“You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth [punishment that fits the offense].’ But I say to you, do not resist an evil person [who insults you or violates your rights]; but whoever [In this context the “slap” is not an act of violence, but more likely an insult or violation of one’s rights] slaps you on the right cheek, turn the other toward him also [simply ignore insignificant insults or trivial losses and do not bother to retaliate—maintain your dignity, your self-respect, your poise]. If anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, [Probably a prohibition against frivolous legal action] let him have your coat also [for the Lord repays the offender]. And whoever [Roman soldiers were allowed to force civilian bystanders to carry their gear one mile for them] forces you to go one mile, go with him two. Give to him who asks of you, and do not turn away from him who wants to borrow from you.
Generosity and mercy are the focus of Christ’s sermon today. I am not to react selfishly to the words and actions of my neighbors and my enemies. My struggle is not against flesh and blood. My struggle is spiritual. My warfare is not physical. My warfare is spiritual and mental. When I lower myself to the ways of the world, when I look to take an eye in vengeance, when I look for my pound of flesh, when I look to get even, when I look to protect my pride, when I look to defend my honor, then I lose sight of what Christ commands. I need to maintain my dignity, self-respect, and poise in my relationship with the Lord as His Ambassador.
“Your ancestors have also been taught, ‘Take an eye in exchange for an eye and a tooth in exchange for a tooth’ [See Ex. 21:24]. However, I say to you, don’t repay an evil act with another evil act [As translated from Hebrew Matthew. The Greek is “Do not resist evil (or evil doer)”]. But whoever insults you by slapping you on the right cheek, turn the other to him as well [That is, simply stand and take it without responding in return with violence. In the cultural setting of the days of Jesus, to slap someone was the greatest insulting physical blow you could give a person. It is better to respond with kindness. This robs the oppressor of his ability to humiliate. See Prov. 15:1; 24:29; Isa. 50:6; Lam. 3:30]. If someone is determined to sue you for your coat, give him the shirt off your back as a gift in return. And should people in authority take advantage of you, do more than what they demand [“If someone forces you to go a mile with him, go two.” This is in reference to the Roman authorities, who often compelled the Jewish men to carry their heavy items for them. In v. 40 we are challenged to give up our rights, in v. 41 to surrender our freedom, and in v. 42 to surrender our prosperity]. Learn to generously share what you have with those who ask for help, and don’t close your heart to the one who comes to borrow from you” [The Aramaic can be “If someone wants to benefit from you, do not stop him.” In the agrapha sayings of Jesus, as quoted by early church fathers, an additional line is found here that reads, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” See also Acts 20:35].
I need to give up the rights that God gave me to serve others. I need to surrender the freedom God gave me to serve God. I need to give up my prosperity provided by God to help others. If there is something that needs to be repeated, it is this idea today.
Am I still holding on to the cultural beliefs of my ancestors? Am I still repeating their mistakes in making their own way without the Lord? Am I still a godless heathen?
“Ye haue heard that it hath bene sayd, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth. But I say vnto you, Resist not euill: but whosoeuer shall smite thee on thy right cheeke, turne to him the other also. And if any man wil sue thee at the law, and take away thy coate, let him haue thy cloke also. And whosoeuer will compell thee to goe a mile, goe with him twaine. Giue to him that asketh, and from him that would borowe of thee, turne not away.”
There is a family history of making poor choices that I need to overcome. Every family has different poor choices built into their history. I need to come to terms with what those poor choices are in my life and give them over to God. God doesn’t love me because I am saved. God saves me because He loves me.
And He loves me when I am sinner. And He loves me when I walk in His Way. And I am thankful that He can love me enough to look through space and time and decide that two thousand years ago He was going to make a way for me. And He was there making a way for you too. He made that way knowing that I was going to make mistakes and fail BUT He made that decision out of love. And that is what this is all about. Loving God and others a lot more than I do my own pride, my own freedom, and my own abundance.
“Again you have heard what is said in the Torah: An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth. But I say to you, do not repay evil for evil; but he who smites your right cheek provide for him the left. He who wishes to oppose you in judgment and to rob your shirt, leave to him your garment. He who asks you to go with him a thousand steps, go with him two thousand. To him who asks from you give and from him who wishes to borrow from you do not hold back.”
I can choose to be out there swinging and flailing like the third monkey trying to get on the Ark. Or I can trust in the Lord. And I spent plenty of time being that third monkey. Today and tomorrow I choose to trust in the Way of the Lord. And that means trusting Him when I don’t understand. That means trusting Him when I don’t see a path. That means trusting Him when He tells me things that don’t make any sense to me. Because trusting Him is not about understanding. Trusting Him is about obedience despite and in spite of my own understanding.
“You have heard that our fathers were told, ‘Eye for eye and tooth for tooth.’ But I tell you not to stand up against someone who does you wrong. On the contrary, if someone hits you on the right cheek, let him hit you on the left cheek too! If someone wants to sue you for your shirt, let him have your coat as well! And if a soldier forces you to carry his pack for one mile, carry it for two! When someone asks you for something, give it to him; when someone wants to borrow something from you, lend it to him.”
I pray that this lesson of Christ lays heavy on my heart when I wake up and want to choose violence. I pray that Christ’s love be an example of how I am supposed to live daily. I pray that I get out of my own way and let God lead in His Way. I pray that I am a better example of Christ’s love to my neighbor and my enemy each and every moment of the day. Let the fruit of the Ruach HaKodesh be there to temper my heart with mercy and compassion to mirror that of the Lord.
I love you. I forgive you. Have a blessed and abundant day!
