped by the human nature of the very world he hates by his thirst for vengeance. The destructive sword of revenge is replaced by peace if one follows the lead of Jesus Christ. The story in the film deals with the choices made in the area of vengeance.

Jesus Christ taught that one must love enemies, bless those who curse, do good to those who hate, and pray for those who spitefully use or persecute. This requires not rendering evil for evil or seeking to get even. Vengeance belongs to God alone, who will repay. One must not take the situation out of His hands or administer what seems to be justice. Instead one must meditate beforehand, settle the mind to behave as God does, and respond with courtesy and friendliness even to those who wrong. If an enemy hungers or thirsts one must feed or give drink, thereby showing right actions and overcoming evil with good. Jesus set the example by not reviling when reviled, not threatening when suffering, and committing Himself to Him who judges righteously. On the cross He prayed that the Father would forgive those crucifying Him rather than seek revenge. When disciples wished to call fire down on rejecting Samaritans He rebuked them, stating that they did not know what manner of spirit they were of, for anger, vengeance, and killing do not belong to God. The Son of Man came not to destroy lives but to save them. David likewise refrained from acting on his desire that an enemy's house not continue, leaving the decision to God.