Matthew 5:38-48

Personal Retaliation

Matthew 5:38–48 NKJV

“You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. If anyone wants to sue you and take away your tunic, let him have your cloak also. And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two. Give to him who asks you, and from him who wants to borrow from you do not turn away. “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so? Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.

The Law taught that if anyone suffered personal injury the Judges were to make restitution and make sure that the injured was compensated.

In the New testament the jewish law interpreted it as anytime any one did you any harm you were justified in retaliation. If someone hit you were entitled to hit them back.

There would be no need for authorities to get involved. The people were given their own right to make things right.

This brought about a culture and a lifestyle that Jesus confronted and declared that this behavior isn’t from His kingdom or His will.

Instead He proposed and absolute absurdity!

Do not resist an evil person!

He said that if someone slaps you turn the other cheek

If someone wants your tunic give them your coat also

If someone asks you to go a mile go two

And give to anyone who ask to borrow from you.

These are quite outrageous statements that have to be looked at and understood not with a wisdom of this world because these statements are in direct opposition to the wisdom of this world and very much contrary to anything we would advise or consider to do.

And Jesus doesn’t stop there the absurd declarations keep coming

Love your enemy Bless those who curse you!

Do good to those who hate you!

Pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you.

This Gospel is what is described at the beginning of this chapter.

Our identify in Christ now! We are Blessed! We are sons’ and daughters of God.

If we know who we are, do we know what we have been given?

Blessed! even when it doesn’t look like it!

The word blessed means to have divine favor, privileged, having abundance.

If we understood how blessed we were we would understand how incomplete any sense of earthly justice is. and not feel the need to retaliate for personal loss.

We are children of the most high. All things have been given to us!

2 Peter 1:3–4 NKJV

as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

Matthew 28:18–19 NKJV

And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

This kind of behaviour and attitude is expected of those who belong to Him.

Not of need but of abundance.

Meeting the highest standard!

Are we meeting the highest standard of living that God has given us? or are we operating out of lack, fear, despair or our own retaliation to the injuries suffered in this life.

Today God offers us Eternal, Abundant Life!

Lets take it all in!

Let’s pray!