Matthew 5:38-42

Go The Second Mile

5:38

This section all has to do with retribution and rights.

Jesus is quoting from different Old Testament laws that God gave through moses.

Exodus 21:23-25 23 If there is an injury, then you must give life for life, 24 eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, 25 burn for burn, bruise for bruise, wound for wound.

Leviticus 24:19-20 19 If any man inflicts a permanent injury on his neighbor, whatever he has done is to be done to him: 20 fracture for fracture, eye for eye, tooth for tooth. Whatever injury he inflicted on the person, the same is to be inflicted on him.

Deuteronomy 19:15-21 15 “One witness cannot establish any iniquity or sin against a person, whatever that person has done. A fact must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses. 16 “If a malicious witness testifies against someone accusing him of a crime, 17 the two people in the dispute are to stand in the presence of the Lord before the priests and judges in authority at that time. 18 The judges are to make a careful investigation, and if the witness turns out to be a liar who has falsely accused his brother, 19 you must do to him as he intended to do to his brother. You must purge the evil from you. 20 Then everyone else will hear and be afraid, and they will never again do anything evil like this among you. 21 Do not show pity: life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, and foot for foot.

Matthew, Mark, Luke: Zondervan Illustrated Bible Backgrounds Commentary, Volume 1 Jesus Fulfills the Law (5:21–48)

Among some ancient societies punishment was handed out without real regard for individual cases, and often the penalty greatly exceeded the crime. The law of revenge (lex talionis) was originally intended as a means of providing justice and of purging evil from among God’s people (Deut. 19:20–21). It was established as a check to inappropriate punishment and was not to be administered by individuals, but only by civil authorities and civil courts to protect the public, to punish offenders, and to deter crime.

5:39

Resist in the Greek means to not retaliate or to not get even with.

More specifically Jesus is talking about do not resist in a court of law.

We could also take from this we are not to get our own vengeance.

A slap in the cheek was one of the highest forms of insult in the Jewish/Roman culture.

It was a slap with an open back hand. Both Jewish and Roman law permitted retaliation with this kind of insult.

But Jesus says to turn the other cheek as in do not retaliate.

Or take them to court which was acceptable at this time.

This shows us that just because the law says something is ok, does not mean it is right with God.

If someone were to slap us, in our culture we might not take them to court. But we would want to strike them back.

We are to turn the other cheek and not retaliate.

Same goes with insults that are words. Our society says we are to insult back and possible even get physical.

5:40 -41

These verse are a little more harder to swallow.

Because now Jesus is telling the crowd if someone want to sue you for your shirt, give it to them. And while you are at it, give them your coat as well.

Jesus is saying do not fight back, give them the shirt and give them the coat as extra.

What Jesus is getting at is turn the act of being sued into an act of giving.

You know that saying when someone steals something and we say they must have needed it more than I did. Its basically that, giving it up as an act of giving.

As Christians we are to do the same. If someone wants to sue us, we are to give up whatever they are suing us for.

5:42

Jesus is saying that as His disciples, and followers of Him we are to be very generous.

John the baptist says in Luke 3:11 11 He replied to them, “The one who has two shirts must share with someone who has none, and the one who has food must do the same.”

It says in Acts 4:32 32 Now the entire group of those who believed were of one heart and mind, and no one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but instead they held everything in common.

This is to be our heart and attitude to those who ask us for things.

I can not go home without being asked for money at least 5 times.

I don’t have the money to do that, but I do have a compassion center where they can get food and clothes.

You have the ability to pray for people and share a word with them.

Closing

These verses is where we really need to be careful of putting our own thoughts, and feelings into the text. Or also known as issegsis.

Our first thought could be to not read the passage as it sounds, but to find out or put other meanings to it.

We could think, wait I have rights. I can defend myself in court if someone wants to sue me.

I don’t have to go the second mile if I don’t want to.

I should not have to give if I do not want to.

We may want to justify ourselves in these areas.

But Jesus speaks into this in Luke 10:25-29 25 Then an expert in the law stood up to test him, saying, “Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 26 “What is written in the law?” he asked him. “How do you read it?” 27 He answered, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind,” and “your neighbor as yourself.”, 28 “You’ve answered correctly,” he told him. “Do this and you will live.” 29 But wanting to justify himself, he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”

The man asked this question to justify himself, thinking not everyone is his neighbor

This is where Jesus goes into the parable of the good Samaritan.

Jesus teaching is radical and can be hard to swallow, but as Christians we are called to live a radical life of love, faith, and caring just like Jesus did.

When Jesus was slapped on the face He did not retaliate.

When Jesus was insulted and being mocked, He did not throw insults back. Nor did he start throwing punches.

There were times Jesus spent all day and at times night healing people and did not turn anyone away.

There were times Jesus wanted to be alone and multitudes came to be healed, and He healed them.

Jesus carried His cross that was supposed to be ours.

Jesus teachings are radical, and require a great deal, but Jesus also tells us to count the cost to follow Him in

Luke 14:25-28 25 Then an expert in the law stood up to test him, saying, “Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 26 “What is written in the law?” he asked him. “How do you read it?” 27 He answered, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind,” and “your neighbor as yourself.”, 28 “You’ve answered correctly,” he told him. “Do this and you will live.”

We need to remember, it is no longer our life we are living, but Jesus’.

Galatians 2:20 20 I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.