An Eye for an Eye - Overcoming Evil with Good

Matthew 5:38-42

Background

we talked about being the light of the world

But sometimes that is really hard isn't it

because our sin nature is still there

Sermon on the mount

Illustration

Tale of two stories

The first story is the story of Gary Plauche,

The second story is that of Jose Garcia,

Both stories are stories that deal with a fathers grief and handling of their sons abuse / killing.

The first story is a story of revenge, a story of vengeance, and frankly a story that up until my walk my with Christ really took foot. A story I would have easily seen myself in.

See, Gary Plauche is the father of Jody Plauche.

An 11 year old boy who was kidnapped, taken all over the country, and sexually abused by his karate teacher. The discovery then lead to a massive man hunt to capture and obtain the man. The man was found, arrested, and set to be flown back to louisiana where the crimes occurred and the boy was returned to his parents. Upon discovering this information, the finding of the karate teacher and abuser. The boys father, waited at the airport. As the offender was being led through the airport in hand cuffs. Gary, confronted him with a hand gun and shot him to death right there.

Thus, enforcing his own judgment. His own penalty, his own vengeance, his own revenge. Gary, to some controversy was then charged with second degree murder and lost precious time helping his son heal.

Today that story is celebrated. My wife sent me a screen shot from a Facebook page that ranked this as honorable. The page I assume was honoring dads whom went above and beyond. And this story made the headline some 20 plus years later.

The second story is of Jose Garcia. His son Issac was invited to a “party”. Unfortunately, this was not the case. As his son was walking into a set up or ambush that ended in his murder by another student. See, Isaak was shot to death at this party as part of pre-mediated attack.  And while this story seems a little less dramatic than the previous. And didn’t get the same press coverage as the previous. It paints a very contrasting picture. See, Mr Garcia did not seek vengeance, revenge, or take justice in his own hands. Mr Gacia instead, chose to forgive his sons killer, and ask the courts to ensure justice was served. For Mr Garcia, the only way he could cope with his sons murder was not through revenge, or ensuring justice by his own hands. The only way he could cope with his sons murder was through forgiveness.

By overcoming evil, with good.

Romans 12:21 Do not be conquered by evil, but conquer evil with good.

See we are all born with an innate sense of justice. Gods law is placed on the hearts of all men and women.

However, through the fall and the fundamental pull that the flesh and sin has on our lives, our sense of justice most often builds to a sense of revenge, it builds to a sense of needing to out do what was done to us to make things even.

A sense that we are to take the law into our own hands and deliver what we feel is just punishment, not someone else's. But this is the exact opposite of what Jesus is teaching in this section.

V38 You have heard that it was said, An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.

You have heard it said, This is the 5th time out of 6 consecutive times Jesus has set up a statement with this statement.

Why, it is because these statements had been misunderstood for some time. See the Pharisees, leaders, and even laymen had swayed these OT laws into something they were not intended for.

Even later in this very gospel Jesus calls out the Pharisees through a series of woes for twisting the scriptures with their own interpretation.

With these statements Jesus is not disregarding the law, rather he is clarifying it after so many years of it being abused.

After all, V 17 of Matthew says, 17 “Don’t think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to abolish but to fulfill.

An eye for an eye comes from the OT law of retaliation, of Lex Talionis as seen in Ex 21:24, Lev 24:20, and Lev 19:21, and Deut 19.  See man's heart can become so hardened, can become some calloused that evil is abundant, evil is real, and evil occurs.

This law of retaliation is made to hinder those that want to do evil.

To set rules and parametiers to slow the spread of evil and try to prevent evil things from happening.

This law is actually a good thing. However, unfortunately, with the same hardened hearts that can cause evil, it can also cause retaliation to be a worse punishment than the crime deserves.

Let me say it a little differently. Because of our innate and sinful nature, bad things happen, and also because of our innate and sinful nature.

When we are wronged we believe or feel and act out occurrences where  the punishment exceeds the crime. Now, with that said..

I've seen this verse used out of context so many times in movies and among those that try to glamorize retribution and pay backs that its rather unfortunate. We have all seen those revenge movies right…

The first one that pops in my head is from one of my favorite movies, the Patriot. After the British kill one of Mel Gibson boys, he relents to revenge and a previous life. He then tracks down the British company as they are leaving his property and almost single handed takes them all out.

Now God knows our hearts right

And he understood how this would happen

how we could and would take out vengeance on those hurt us or hurt out loved ones

So God did something

And we find that in Dueteronomy 19. This is where God sets up cities of Refuge within the lands. And these cities of refuge are instilled so that way when and if someone that has committed a crime can flee to these cities and await a just and fair trial.

Because vengeance can so consume a person that many times the punishment would be dealt to an innocent man, or a punishment dealt that exceeded the crime. And this was Gods way of mitigating that.

In fact, this statement, an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth was never intended to be used from person to person.

God had established a system of courts and judges to rule fairly and justly among his people. Just as we hope for today.

Just as God judges justly and fairly. And it is within this framework of justice that this saying is within context.

It is set up so that no one receives a punishment not fit for the crime. So that restitution can be made and justice served.

Over time this “law” had molded itself to an act of works that the pharisees enlisted throughout the court systems and among the people.

This is why Jesus says, you have heard it was said..

Eye for and eye, tooth for a tooth. But here, just as Jesus does in though most of the Sermon on the Mount he expounds on that.

He clarifies that, he gives it the meaning his father in heaven intended it for.

He says, this is not a works or a head issue, this is a heart issue. Jesus tells us that not only are we to observe the law within its context, but we are to take it a step further. We are to show grace, we are to love, we are to forgive, and we are to allow the courts and judges to do their job.

Now I am not saying that christians are not to judge, that gets taken out of context way too often as well.

I am simply saying that we believe in an eternal judge, a judge that is fair, and most importantly a judge that is righteous. He is telling us that we should have confidence in our judge and law giver and show love to those that wrong us. Because love and grace has been shown to us.

Now let me be frank, if someone walks in and tries to hurt my family, steal my possession, I/we have every right to stop them. However, we are to stop them, secure them, and wait for the proper authorities. Nowhere does it say we are NOT to perform self defense or the defense of others. So please do not that read into this.

Now with all that said, Jesus gives us an examples on how we are to express this or to resist the “evildoers” seen in V 39 that may do us wrong.

Example 1

V 39..if anyone slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also

This not only is a painful blow but it is an insult, to slap one's right cheek, presumably most men are right handed, means that this is a backhanded slap and is much more insulting than an open handed slap.

But we are not to retaliate, we are to allow ourselves to be insulted.

We are not to act as most of the world would act in this situation, we are set ourselves apart, because we are not of this world.

And through this act of grace, it is possible that the offender's heart can be softened. Thus, returning evil with good.

Example 2

V 40 As for the one who wants to sue you and take away your shirt, let him have your coat as well.

This example says that if you are sued for your inner garment, your shirt, give them your outer garment as well.

See, the outer garment was something that could not be taken from you, it is what they called an inalienable possession.

It was needed to protect against the climate, the rain, etc. it was used as a blanket at night and protection while working.

This is something that a court of law could not take from you.

However, Jesus says that if they sue you for your shirt, give them a coat or cloak as well.

Thus, doubling what you owe to that person. Thus, returning evil with good.

Example 3

V 41 And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two.

This example refers to the Roman practice of compulsion, where the romans could commandeer civilians to do menial tasks, such as carry their packs or gear, or whatever they wanted you to.

They (Romans) had the right as the occupying force to make the jews carry their stuff, or really do whatever they wanted.

Another example of the practice of compulsion is when they forced Simon of Cyrene to carry Jesus’ cross.

Now, the law limited the distance or time that they could compulse someone or commandeer them, I mean they didn't want to make the people too mad at them.

So they only forced them to carry their things for one mile.

Imagine how infuriating that must be. Not only did they have to live with this occupying force.

But Jesus is now telling them to not only carry it one mile, but carry it two. .

Thus, returning evil with good.

Example 4, and the last one in this section of teaching about retribution is

V42 Give to the one who asks you, and don’t turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.

Jesus is simply teaching them here to be generous. Not to go broke and give money to any pan handler out there.

But, within this context of retribution, don't punish someone or enact retaliation against them by refusing to help them in a time of need.

How many of us have or have known family members or friends that have wronged us to some degree.

Something that broke that relationship. What Jesus is saying is be generous to even those that have wronged you. Help that person that wronged you.

Thus, returning evil with good.

So to sum things up an eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth is not there to exact revenge. But ensure proper punishment is given, through the proper authorities within society.

However, we as Christians are to take that further, to take those that have wronged us, have hurt us, and even done evil to us. And pay it back, not with equal or exceeding punishment, but with good. With the gospel, with love.

And while in this section of the sermon of the mount Jesus gives us 4 analogies and teaches on how to do this. He later proved that not only did he talk the talk, but he walked the walk.

If you move over to John 18 & 19. To Jesus’ arrest, trial, and crucifixion. He displays the greatest act of overcoming evil with good ever known.

When Jesus was arrested in the garden, Peter, pulled a sword and was ready to defend and fight the entire roman cohort which could have been up to 600 roman soldiers. Peter was ready to retaliate and defend against this unlawful arrest. But Jesus stopped him..

Jesus is then placed on trial, an unfair trial at that,

that violated so many of the Jewish laws,

He was flogged, beaten, ridiculed. All unjustly. Jesus had the power to simply walk through those prison gates and leave. But he didn’t..

The jews, the very people that witnessed his miracles and teachings, were given the option to free one prisoner and instead of freeing Jesus they freed barabbas.

He then was sentenced to death, and crucified, what is known as one of the most excruciating and painful ways to die. As an innocent man…

At any time during this process.. his illegal arrest, His unjust trial, His beating, His cruxifiction.

Jesus could have called down legions of Angels and acted out justice right then and there.

But he didnt, as the sons of thunder once said, he could have called down fire from above and obliterated his opponents. But he didn’t.

Instead, he prayed for those beating him, he prayed for those betraying him, He even asked his father to forgive them. For they did not know what they were doing.

Thus, Jesus, once and for all, conquered evil, with good.

Jesus commanded us to die to ourselves, and to follow him.

And thus, follow his example.

To overcome evil with good.

Because he overcame, evil and death, as an innocent man, not at all deserving of his punishment.

See, he overcame our evil, he overcame our sin, he was judged not for what he did. But for what we did, are still doing, and will do.

He died for our sins

He is the perfect sinless lamb

that died a treacherous undeserving death.

For me, for you…

That is the only way that we can overcome evil, through the power and goodness of God.

I am not sure where you are today. How you doing dealing with this topic?

Tough isn’t it?

I can tell you this one thing, harboring anger, hardening your heart, seeking revenge, doesn't get you any where but more angry, more depressed, and less fulfilled.

I can assure you, because I have been there. I have to ask for grace every single day because every single day I fall short.

It is only through Christ, repentance, and his reconciliation of our sin that evil is overcome.

And as we learned today, evil can only be overcome with good. So don’t harden your heart,

die to yourself

so that you may live for Christ.