How to Deal with Hurtful People

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How to Deal with Hurtful People

Matthew 5:

Matthew 5:38–42 ESV
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.

DT: Jesus requires His followers to exercise grace towards those who are hurtful and even hateful towards them.
Aim: We will exercise grace towards all including those who hurt us and hate us.
Introduction: This section of Jesus’ sermon gives further guidance for the believer especially as it pertains to personal relationships. Jesus first addresses the teachings which can be found in:
Exodus 21:24 ESV
24 eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot,
Exodus 21:24
Leviticus 24:20 ESV
20 fracture for fracture, eye for eye, tooth for tooth; whatever injury he has given a person shall be given to him.
Leviticus 24:20
Deuteronomy 19:21 ESV
21 Your eye shall not pity. It shall be life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot.
deut
Jesus is not contradicting this practice but illuminating the heart and goal God, which is that His children would not be so quick to retaliate and seek revenge before administering the grace that God has given to them. Jesus says, I know what you are being taught, meaning, I know what the pharisees enforce but I want you to learn how to live gracefully and lovingly towards those who hurt you.
Transition: No doubt each of us have been in the position of being hurt and are perhaps hurting now. How do you deal with it?

Do Not Return Evil for Evil

matthew 5:39
be in opposition to, set oneself against, oppose
ἀνθίστημι
William Arndt, Frederick W. Danker, and Walter Bauer, A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2000), 80.
Matthew 5:39 ESV
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.
a. Define resist- ἀνθίστημι, be in opposition to, set oneself against, oppose This verb means to resist by actively opposing pressure or power.
This verb means to resist by actively opposing pressure or power

Jesus is not addressing law, he is guiding personal ethics and the tendency people have of taking things into their own hands to get revenge

Jesus is not addressing law, he is guiding personal ethics and the tendency people have of taking things into their own hands to get revenge

Application: Just because a person chooses to do you wrong does not mean we have to scheme to do them wrong. Choose not to be in opposition with others. Do not live with grudges. Forgive people who hurt you.
Transition: We cannot live as enemies with those who choose to be our enemy. God requires us to move beyond the pain and the hurt and be gracious. The text further teaches another way that we deal with hurtful people is to Give more than they take.

Give More Than They Take

Matthew 5:40–41 ESV
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.
matthew 5:
Matthew 5:40 ESV
40 And if anyone would sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well.
Matthew 5:40
a. Describe the tunic- a long garment worn under the cloak next to the skin.
Jesus describes a situation of an individual losing his most intimate clothing and says that this person should not be overly consumed with the loss. Instead that person should give more and do it willingly.
Application: Do not lose your mind behind the evil efforts and misguided acts of the wicked. People may be able to take our things but they cannot take our dignity. What can we give when others take? We can give the love of Christ. We can give them the example of a satisfied Christian. We can give them the embrace of a child of God. Value them more than our things by showing love.
Psalm 24:1 ESV
1 The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein,
psalm 24
Transition: We need not be burdened by the hurtful. God requires us to trust His hand in our life. We know that God will take care of us. The text further teaches us that when we deal with hurtful people we must Be Kind.

Be Kind

Matthew 5:42 ESV
42 Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you.
Matthew 5:
How does this verse fit in this section? What does it have to do with hurtful people. It means to exercise grace even when those who are hurtful are hurting. When the hurtful begin to suffer it is not a reprieve from our Christian obligation.
This is a mandate to serve people even when they hurt us.
a. The the begger
b. The borrower

Conclusion:

Jesus clearly and plainly shows you and I that our lives should not be consumed with revenge and hatred. God wants us to live to his glory.
Who do you seek revenge against? Who has hurt you? Who is hurting you? How are you dealing with it?
Jesus on the Cross . . .
Greek chiton, a long garment worn under the cloak next to the skin
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