Matthew 5:38-42 Luke 6:29-30
Violation of our rights will happen in the sinful world in
which we live. People will sin against
us just as we will sin against other people.
The question all of us must answer is how will we respond when others
sin against us? The natural response is
to retaliate in a way that is even more severe than the attach against us. This, in turn, usually results in an even
more severe reaction and a cycle of hatred and violence escalates. Jesus teaches His followers a different way
to respond when someone violates our rights or sins against us. Relationships are broken because of
sinfulness. Grudges grow and bitterness
infects the hearts of those who practice retaliation. Jesus promotes a path of peace that grows from
humility and forgiveness.
REFUSE PERSONAL REVENGE: The law of Moses stated that
offenses were to be punished in a way that made the punishment fit the
crime. The law of a tooth for a tooth
was part of a long list of similar laws that were implemented in order to prevent
crime as well as excessive revenge.
Those who were prone to violence would think twice about knocking out
someone’s tooth for fear of losing their own.
The law also kept the courts from inflicting excessive punishment for
offenses committed. Knocking out someone’s
tooth was not to be punished by taking that person’s life or cutting off his
arm. The Law of Moses was civil law that
was designed to tell the courts how to deal with crimes and offenses that were
committed. These were not meant to be
Laws that promoted personal revenge.
However, the Pharisees applied these laws in a way that allowed an
individual to be judge, jury and executioner when someone hurt them. Jesus calls His disciples to be willing to suffer
offenses and losses instead of defending personal rights. Governments and individuals should seek to resist
the spread of evil in the world but this must be done in a just manner. Governments have their roles to play in the
courts of law and impartial judges are given the authority to determine punishments
for crimes that have been committed. Individuals
can resist evil by confronting sin and seeking to restore broken relationships
but should not be in the business of taking revenge.
RELEASE PERSONAL RIGHTS: Jesus give four different
illustrations of how the principle of not seeking revenge could play out in our
lives. He calls His disciples to turn
the other cheek. A slap on the face was
a very strong insult the could easily result in a punch in the face as
retaliation which would then escalate into a brawl. Jesus taught to simply turn the other cheek. Typically, a slap in the face would be a
strong response to some offense on the part of the person who got slapped. A disciple who offends someone to the point
of being slapped in the face should humbly evaluate what led to the slap,
repent if that is necessary and then offer the other cheek as a demonstration
of true contrition over the offense. In
a law suit, if money was not available to make restitution, the courts could
require the guilty party to surrender his shirt as a means of payment. The coat was considered a necessity to keep
warm so the court could not take it away.
If the coat was given as a means of securing payment of a loan, it was
to be returned at night so the person who owed the money would not freeze to
death. Jesus taught His followers to
willingly surrender their coats if they owed a debt that was greater than the
value of their shirt. Going the extra
mile refers to the Roman soldier’s right to require a civilian to carry his
pack for one mile. This was not a
popular law but Jesus called His disciples to be willing to carry it for two
miles instead of complaining about being oppressed. Freely lending objects or even giving them
away is to be the mark of true followers of Christ. People are always more important than
possessions so we must be willing to share and even give up on what we consider
as our personal rights in order to serve and help others even when we don’t
consider them to be deserving.
APPLICATION: Don’t retaliate when someone offends us or sins
against us. We must leave revenge in the
Lord’s hands or allow human justice to take its course without taking the law
into our own hands. Humbly admit when we
are wrong and seek to make restitution in the best way possible. Be willing to do more than is required. Demonstrate generosity to those who are in
need and always value people over possessions.
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