The Kingdom Manifesto - 10

The Kingdom Manifesto - 10

God Desires Forgiveness

Matthew 5:38-42

Introduction

The 35th President of the United States, John Fitzgerald Kennedy was inaugurated on January 20, 1961. Amidst the civil rights struggle that would soon turn violent, the Cold War stirring overseas, JFK succeeded in uplifting and encouraging the nation with his inaugural address, believed by many historians to be one of the best in history.

His great statement of “ask what you can do for your country” became the rallying cry for many Americans. That statement summed up the ethic that had defined the US up to that time, as we approached the end of what we now call “The Greatest Generation.” Fighting against the spiraling of the nation into a very selfish time of rebellion, the sexual revolution, the call was to give, not get. What will you give? What will you sacrifice? How far are you willing to go?

In Matthew 5, the text we are going to look at today serves as the rallying cry for God’s Kingdom - a call to sacrifice.

Matthew 5:38-42 - “You have heard the law that says the punishment must match the injury: ‘An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I say, do not resist an evil person! If someone slaps you on the right cheek, offer the other cheek also. If you are sued in court and your shirt is taken from you, give your coat, too. If a soldier demands that you carry his gear for a mile, carry it two miles. Give to those who ask, and don’t turn away from those who want to borrow.

This is a very well-known text. Iconic statements that we still use today originate from this passage. Turn the other cheek. Go the extra mile. While the text may be well known, it is by any measure a difficult passage.

Eye for an Eye. This is called the Lex Talionis. Even outside the bible, this is the oldest law in world history (Code of Hammurabi, ruled Babylon 2285BC). On the surface it seems to be a law that promotes revenge. But its actual purpose was to serve as an equalizing law. You see, revenge never works eye for eye. It works eye for two eyes. It escalates. You wrong me, so I wrong you back, plus one. Revenge is never equal. Unless this law is upheld. It keeps revenge from escalating.

In the OT, this law is mentioned three times (Exodus 21; Leviticus 24; Deut. 19). All three of them are set within the context of civil authorities. Jesus’ point? Justice is to be served, but not by you personally. That is the authority’s job. We don’t take matters of person justice into our own hands.

This is what Jesus means when he says, “Do not resist an evil person.” Jesus is fighting against how this law was used to excuse PERSONAL retribution. The attitude was, “If someone wrongs me, then I can respond in kind.” No. That is not to be our concern. God ensures justice...either by using the government, or personally at the judgment. Our responsibility isn’t to ensure the scales of justice are balanced…it is to advance His kingdom.

Jesus then lists four scenarios of sacrifice, four pictures of the kind of sacrifices we should be willing to make. As God’s kingdom people, instead of insisting on revenge for slights we have received, we are to sacrifice...

1. DIGNITY

Matthew 5:39b - “If someone slaps you on the right cheek, offer the other cheek also.”

Jesus is very detailed here. Not a hit, but a slap. Which is just offensive. But it is to the right cheek. In his culture, left hands were not used for these things, only the right. And the only way to hit another person on their right cheek is to backhand. Highly offensive. In fact, Jewish rabbinic law said that to be backhanded was twice the insult.

This is an assault on your dignity. An attempt to show dominance. To communicate that you are beneath me. So how would we normally respond to that? By asserting our own dominance. Fighting back. Oh no, you are misinformed, I am the bigger deal here, not you.

Jesus says to give the other cheek as well. To give up your dignity. To sacrifice it for the sake of the advancement of his kingdom. Why?

My responsibility in God’s kingdom is not to save face. But to serve in all humility. Really, this is a call to reality from Jesus. In God’s kingdom, I am here to serve, I am commanded to consider others better than myself. In God’s kingdom the relationship principle is to submit to others (Eph. 5:21). Military term meaning to voluntarily rank myself underneath another. So, to you who backhand me, there is no need to assault me to take my dignity, I offer it freely.

Michael Wilkins - “The goal of servanthood is to not think first of our harm, but of their good.”

2. RIGHTS

Matthew 5:40 - If you are sued in court and your shirt is taken from you, give your coat, too.

In Jesus’ day people wore two garments daily...a tunic that was essentially a long undergarment, then a cloak over the top of that. The cloak served many purposes, among those being warmth, an appropriate covering for a person, collateral (you could loan your cloak to someone as collateral on a loan) and a blanket at night.

And according to OT law (Exodus 22:26-27) a person could offer their cloak up as that collateral, but it had to be given back by the end of the day. A person’s cloak was their personal, private property. You had legal rights in regard to the ownership of your cloak.

What does Jesus say? If someone takes something from you, give them even more. Give up, even your rights, to what you are entitled to.

We live in a culture that is very concerned about an individual’s rights. Our way of life in America is governed by the statement that our Creator has endowed every individual with certain inalienable rights, to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. But we go well beyond this to worker’s/children’s/women’s rights.

Jesus says to lay aside what you are entitled to, to give up what we think we deserve...for others. Again, Jesus is offering a sobering reality check - in God’s kingdom, life is about Jesus and his glory, not me and mine. Not about what I get, or should get, but about all that Jesus deserves.

Oswald Chambers - “The only right a Christian has is the right not to insist upon his or her rights.”

3. CONVENIENCE

Matthew 5:41 - If a soldier demands that you carry his gear for a mile, carry it two miles.

In the days before driving, a Roman soldier couldn’t commandeer your car, he could commandeer you. He could require, at any time, for you to carry his heavy gear, which could weigh easily over 100 pounds, for a mile.

You’ve got a schedule. A timeframe to be on. A to-do list to accomplish. An appointment to get to. This would be highly inconvenient. Don’t just go the one, go two. Remember, then you have to walk back. Terribly inconvenient. And that is the point. Jesus is teaching to give up convenience (schedule, plans, desires), for the sake of advancing his kingdom in someone’s life.

Again, we live in a culture that is all about convenience. Instant coffee (doesn’t really qualify as real coffee), fast food, microwaves. Jesus says to sacrifice your “I must have it now because I am unwilling, too important to wait” attitude for the kingdom. Give it up. Be inconvenienced.

And remember who these soldiers are. We are not talking about helping out an American soldier (which is usually our delight to do in an area like this). Rome occupied Israel at this time and had for about 100 years. They are enemy combatants, representative of a pagan, evil empire. So yes, be inconvenienced, even by your enemies (we will come back to that next week). Another harsh reality check...in God’s kingdom, life is not about me.

4. POSSESSIONS

Matthew 5:42 - Give to those who ask, and don’t turn away from those who want to borrow.

Notice Jesus said give to those who ask, not to those who deserve. This is a blanket statement that covers everything. Jesus did not specify money here. He just said to give. Surely money and possessions are included, but that isn’t all.

Reality check - my stuff really isn’t mine. It is all God’s anyway...so give it away.

These are very difficult truths. Very challenging.

-Sacrifice your dignity for the kingdom.

-Give up your rights for the kingdom.

-Let others inconvenience you for the kingdom.

-Give everything up for the kingdom.

It could all be summed up by...

Romans 12:21 - Don’t let evil conquer you, but conquer evil by doing good.

In the face of evil, do not respond in kind. Respond with good.

TS - right now most of you are thinking... ‘yeah but.’ Looking for loopholes. Even in studying for and writing this sermon, we were trying to find loopholes.

Yes, the bible warns about giving to the lazy, and yes, Peter and John, after being beaten, were told to not speak about Jesus any longer...and they defied the order and kept preaching. So, there has to be scenarios where we don’t turn the other cheek, where we fight back.

We are not going to get into all of that today. We are not going to attempt to take the harshness out of Jesus’ words. Let’s set those aside and feel the full weight of this text. Jesus offers no clarifiers here.

TS - So, how could Jesus ask such things? This is an extremely high level of demand. It feels unfair. Slapped and back down. Stuff taken unfairly and I give more. Go further than I am required, for an enemy. These expectations seem unbalanced and very difficult.

But we must remember - these are not idle words for Jesus. He lived this.

-Is there anyone who sacrificed his dignity more than Jesus?

-Is there anyone who laid down their rights more readily than Jesus?

-Is there anyone who was more inconvenienced than Jesus?

-Is there anyone more generous than Jesus?

He is the example of this. And we are called to follow in his steps. This is part of what it means to be Christ-like. And that serves as motivation to do this. This teaching, don’t forget, is step 2 in the process. Step 1 is Jesus living this and, because of his sacrifice, invites us into his kingdom. Step 2 is us, as citizens of his kingdom, reflecting this same sacrifice, so that others could come into the kingdom.

Let’s look at a quick example in 1 Peter 3. Peter has been writing at length about submission in relationships, and he has specified how that submission looks for people relating to civil authority, slaves, husbands and wives. And then turns and addresses all Christians and their submission even to those who do evil against them.

1 Peter 3:8-15 - Finally, all of you should be of one mind. Sympathize with each other. Love each other as brothers and sisters. Be tenderhearted, and keep a humble attitude. Don’t repay evil for evil. Don’t retaliate with insults when people insult you. Instead, pay them back with a blessing. That is what God has called you to do, and he will bless you for it. For the Scriptures say,

“If you want to enjoy life

and see many happy days,

keep your tongue from speaking evil

and your lips from telling lies.

Turn away from evil and do good.

Search for peace, and work to maintain it.

The eyes of the Lord watch over those who do right,

and his ears are open to their prayers.

But the Lord turns his face

against those who do evil.”

Now, who will want to harm you if you are eager to do good? But even if you suffer for doing what is right, God will reward you for it. So don’t worry or be afraid of their threats. Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your Christian hope, always be ready to explain it.

So always be prepared to answer people who ask you about your faith in Jesus. The context is suffering for following Jesus. So, get ready...as you sacrifice your dignity, as you give up your rights, as you show willingness to be inconvenienced, as you give generously...get ready for this question - why? Why do you love so well? Why do you sacrifice so much? Why do you endure so patiently? Then tell them the answer.

That is the life that Jesus calls us to live. And that is the life he lived. He sacrificed everything, even to his own life, so that you could be a part of his kingdom.

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