Sweet Revenge

1. The Hook

"If you hurt me, I'm going to get you back."

"If you mess with my family, you're going to pay."

Most of us understand those feelings, don't we? In fact, our culture often celebrates them. And I am sure some have even used the verse we are going to discuss today. An “eye for an eye, tooth for tooth”

You've probably heard the old joke about the dad sitting at the kitchen table cleaning his shotgun before a boy comes to pick up his daughter for a date. The shotgun is sitting right there where the boy can see it. Dad shakes his hand and says something like, 'Son, if you break my daughter's heart, we're going to have a conversation.'

Everybody laughs because we understand the message: "If you hurt someone I love, there will be consequences."

Retaliation feels natural. Getting even feels fair. Making someone pay feels like justice.

But in Matthew 5:38-42, Jesus says something that completely challenges our instincts. He teaches His followers that there is a difference between justice and personal vengeance.

"The cultural response is retaliation. The kingdom response is surrendering our right to personal revenge."

2. The Context

As we have been discussing for a few weeks Jesus is helping these people understand how they can have a righteousness that exceeds that of the Scribes and Pharisees. He has been using the same phrases to show the different contrasts thoughout Chapter 5. You have hear it said BUT I SAY. These Jewish leaders have been teaching this to you but this is WHAT I am teaching.

What we have noticed is that JL had perverted the law to fit their ways and to keep themselves righteous but now Jesus is saying here is what I am saying and if you want to enter into the Kingdom of Heaven you’d better listen to what i have to say.

This passage is no different. This is one of those harder to grasp concepts because our culture is preaching the complete opposite to what Jesus is saying.

"The cultural response is retaliation. The kingdom response is surrendering our right to personal revenge."

3. The Text

Matthew 5:38–42 “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 an evil person; but whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. 40 “And if anyone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your garment also. 41 “And whoever forces you to go one mile, go with him two. 42 “Give to him who asks of you, and do not turn away from him who wants to borrow from you.”

Old Testament texts involved

Exodus 21:24 “24 eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot,”

This is in reference to men fighting and severly injuring a pregnant woman and baby

Leviticus 24:20 “20 fracture for fracture, eye for eye, tooth for tooth; just as he has injured a man, so it shall be inflicted on him.”

In reference to the injuring of a neighbor.

Deuteronomy 19:21 “21 “Thus your eye shall not show pity: life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot.”

This is a quotation from the Law of Moses (Ex 21:24; Lev 24:20). The original intent of this Law was to cause a person to think seriously about what he did before he did it. If, in a fit of rage, one struck another, damaging his eye, then the attacker would lose his eye. Or if, by throwing a rock which causes another to loose an arm, then that is what will happen to the one who threw the rock. “Look before you leap.” “Think ahead.”

Leviticus 19:18 “18 ‘You shall not take vengeance, and you shall not keep your anger against the sons of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself; I am Yahweh.”

3 Illustrations to not resisting the evil one

If you anyone slaps you on the right cheek turn the other also

This would have been a backhanded slap to someones face. This would have indicated this person was ready for a fight. And Jesus says do not engage in this fight. Rather let him do the same to the other cheek.

You think about the bully on the playground. They are always picking a fight and they love it when someone accepts the challenge. But they hate when someone stands up and lets them slap the other cheek too. It reminds me of what Paul says in Romans 12:19–21 “19 never taking your own revenge, beloved—instead leave room for the wrath of God. For it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. 20 “But if your enemy is hungry, feed him, and if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”

If anyone would sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well

This particular moment has do with someone paying back a debt. Now the Law of moses discussed that you should not charge interest on someone you loaned money too but in case someone wants to do that to you then you should just go ahead and give him your cloak as well. Even if it means you are giving up everything you have.

If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles

Now this one has to do with the Roman Oppressors that were in the land. This concept actually dates back to the Persian empire times where this pressing someone into service at any given time was very popular.

1. GOING TWO MILES — RESPONSE to Retaliation

SOME WALK THE FIRST MILE AND NO MORE.

A. There are those who will do just what God requires - and no more.

B. They want to get by doing the minimum.

SOME WALK THE FIRST MILE TWICE.

A. Some are so legalistic in their thinking that they do what God demands,

but they also try to do what has been done again and again.

B. Once a person does what God requires (e.g. has been baptized), he does

not need to do it again and again.

4. SOME WALK BOTH THE FIRST AND THE SECOND MILES.

A. There are those who are concerned about what God wants them to do.

B. These are the ones who also want to “go above and beyond the call of

duty.”

C. They do this because of their love for God (Eph 4:1; 5:2; 5:15f.).

All of these have to do with evil being done to you. And the response Jesus tells them to give is a non retaliatory response.

— In Matthew 5:42 “42 “Give to him who asks of you, and do not turn away from him who wants to borrow from you.” We see Jesus ultimately tell these people don’t become the evil doer on someone else.

— if you are going to give someone money just give it to them. Don’t expect it back and definitely don’t expect it to come back with interest and do not force that on someone. \

Jesus is wanting these people to go above and beyond what they had been taught in the past. He wants them to be second miling, cheek turning, cloak giving, and money lending disciples. Now I think one of the ways to apply this is to see this in the eyes on the one who has been forced to go 1 mile but Jesus says to go 2.

4. The Application

As you think about this I want to live you with a real life applicable way to handle your response to retaliate against those who have done evil to you .

Jesus is addressing something every person in this room will experience.

You will be insulted. You will be treated unfairly. You will be taken advantage of. You will be disappointed. You will be hurt. The question is not whether evil will be done against you. The question is:

What will you do when it is?

Because when we are hurt, our instinct is retaliation. We want to hurt back. We want to embarrass back. We want to get even. We want the last word. We want them to feel what they made us feel. But Jesus says there is a different way.

Can I encourage you with these responses to help you live the way Jesus wants you to live.

Surrender your right to get even

Trust God with bring Justice

Overcome Evil with Good

5. The Invitation

Which someone are you?

"The cultural response is retaliation. The kingdom response is surrendering our right to personal revenge."

Elements:

Summarize the key truth in one simple, memorable sentence [Rephrase your main point or truth here]

End with a vision of what life looks like if we all live this truth together [Picture of kingdom life]

Invite response—repentance, baptism, prayer, encouragement [Describe call to action or invitation moment]