That Slaps

Jesus gives us four illustrations of righteousness in the midst of conflict: giving of our vulnerability, time, goods and strength. These are not laws for the Christian to hide behind and we can easily imagine scenarios where these "laws" would be ridiculous or even malicious. The Kingdom citizen has already been freed from sustained anger and scorn, freed from possessive desire, freed from verbal manipulation of those around us... they are free to truly act out of love for the other. This will characteristically look like self-sacrifice and non-retaliation.

"Not 'Did I do the specific things in Jesus illustrations?' but 'Am I being the kind of person that Jesus' illustrations are illustrations of?'"

We are not doormats, we are not passive... we can be vulnerable because we are ultimately invulnerable warriors of the Kingdom acting with clear-eyed irresolute love.

That Slaps

The teenagers so enjoyed my “Gen-Z” talk that they requested I use a Gen-Z term every week now. ;)

“That Slaps” means… that’s really great. It’s origin is a song with a great “beat”. That “slaps.” So it’s really the same as “that rocks” or even “totally groovy.”

Fun fact for today.

Today we want to examine the theology of slapping.

So Logan is going to come on up, he has volunteered to let me demonstrate some different kinds of slaps on him.

No? He’s bailing? Just kidding, not today. He was totally game for it, for the record.

Matthew 5:38 ESV

38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’

Lex Talionus

Explain the “Lex Talionus.” (law of retaliation).

This is the oldest written law known to man. It is in the famous “Hammurabi Code...” and it is, of course, in the Bible.

The Hammurabi code likely predates Moses, sure, but it doesn’t predate God’s law… and I think God was teaching His law… or better, teaching righteousness long before giving the law to Moses.

We find it in the Bible in a couple places.

Leviticus 24:17–21 ESV

17 “Whoever takes a human life shall surely be put to death. 18 Whoever takes an animal’s life shall make it good, life for life. 19 If anyone injures his neighbor, as he has done it shall be done to him, 20 fracture for fracture, eye for eye, tooth for tooth; whatever injury he has given a person shall be given to him. 21 Whoever kills an animal shall make it good, and whoever kills a person shall be put to death.

Really this is a limiter on retribution. If someone takes my eye, I want to take their head. That’s most clear in the next one to me:

Exodus 21:22–24 ESV

22 “When men strive together and hit a pregnant woman, so that her children come out, but there is no harm, the one who hit her shall surely be fined, as the woman’s husband shall impose on him, and he shall pay as the judges determine. 23 But if there is harm, then you shall pay life for life, 24 eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot,

If you’re looking for legal precedent of treating the unborn child as a human, that one’s pretty clear. Same penalty.

But what do you “want” to do if you even see this situation, much less if it’s your wife and your child? Burn them all down… and anyone else who knew about it!

This puts limits around the retribution humans “want” to dish out… which leads to cycles of rage and revenge and mutual destruction. That certainly isn’t righteousness, and as an act of love, God steers humanity away from this.

That’s “Lex Talionus.”

Lex Cheekionus

So Jesus compares the “new Kingdom” righteousness to that practiced by the Scribes and Pharisees. Yes, to “limit” yourself to “I only took their eye” is an act of love… but is that the ultimate measure of righteousness?

Jesus gives four contrasts here.

Matthew 5:39–42 ESV

39 But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. 40 And if anyone would sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. 41 And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. 42 Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you.

These are SO HARD… and they rightly have become pretty famous. If people can’t quite remember who “Jesus” is… they likely have heard something about “turning the other cheek” or “the shirt off your back” or “going the extra mile.” Here we are.

Likely we could have a sermon about each of these… but Jesus treats them as one thing, contrasts to “eye for an eye” retaliation… so I’ll treat them as one thing… and just preach 4 times as long. Deal.

There is some cultural context we need.

Right Cheeks and Right Hands

You remember this one? Will Smith slaps Chris Rock right across the face. Ridiculous. Who was the bigger man there? Not the Fresh Prince. But Will is right-handed, and he naturally hits Chris on the left cheek. That’s the normal way.

Jesus lives in a right-handed world. You were born left-handed? For the most part… too bad! Sorry. There are occasional call-outs, left-handed warriors, even a whole band of left-handed warriors in Judges. But left-hands were used for “unclean activities.”

For example… toilet paper hadn’t been invented yet… and neither had anti-bacterial soap.

So, by cultural convention, use the left hand for the “icky stuff” and the right hand for eating, for touching others, etc…

Notice that Jesus specifies the “right” cheek. For a right-y to slap a person in the right cheek… it has to be a back-slap. And in all these cultures, Jewish, Greek, Roman, all of them, this was a TREMENDOUS offense against their honor.

Actually… still is today. Growing up we called this a “pimp slap...” exactly as offensive as that term implies. It implies superiority and ownership and degradation… all of that.

So someone has come and hurt you. Offended your person, hurt you physically, insulted your honor.

You were obviously vulnerable to it… because they successfully did it. What do you do next?

Jesus says “turn the other cheek.”

Suing the Shirt Off Your Back

Not much to say about this, we still use this phrase today. It’s a powerful and poignant image.

“Coat and shirt” work here for “cloak and tunic” unless you’re at Universal Studios Hogwarts land. We saw some cloaks and tunics. It was awesome.

Someone sues you for your shirt… and the assumption is they will win because they take it. Give him your coat too.

Going the Extra Mile

Judah in Jesus’ day was under Roman occupation. And a Roman soldier could force anyone to carry his gear for a mile. That pack could weigh up to 100 lbs…

You had no choice about the first mile, but then your obligation was done. Apparently the soldier couldn’t legally force you to go further.

But Jesus says… offer it anyway.

The Human ATM

My kids should love this one. No cultural barriers here. There have and have always been folks who need stuff and folks who want stuff and folks who ask for what they need and want one way or another.

The old law would mostly say “you don’t owe them anything...” though it makes social provision for the poor, for widows and orphans and the sick, etc…

But Jesus says “give to those who ask.”

Malicious Compliance

I honestly love a good set of rules. I never cheat at games, I always want to operate inside the rules.

But I love to find a way to optimize those rules to win…

So let’s do that. We call this “Malicious Compliance.”

Sure, I’ll turn the other cheek. You get two… then I get to “UNLEASH THE KRAKEN!!!” I will destroy you!

Giving people who borrow your coat your nasty sweaty shirt. “I don’t want your shirt, man!”

Or, this is my favorite. The soldier asks you to carry his stuff for a mile. And he gets to his destination… but you run off carrying his stuff “the extra mile.” Or two. Or three.

The early church found the holes in here. St. Augustine points out that Jesus says to “give to the one who begs from you...” but it doesn’t say what to give them. “Yeah… I got something to give you!”

THESE AREN’T NEW LAWS. They don’t have the language of laws. In the examples from Leviticus and Exodus earlier, we had cases and applications. Yes, it applies to foreigners and citizens alike. Yes, it applies to babies in the womb. Yes, it applies to slaves, and if they are wounded like to lose an eye or tooth, they are to be set free immediately as well.

Instead we have four beautiful pictures of love. Of righteousness that goes beyond the Scribes and Pharisees.

Again, order is important.

These are people of the Kingdom, forgiven and redeemed in Christ, filled with the Holy Spirit, supernaturally producing fruits of righteousness e’ry’where.

The Kingdom citizen has already been

freed from sustained anger and scorn

freed from possessive fantasized desire

freed from self-centered hard-hearted relationship

freed from verbal manipulation of those around us...

They are freed… they are being freed… they are learning and living those freedoms. Yes, anger can come knocking at the door, temptation to lust comes unexpectedly… but it no longer describes and drives their life. They are free by the blood of Jesus, by the life of Jesus in them, free to be righteous.

they are free to truly act out of love for the other. This will characteristically look like self-sacrifice and non-retaliation.

We must ask ourselves not 'Did I do the specific things in Jesus illustrations?' but 'Am I being the kind of person that Jesus' illustrations are illustrations of?'

What is Jesus illustrating.

Kingdom Righteousness is radically generous with our

Possessions

Strength

Time

Vulnerability

Addressing Abuse

It’s really important to address this last one. The scenario Jesus likely has in mind, especially with the specificity of “right cheek”, is a one-time dishonoring blow meant to hurt and offend. This is not a command to anyone trapped in an abusive relationship to sit powerless and helpless in that.

Even if we took it as a law, Jesus doesn’t forbid finding a safe exit as soon as possible, involving the authorities, and involving the community as soon as possible… and anyone facing abuse should do all of those things.

It is important to understand that these are not laws categorically forbidding violence in all circumstances. God commands violence at times in the Old Testament, violence is coming in Revelation, he gives the sword into the hand of governments and powers, and Jesus doesn’t here speak to defending others.

It would be easier if this were a law we could just hide behind and assign God all the blame for how things turn out.

Instead, we are commanded to judge, to listen tot he leading of the Holy Spirit within us, and act in the most loving possible ways towards all around us. We are NOT going to act out of our desire for retribution or revenge or selfish preference… and it will typically look like self-sacrifice and non-retaliation.

We are not doormats, we are not passive... we can be vulnerable because we are ultimately invulnerable warriors of the Kingdom acting with clear-eyed irresolute love.

This is impossible strength… made possible by the life of Jesus in us. Modeled by our Lord… and then in his footsteps, modeled by his followers.

People say these are “impossible.” And they may be… thinking of themselves as they are now. These are only possibly as a new creation in Christ.

I saw Ron take a punch to the ear that split it right open… and then call after the dude “love you brother” and continues to serve that friend.

I have seen KK continue to minister to a friend who stabbed his fingernail into her open wound. Setting a firm boundary in the moment, that’s not at all appropriate, loving boundaries are important too… and continuing to serve and love intentionally and creatively and wisely.

You church, so many of you are so generous with your time and treasure in so many ways… that is the life of Jesus in you, the fruit of the Holy Spirit produced in you.

Martin Luther King Jr. called non-violent resistance “a courageous confrontation of evil by the power of love.”

This is strength in the Kingdom, this is courage in the Kingdom, this is the power of God in the Kingdom… the power given to you and me.

The power to be radically generous with our time, talent, treasure, strength… with our vulnerability.

Philippians 2:1–11 ESV

1 So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, 2 complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. 3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. 5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.