Genesis 4 1-16

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an eye for a tooth* (Jesus Feet)

genesis 4: 1-16

Introduction: Deep down in our hearts there is always a hateful urge to “get even.”  Even among Christians this desire is rarely conquered.  An old Jewish saying was, “love thy neighbor and hate your enemy”.  Little school children sometimes say, “tit for tat, you kill my dog, I’ll kill your cat”, or “I’ll get even with you”.  Even so-called Christian nations believe in reprisals, that is “getting even with nations and rulers that have made transgressions.  Our countries rulers did this when we bombed Momar Kadafi of Libya in retaliation for his terrorist activity.  “An eye for an eye , and a tooth for a tooth” is as far as some folks ever get along the way of Christian living.  One would think that they had never heard of the golden rule.  They treat others in the same way that they think that they have been treated.   

I.          Failing to See Our Own Faults.

A.        Usually when a person acts this way they fail to see their own faults.  They imagine the faults of others and the wrongs done to themselves as greater than they really are.  They make their own sins little and their neighbors sins big.  Thus those believing in “getting even” usually go their enemies one better.  They are not satisfied with a tooth for a tooth;  they want an eye for a tooth.  We want to get them back plus some more.  We love to pay back evil with interest at one-hundred-percent. 

B.        Was that not the spirit that caused Cain to kill Abel?  Abel had not sinned against Cain, so far as we know.  But God had been pleased with faithful Abel and not with selfish Cain.  Cain was angry at God.  But he could not hurt God directly, so he decided to pay back God with interest by killing Abel, his brother.

II.        Revenge is so Sweet.

A.        Revenge is so sweet.  At least it seems that way at first.  It seems so right to make right the wrong that has been done.  Justice is important.  To that end God established rulers and authorities over us.  They hold the power of the sword over us for our protection and for our punishment.  Yet we know that many wicked deeds go unpunished in this world.  We are tempted to carry out our own justice which only become evil actions. When we are wronged by other people they become the object of our anger and hate.  We hold grudges against them.  We spread rumors and we talk bad about them.  We exclude them from our association with them and from our love.  All the while we justify ourselves because we see ourselves as the injured party.  As Christian men and women we are called upon to leave vengeance to our just God.  “I will revenge, saith the Lord.”

III.       Repaying Evil for Good

A.        It takes a person who has been with Jesus to return good for evil, blessing for cursing.  Jesus took abuse but never abused.  He taught a lesson that did not abolish Moses law of an eye for an eye but went beyond Moses’ Law.  He taught us to turn the other cheek  Even when it is right to call for justice by turning the other cheek we show the example of something even greater -  God’s grace.  It is an example of God’s love and forgiveness in our lives.  If God were to hold us accountable for all our evil actions, attacking God by attacking and sinning against our own earthly brothers and sisters, we would suffer His terrible and just punishment.  God’s grace has ruled over His justice and His vengeance.  We have been freely forgiven for the sake of Jesus who suffered our punishment.  “Vengeance is mine saith the Lord.”  And it was poured out completely on Jesus when He died on the cross.  

Conclusion:    Cain the murderer may have felt satisfied when he saw the body of his supposed enemy lying in blood before him.  We might feel a moment of satisfaction when we strike back at our supposed enemies.  But in gaining the upper hand, we, with Cain, loose everything and fond ourselves cursed.  On the other hand, Jesus apparently lost everything and yet He overcame the world.  He won the victory not with hatred, but with love, a love that gave himself for the sons of the world.

Prayer:  O Spirit of God, through the Word create in us a clean heart and renew a right spirit within us.  Let us learn the new commandment that our Lord Jesus taught us - that we should love one another.  May we realize that as His disciples we must love all people and even our enemies.  Forgive us when we fail for Jesus sake.     Amen.