Be Perfect!

Intro

we are continuing our series BE

We are actually wrapping our sub series on relationships this morning. We’ve talked about controlling our anger and being peacemakers and peace keepers in our family and community

We’ve talked about adultery, and how we need to guard our marriage relationships from the things that try to steal our tie and energy away. The important thing there was that you need to guard your marriage, regardless if you are married or not.

Last week we talked about keeping our word. All you need to say is Yes I will or No I won’t. Anything else comes from the evil one. We make very few vows in our modern life, so we should keep the few vows we do make, as well being men and women of our word. If we need to get into a habit of making promises, the damage to our word has already been done.

This morning, we are talking about some of the most difficult relationships we have in life. Jesus is going to divide this group into two categories, and we need to treat them accordingly.

Up to this point, we have talked in the realm of people who like us. Our spouses, our kids, our friends, and how to navigate those relationships better. But what about those few people in the world who don’t like us? How are we supposed to respond to them?

I want to start with this question.

Have you ever thought someone had bad intentions toward you, only to discover they didn’t?

I’m talking about someone who said something, and it landed wrong. Or they did something and it seemed like they were trying to undermine you. All the while, they were just trying to have fun, or just trying to help, and really had no negative motive at all. Just think about that as we dive in this morning.

We are going to look at the first group of difficult people to be around

Matthew 5:38–42 NLT

“You have heard the law that says the punishment must match the injury: ‘An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I say, do not resist an evil person! If someone slaps you on the right cheek, offer the other cheek also. If you are sued in court and your shirt is taken from you, give your coat, too. If a soldier demands that you carry his gear for a mile, carry it two miles. Give to those who ask, and don’t turn away from those who want to borrow.

Group 1: People who have hurt you

Since most people were right handed, being hit on the right cheek meant a back hand. Not only did it hurt, it was meant as an insult

According to Jewish law, if someone gave you their coat as a promise of something, you had to give it back

A Roman soldier only had to tap you on your shoulder with their spear, and it was the sign you had to carry their armour for them for a mile.

In all three of these scenarios, you do not need to question the motive or intentions the other person. Not only is their intention to cause to harm, they have successfully done it.

But one commentator pointed out the intent of the law. The intent was not to cause additional harm; it was supposed to be a deterent from harm. The intent was to save both eyes and both teeth. If you knew that what you could lose your eye if you hit someone, you would think twice about hitting them.

Instead, the law created a kind of vindictiveness within people. In an eye for an eye world, a victim would dream of making their enemy suffer for everything the endured

Oh they are going to get theirs.

Instead, what Jesus calls for his followers is to turn the other cheek. Human nature, our sin nature, is protect ourselves and fight for honor and our rights. Jesus’ nature is to trust God for vindication

Revenge is mine says the Lord

If you want to see turn the other cheek in action, look at the account of Jesus’ arrest and crucifixion. They would strike him, say all kinds of false things about him, and he said nothing. On the cross, as they mocked him, he cried out to God to forgive them.

Jesus is acknowledging that there will be people who will hurt you, and the question is how will you respond. Will you fight for your rights and for what you perceive as fair, or will you trust God and let His justice prevail?

Onto the second group of people?

Matthew 5:42–47 NLT

Give to those who ask, and don’t turn away from those who want to borrow. “You have heard the law that says, ‘Love your neighbor’ and hate your enemy. But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven. For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and the unjust alike. If you love only those who love you, what reward is there for that? Even corrupt tax collectors do that much. If you are kind only to your friends, how are you different from anyone else? Even pagans do that.

Group 2: People who intend to hurt you

I might even take it a step further and say people you think intend to hurt you

‘Enemy’ started to refer to anyone that wasn’t Jewish

This sentiment fueled the Roman charge that the Jews hated the human race

Human nature is to treat our enemies like enemies. To be short with them, to not even acknowledge them.

Yet Jesus points out the God, our Heavenly Father, lets the sun shine on everyone, and let the rain fall equally on everyone. In the same way, we are to love everyone equally, regardless of how we feel about them or how they feel about us.

Our natural tendency is to only love those who love us back, to be kind to those who will be kind back. Yet Jesus has a higher calling for those who call themselves disciples. We are to love everyone, be kind to everyone, give to everyone.

Jon Courson says that when we pray for our enemies, two things happen: You change and your enemy changes. If you pray for someone you can’t stand everyday, slowly you become involved with them and interested in them. As you pray for your enemy, a connection starts to form. You start to care for them. When that starts to happen, you will be acting like true children of God

Jesus finishes this passage with interesting line

Matthew 5:48 NLT

But you are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect.

BE Perfect!

quite a statement for Jesus to make. What is Jesus refering to? Is He simply refering to being perfect in love? Or is He calling us to be perfect in everything we’ve talked about the last 4 weeks?

Yes. The answer is. He is calling us to love everyone perfectly, the same way He loves everyone. And that love is exemplified through controling our anger, controlling our desires, controlling our words, and controlling our emotions.

Be perfect in love, expressed in so many different ways

If that feels like a really high calling and impossible to do on your own, it is. That’s why we need Jesus, that’s why we need the Holy Spirit. If perfection is the standard of God’s kingdom, we need all the help we can get. The only way we meet the standard is if Jesus makes us perfect. The Spirit in us makes us new, and enables us to do what is impossible on our own.