Be Gracious

Matthew 5:38-42

Getting to the very heart of the disciple

The sermon on the mount, in particular the teaching on the righteousness of the kingdom, deals with tough issues here – anger, lust, adultery, honesty, and now even retaliation, that basic, guttural, reaction - to defend yourself, your dignity, honor, and possessions.

How do we apply Jesus’ words to our lives? 

We wrestle with difficult passages like we’ve been reading, and we want to win. What we need to do is wrestle with the voice, the will within, that would resist the word of the Lord.  We need to learn to submit to his teaching, to learn to love his word, to delight in it, so that we might find peace and life.

The Law of Lex Talionis

“An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth…”

Lex Talionis - the Law of the Tooth – established in the Old Testament under the revelation of Moses (Ex. 21:23–25; Lev. 24:19–20; Deut. 19:21).  The law sought to bring justice when harm is done, ensuring fairness in punishment.

Some say that God is cruel for such a law, but the world would be far more cruel without it

Gen 4:23 - Lamech - I have killed a man for striking me…

Corporal Punishment - a thief loses his hand…

The lack of criminal punishment today - allows for more crime

Lex talionis - The crime must be punished, but the punishment must fit the crime

The law that requires a perjurer to suffer the very punishment his lie would have caused another to bear. Thieves pay back double, so they lose exactly what they would have gained, and their victims gain precisely what they would have lost.

This was a civil matter, for the elders of the community to decide - before the courts

The teaching of the Pharisee and Scribe

Making it personal - you have the right to seek vengeance on your own, fostering vindictiveness, as victims dream of making a foe suffer everything they have endured.

Jesus’ Teaching on Retribution

But I say to you, do not resist the evil one

Not a civic matter, but personal, this is for the disciple

The intent is still evil - but the disciple is called to rise above

Four examples of evil one’s deeds

each is an offense to a person’s dignity - not necessarily an act of violence

A slap on the cheek - Striking your dignity -

Backhanded comments to shame and cut you down

A suit for your possessions - taking what is rightfully yours

Your right to things - the tunic was the inner garment, you’d have a couple of them. The coat was the outer garment, it was illegal to take it, is was a cover from the cold -

Unfair work expectations - going the extra mile

The Romans could conscript your service - force you to carry their load for a mile

Your right to your time

Exploitation of charity - begging and borrowing

Your right to your money

The Christian response to evil. 

The Scriptures teach us to Resist Evil -

The Magistrate is there to resist violence

Rom 13:1-4 - The authorities exist as a terror to those who do wrong, they do not bear the sword for nothing…

Defend the weak - come alongside the one being bullied, share his burden, stand in the gap

Resist temptation, resist the devil, resist evil -

Resist the devil and he will flee (James 4:7; 1 Peter 5:9)

Do not allow someone else to continue in sin by your inactivity -

Is this a contradiction in the Word of God? No.

A disciple must resist temptation, a magistrate should resist invaders, and everyone should resist those who prey on the weak, but disciples do not resist when harmed personally.

No right of retaliation - The heart of Jesus’ teaching

Summary - My dignity, my possessions, my time, my money - when all is a gift from God

To use my person, my possessions, my time, my money for the glory of the one who has given it.

Turn the other cheek

Don’t make yourself a victim, but don’t

It takes two to fight - the first to instigate, the second to consent

Sued for your tunic - give him your cloak

Hold loosely to your worldly possessions

Unfair work expectations - going the extra mile

Be willing to serve and

Begging and Borrowing -

Lend and give generously as to yourself - without interest

1 John 3:16–18 By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers.  But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him?  Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth. Reshaping our perspective in the Kingdom.

Doriani - “Do not resist” therefore means that we do not retaliate, physically or legally, when an evil person harms us personally. But we do resist evildoers who tempt us to sin. We resist oppressors who ravage the helpless. If possible, we show personal kindness to evildoers.

Illustrated Living

Like Jesus

He resisted evil: He resisted Satan in the temptation in the wilderness; overturned the tables of the money changers, cast out demons, rebuked the wicked.

But, as we read in 1 Pe. 2:23, when he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly.

Like Paul –

He resisted sin and evil - Confronted Peter when he acted one way among Gentiles and another among Jews, he called out the immoral practices of the Corinthians and the false gospel of the Galatians.

2 Cor 11:24–12:10 Five times I received at the hands of the Jews the forty lashes less one. Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned…  Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.  For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Be Gracious

Only an attitude of grace and love will change a hostile world

This is a calling of righteousness for those in Christ’s kingdom - only possible because of his grace

Because he has been gracious, I will be gracious

Were we to live by lex talionis - we would all be blind and toothless - but God has shown us grace and mercy in Jesus Christ. He did not give us what we deserved, but poured out his effectual grace in Jesus Christ.

Because he laid down his life, I can lay down mine

Christ came for our righteousness, not for our rights

Thinking of his sacrifice, I want to live for him

Charles Spurgeon, “Your religion is worthless unless it leads you to wish that the same mercy which has been extended to you may bless the whole world.”

God will defend you, and he esteems you

He is our defender

Deuteronomy 10:17–18 For the LORD your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great, the mighty, and the awesome God, who is not partial and takes no bribe.  He executes justice for the fatherless and the widow, and loves the sojourner, giving him food and clothing.

Psalm 46:1 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

 He esteems us greatly

1 John 3:1 – “See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called the children of God; and so we are…”

 What does it matter what others think and say, when Jesus gave His life to make you His own?

God will provide

Psalm 23:1 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.

At his right hand are pleasures… cattle on a thousand hills… my God will supply your every need

Christ has overcome

John 16:33 I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

1 John 5:4–5 For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.  Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?