Biblical Expression 6

Introduction

Sermon on the mount - is a picture of how God’s people live within his kingdom in the now.

Not a list of ethics but of life

not just internal but external faith

Matthew (Brazos Theological Commentary | BTC) Matthew 5: The Sermon

the followers of Jesus are no longer faced with a decision. The only decision possible for them has already been made. Now they have to be what they are, or they are not following Jesus. The followers are the visible community of faith; their discipleship is a visible act which separates them from the world—or it is not discipleship. And discipleship is as visible as light in the night, as a mountain in the flatland.

To flee into invisibility is to deny the call. Any community of Jesus which wants to be invisible is no longer a community that follows him. (Bonhoeffer 2001, 113)

Beatitudes - are an outline of this, and of what follows

Matthew 5:10 ESV

“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

But we tend to think, as humans even, to think the blessing in mistreatment is for the mistreater to get what’s coming

Justice: Avengers: End game

“Eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth”

First show up in Exodus 21:22-25; Lev 24:10-23 - lex talionis - law of retaliation

These were corporate judicial laws to protect against personal vengenace and to exact corporate judicial justice for those who were harmed within Israel.

Exodus - pregnant woman; Leviticus - neighbour

You couldn’t just go around hurting people or taking vengenance on those who hurt you.

This happens all the time within humanity

As Children even we don’t necessarily see the right person get in trouble and/or we turn justice into retaliation and retribution

And as the people of God, Jesus knew and taught that mistreatment would be a reality

So in Matthew 5 he sets out a how we are to live in this

He begins with “You have heard it said....But I say to you. Do not resist the one who is evil.”

I. Personal

Slap - this would be a backhanded slap to the right cheek.

This was a significantly hurtful insult in ancient eastern culture

This was in Judaism and Roman law something that could be taken to the authorities for proscution

So how should one who is God’s people react?

Slap them back, take them to court?

Turn the other cheek

Does this teach pacifism? Or that we are to endure abuse?

This is not talking about just a physical attack but of a personal insult and dishonoring

This is a walking away from this personal insult because our honor does not come from ourselves but from our Lord

II. Legal

But what if someone else decides to take us to court?

This seems to assume, this was evil, unfair, undeserved

Jesus says if they take you to court and win and take your shirt\tunic - undergarment

This was a possibility within Judaism - if someone was taken to court but could not make restitution the victor could take the person’s undergarment.

Jewish law forbidding taking the outer as it was their protection against weather etc

But Jesus says if this happens to one who is God’s he is to give his outer garment as well trusting that as we saw in the do not be anxious passage that God will look after those things for us.

III. Authority

But what it’s those in authority who mistreat us

It was Roman law that (particularly) a Roman soldier could conscripta Jews labour, work animals or things.

Perhaps Simon of Cyrene (Mark 15) carrying Jesus’ cross is an example of this

This was most likely misused and abused and one area of hatred of the Jews towards the Romans

Jesus’ example is that of carrying a soldiers pack for a mile

He says rather than becoming upset and beligerant God’s people are to serve and sacrifice for those who would treat us as less.

IV. Poor/Needy

And what about our attitude and treatment of those who are needy.

Societally seen as less perhaps

We are to give freely to them

We are to live as generous people giving to those in need.

Borrowing to those who ask

Knowing that our Father is generous to us and has unlimited resources.

Caveat: David Guzik rightly states that Love is the boundary on this

Love does not give something that is harmful, but rather what is helpful and good

Conclusion

So let’s talk about the why?

2 Passages Luke 6:27-36; Romans 12:14-21

Do to others as you would have them do to you Luke 6:27-31

Jesus states this earlier in Matthews account of the sermon on the mount

In other words, we don’t treat people the way they deserve necessarily but the way we would want to be treated in general

Would we want to be treated as less than, misused, in anger,ignored.

2. Show ourselves to be God’s children Luke 6:35,36

This is not you must do these to be saved but rather as those who are saved this is what you should look like.

When we live out love for even out enemies we show the truth of God

“Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful” 36

3. Overcome evil with good - Romans 12:21

We tend to think that we overcome it by exposing it, battling it, but Paul says the true power against evil is good - a good heart, good works, good attitudes etc.

Peter chops off servants ear, Jesus heals it