The Sermon on the Mount (15)
Notes
Transcript
Today we are looking at Jesus’ teaching on retaliation. He once again calls us to a radical new understanding of the law, as He has in the preceding verses. He continues to teach us what a believer living the the Kingdom life looks like. He is going to show us how a person who has the surpassing righteousness of Christ is supposed to react to personal offenses. Jesus quotes the Law from Exodus 21:24, Leviticus 24:20, and Duet. 19:21. The Law was not given to exact revenge, but to legislate justice.
38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ 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.
38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’
What we see here is the traditional Old Testament teaching on one’s response to personal wrong in the principal of exact retribution. There is nothing fundamentally wrong with that apart from mankind's manipulation of it. It brought equity and stability to human relations. Think of what happens in court, one person has to pay restoration to another for a wrong they have committed. Jesus does not intend to do away with His law, remember He is giving us the proper interpretation of it. Man had twisted it to suit their own desires, so things must be set straight.
Responding to Insult
Responding to Insult
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.
Jesus in His authority tells us “not to resist the one who is evil”. there are some who use this verse to say absolute nonresistance under any circumstance. There are those who use this to make their point about being a pacifist. Jesus wants us to think differently— differently when we face a personal attack because of our faith. He gives us four illustrations of what it means to “not resist the one who is evil” starting with turn the other cheek. Each of these illustrations is culturally specific, but they give us general principles for today's living.
Turn the other cheek. What Jesus is describing here is a backhanded slap (most people are right handed) to the right cheek. According to Rabbinic law to hit someone with the back of the hand was twice as insulting as hitting with the palm of the hand. A slap with the back of the hand meant calculated contempt and disdain for that person. This insult was one a Jew could seek legal satisfaction according to the law, but Jesus says don’t do it. He calls us to swallow our pride and give up our rights to reparations and fairness. We are to set aside our petty ways of getting even, the kind of living that punishes others by returning their own sins to them. Like if you have a friend who is late, so the next time you are late to get even with them. Jesus in telling us that turning the other cheek makes the other person in his or her well being the center of our focus. The one cheek is hot and in pain (which will cause us to be angry) the other cheek is still cool and unhurt (we can think more clearly when we are not angry). We think of him or her and adjust our focus to point that person to Christ.
Responding to a Rip-off
Responding to a Rip-off
40 And if anyone would sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well.
During Jesus day the cloak was indispensable, it was a necessity for survival. Even if someone had won your cloak in a law suit it was required for them to return it to you every evening. The hearers of Jesus teaching knew how important their cloaks were, this makes what Jesus says here a radical new way of thinking. If you are being sued for your shirt and they win give them your cloak also, this teaching is meant to point the people suing you to Christ. Romans 12:17-21
Responding to Forced Labor
Responding to Forced Labor
41 And whoever forces you to go one mile, go with him two.
It was the right of a Roman soldier to make someone carry his gear, but only for 1 mile. Jesus calls for a cheerfulness in this task, and says if they say go 1 mile go the extra mile and make it 2. There are two ways to do every task— begrudgingly or cheerfully. You have to mow the grass or You get to mow the grass. You have to go to work or You get to go to work. Our cheerfulness should cause others to ask what is up with them. Exhibiting this joy even when being treated unfairly points people upward. As believers we are Christ’s representatives here on earth and we should be pointing others to Him through all our circumstances.
Responding to the Borrower
Responding to the Borrower
42 Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you.
We must remember Jesus is speaking in all these about specific situations where believers are being persecuted for their relationship with Christ. These are not a set of mechanical rules but principals for meeting the personal wrongs that come with being followers of Christ. In this Jesus does not call us to give to every empty had, but we are called to give with a deep generosity. We are to be good stewards of all that God has given us, and give out of that abundance we have been given.
Jesus changes our lives, we no longer consider it our duty to get even. “an eye for an eye” is fine for court, but it has no place in our relationships with others, even our enemies. The world may think this type of living to be crazy, and we may appear weak in their eyes, but only the strong can live this kind of life, but the power is not ours it is Christ’s. Only through Him can we live this life. Each of these commands requires Jesus followers to act more generously than what the Law requires. Augustine said “the text says give to everyone that asks not give everything to him that asks”.
