Three expressions of a winning walk.

Matthew 5:38–48 (NLT)

38 “You have heard the law that says the punishment must match the injury: ‘An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.’

39 But I say, do not resist an evil person! If someone slaps you on the right cheek, offer the other cheek also.

40 If you are sued in court and your shirt is taken from you, give your coat, too.

41 If a soldier demands that you carry his gear for a mile, carry it two miles.

42 Give to those who ask, and don’t turn away from those who want to borrow.

43 “You have heard the law that says, ‘Love your neighbor’ and hate your enemy.

44 But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you!

45 In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven. For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and the unjust alike.

46 If you love only those who love you, what reward is there for that? Even corrupt tax collectors do that much.

47 If you are kind only to your friends, how are you different from anyone else? Even pagans do that.

48 But you are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect.

“38 Ἠκούσατε ὅτι ἐρρέθη· Ὀφθαλμὸν ἀντὶ ὀφθαλμοῦ καὶ ὀδόντα ἀντὶ ὀδόντος.

39 ἐγὼ δὲ λέγω ὑμῖν μὴ ἀντιστῆναι τῷ πονηρῷ· ἀλλʼ ὅστις σε ῥαπίζει εἰς τὴν δεξιὰν σιαγόνα, στρέψον αὐτῷ καὶ τὴν ἄλλην·

40 καὶ τῷ θέλοντί σοι κριθῆναι καὶ τὸν χιτῶνά σου λαβεῖν, ἄφες αὐτῷ καὶ τὸ ἱμάτιον·

41 καὶ ὅστις σε ἀγγαρεύσει μίλιον ἕν, ὕπαγε μετʼ αὐτοῦ δύο.

42 τῷ αἰτοῦντί σε δός, καὶ τὸν θέλοντα ἀπὸ σοῦ δανίσασθαι μὴ ἀποστραφῇς.

43 Ἠκούσατε ὅτι ἐρρέθη· Ἀγαπήσεις τὸν πλησίον σου καὶ μισήσεις τὸν ἐχθρόν σου.

44 ἐγὼ δὲ λέγω ὑμῖν, ἀγαπᾶτε τοὺς ἐχθροὺς ὑμῶν καὶ προσεύχεσθε ὑπὲρ τῶν διωκόντων ὑμᾶς·

45 ὅπως γένησθε υἱοὶ τοῦ πατρὸς ὑμῶν τοῦ ἐν οὐρανοῖς, ὅτι τὸν ἥλιον αὐτοῦ ἀνατέλλει ἐπὶ πονηροὺς καὶ ἀγαθοὺς καὶ βρέχει ἐπὶ δικαίους καὶ ἀδίκους.

46 ἐὰν γὰρ ἀγαπήσητε τοὺς ἀγαπῶντας ὑμᾶς, τίνα μισθὸν ἔχετε; οὐχὶ καὶ οἱ τελῶναι τὸ αὐτὸ ποιοῦσιν;

47 καὶ ἐὰν ἀσπάσησθε τοὺς ἀδελφοὺς ὑμῶν μόνον, τί περισσὸν ποιεῖτε; οὐχὶ καὶ οἱ ἐθνικοὶ τὸ αὐτὸ ποιοῦσιν;

48 Ἔσεσθε οὖν ὑμεῖς τέλειοι ὡς ὁ πατὴρ ὑμῶν ὁ οὐράνιος τέλειός ἐστιν.”

Introduction:

When someone mistreats you or when you find out someone is speaking slanderously about you, how do you respond? Anger? Fear?

Our text provides a clear picture of how we are to respond in order to have a winning walk.

Notice 3 expressions of a winning walk:

I. A POSITIVE RESPONSE IN PERSECUTION (Matthew 5:38-41).

Matthew 5:38–41 (NLT)

38 “You have heard the law that says the punishment must match the injury: ‘An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.’

39 But I say, do not resist an evil person! If someone slaps you on the right cheek, offer the other cheek also.

40 If you are sued in court and your shirt is taken from you, give your coat, too.

41 If a soldier demands that you carry his gear for a mile, carry it two miles.

A. Give a gentle response to those who mistreat you. (Matthew 5: 38-39)

Matthew 5:38–39 (NLT)

38 “You have heard the law that says the punishment must match the injury: ‘An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.’

39 But I say, do not resist an evil person! If someone slaps you on the right cheek, offer the other cheek also.

“38 Ἠκούσατε ὅτι ἐρρέθη· Ὀφθαλμὸν ἀντὶ ὀφθαλμοῦ καὶ ὀδόντα ἀντὶ ὀδόντος.

39 ἐγὼ δὲ λέγω ὑμῖν μὴ ἀντιστῆναι τῷ πονηρῷ· ἀλλʼ ὅστις σε ῥαπίζει εἰς τὴν δεξιὰν σιαγόνα, στρέψον αὐτῷ καὶ τὴν ἄλλην·”

· David. (1 Samuel 24).

1. Refuse to become involved in a fight.

a. Don't defend yourself. (Romans 12:19).

Romans 12:19 (NLT)

19 Dear friends, never take revenge. Leave that to the righteous anger of God. For the Scriptures say, “I will take revenge; I will pay them back,” says the Lord.

B. Give of self sacrificially to those who mistreat you. (Matthew 5:40).

Matthew 5:40 (NLT)

40 If you are sued in court and your shirt is taken from you, give your coat, too.

“40 καὶ τῷ θέλοντί σοι κριθῆναι καὶ τὸν χιτῶνά σου λαβεῖν, ἄφες αὐτῷ καὶ τὸ ἱμάτιον·”

1. Give of yourself for their sake.

C. Go farther than you are required to: Return good for evil. (Matthew 5:41).

Matthew 5:41 (NLT)

41 If a soldier demands that you carry his gear for a mile, carry it two miles.

“41 καὶ ὅστις σε ἀγγαρεύσει μίλιον ἕν, ὕπαγε μετʼ αὐτοῦ δύο.”

1. See how much good you can give in return for evil. (Romans 12:20).

a) Through this behavior, they may be one to Christ.

II. A POSITIVE RESPONSE TO NEED. (Matthew 5: 42).

Matthew 5:42 (NLT)

42 Give to those who ask, and don’t turn away from those who want to borrow.

“42 τῷ αἰτοῦντί σε δός, καὶ τὸν θέλοντα ἀπὸ σοῦ δανίσασθαι μὴ ἀποστραφῇς.”

A. Freely give when asked for help. (Matthew 5: 42a)

Matthew 5:42a (NLT)

42 Give to those who ask, and don’t turn away from those who want to borrow.

1. Freely give of your resources.

2. Freely give of yourself. (John 1:16; Matthew 10:8).

John 1:16 (NLT)

16 From his abundance we have all received one gracious blessing after another.

Matthew 10:8 (NLT)

8 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cure those with leprosy, and cast out demons. Give as freely as you have received!

a) Macedonian Believers. ( 2 Corinthians 8:1-5).

2 Corinthians 8:1–5 (NLT)

1 Now I want you to know, dear brothers and sisters, what God in his kindness has done through the churches in Macedonia.

2 They are being tested by many troubles, and they are very poor. But they are also filled with abundant joy, which has overflowed in rich generosity.

3 For I can testify that they gave not only what they could afford, but far more. And they did it of their own free will.

4 They begged us again and again for the privilege of sharing in the gift for the believers in Jerusalem.

5 They even did more than we had hoped, for their first action was to give themselves to the Lord and to us, just as God wanted them to do.

B. Do not turn away from those in need. (Matthew 5: 42 b).

Matthew 5:42b (NLT)

42 Give to those who ask, and don’t turn away from those who want to borrow.

1. God has never turned away from yours.

a) Salvation.

b) food.

c) shelter.

2. God's response is to abound beyond the need. (Philippians 4: 19).

Philippians 4:19 (NLT)

19 And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.

a) He gives to us according to his own riches and glory.

b) His gifts are not based on our merit!

III. A POSITIVE RESPONSE TO ENEMIES. (Matthew 5:43-48).

Matthew 5:43–48 (NLT)

43 “You have heard the law that says, ‘Love your neighbor’ and hate your enemy.

44 But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you!

45 In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven. For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and the unjust alike.

46 If you love only those who love you, what reward is there for that? Even corrupt tax collectors do that much.

47 If you are kind only to your friends, how are you different from anyone else? Even pagans do that.

48 But you are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect.

A. Love your enemies. (Matthew 5: 43-44).

Matthew 5:43–44 (NLT)

43 “You have heard the law that says, ‘Love your neighbor’ and hate your enemy.

44 But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you!

“43 Ἠκούσατε ὅτι ἐρρέθη· Ἀγαπήσεις τὸν πλησίον σου καὶ μισήσεις τὸν ἐχθρόν σου.

44 ἐγὼ δὲ λέγω ὑμῖν, ἀγαπᾶτε τοὺς ἐχθροὺς ὑμῶν καὶ προσεύχεσθε ὑπὲρ τῶν διωκόντων ὑμᾶς·”

1. Love is a choice.

2. Love's primary concern is its object.

a) Christ's primary concern was you.

B. Bless those who curse you. (Luke 6:28)

Luke 6:28 (NLT)

28 Bless those who curse you. Pray for those who hurt you.

1. Don't retaliate to those who curse you. (Proverbs 15:1).

Proverbs 15:1 (NLT)

1 A gentle answer deflects anger, but harsh words make tempers flare.

(Romans 12:17)

Romans 12:17 (NLT)

17 Never pay back evil with more evil. Do things in such a way that everyone can see you are honorable.

2. Find ways to minister to them and demonstrate the love of Christ.

C. Pray for those who do you harm. (Matthew 5: 44 d)

Matthew 5:44 (NLT)

44 But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you!

1. Pray for the ability to love them.

2. Pray for their relationship with Christ.

a) Steven. (Acts 7:54-8:1).

(Acts 7:59-60)

Acts 7:59–60 (NLT)

59 As they stoned him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.”

60 He fell to his knees, shouting, “Lord, don’t charge them with this sin!” And with that, he died.

D- Follow the example of the Lord. (Matthew 5:45-48)

Matthew 5:45–48 (NLT)

45 In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven. For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and the unjust alike.

46 If you love only those who love you, what reward is there for that? Even corrupt tax collectors do that much.

47 If you are kind only to your friends, how are you different from anyone else? Even pagans do that.

48 But you are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect.

“45 ὅπως γένησθε υἱοὶ τοῦ πατρὸς ὑμῶν τοῦ ἐν οὐρανοῖς, ὅτι τὸν ἥλιον αὐτοῦ ἀνατέλλει ἐπὶ πονηροὺς καὶ ἀγαθοὺς καὶ βρέχει ἐπὶ δικαίους καὶ ἀδίκους.

46 ἐὰν γὰρ ἀγαπήσητε τοὺς ἀγαπῶντας ὑμᾶς, τίνα μισθὸν ἔχετε; οὐχὶ καὶ οἱ τελῶναι τὸ αὐτὸ ποιοῦσιν;

47 καὶ ἐὰν ἀσπάσησθε τοὺς ἀδελφοὺς ὑμῶν μόνον, τί περισσὸν ποιεῖτε; οὐχὶ καὶ οἱ ἐθνικοὶ τὸ αὐτὸ ποιοῦσιν;

48 Ἔσεσθε οὖν ὑμεῖς τέλειοι ὡς ὁ πατὴρ ὑμῶν ὁ οὐράνιος τέλειός ἐστιν.”

We are to live in a way that demonstrates whose children we are!

Conclusion:

Song: Let others see Jesus in you.

B.B. McKinney

While pass­ing through this world of sin, And oth­ers your life shall view, Be clean and pure with­out, with­in, Let oth­ers see Je­sus in you.

Your life’s a book be­fore their eyes, They’re read­ing it through and through; Say, does it point them to the skies? Do oth­ers see Je­sus in you?

What joy ’twill be at set of sun, In man­sions be­yond the blue, To find some souls that you have won; Let oth­ers see Je­sus in you.

Then live for Christ both day and night, Be faith­ful, be brave and true, And lead the lost to life and light; Let oth­ers see Je­sus in you.

Refrain

Let oth­ers see Je­sus in you, Let oth­ers see Je­sus in you; Keep tell­ing the sto­ry, Be faith­ful and true, Let oth­ers see Je­sus in you.