Retaliation: Don't

Matthew 5:38-42 "...You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ 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. And if anyone would sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you..."

Luke 6:29-31 "...To one who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also, and from one who takes away your cloak do not withhold your tunic either. Give to everyone who begs from you, and from one who takes away your goods do not demand them back. And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them..."

What scripture is Jesus citing?

Exodus 21:23-25 "...But if there is harm, then you shall pay life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burn for burn, wound for wound, stripe for stripe..."

lex talionis - the law of retaliation, given to protect the innocent and to make sure retaliation did not occur beyond the offense.

Context:

Exodus 20: the ten commandments are a distillation of the moral law.

Exodus 21-23: ordinances for applying the ten commandments as civil law.

Moral law is for everyone to follow. Civil law is for judges to enforce.

What is Jesus saying in this passage?

- individuals are not to retaliate.

What is Jesus not saying?

- not saying that evil is okay.

- not saying that civil authorities shouldn't take action to resist evil.

How should we respond to physical violence?

- a backhand blow to the right cheek is still an "insulting blow" in the East.

- Christians receive insulting blows on a regular basis.

- don't strike back.

- allow another blow.

- Jesus gave His back to the smiters.

How should we respond to judicial judgments?

- go beyond what the judgment mandates.

- generosity in the face of both fair and unfair judgment.

How should we respond to governmental oppression?

- Roman soldiers could force any citizen to carry a load one mile.

- Luke 23:26 "...And as they led him away, they seized one Simon of Cyrene, who was coming in from the country, and laid on him the cross, to carry it behind Jesus..."

- to carry the load a second mile demonstrates free will and grace.

Would you ever consider paying twice the taxes you owe?

What are the primary concerns faced by both individual givers and by a group running a benevolence fund?

- how to distribute limited funds when needs are great.

- complication and distraction of trying to prevent abuse.

- Why doesn't Jesus address these issues?

Why is there a tendency for people to ignore the moral law but demand the civil law?

- we want mercy for ourselves but justice for others.

Which do we care for most, our self and our possessions, or the eternal soul of others?

- love is the only force capable of transforming an enemy to a friend.

A man may strive for self-protection when life is threatened without any spirit of revenge. He may appeal to the law to protect his property without any bitterness toward the one who seeks to wrest it from him, and he may set himself against the oppression of his government from the loftiest motives of patriotism. [But] if revenge slumbers in our breast, little injuries will waken it as quickly as big ones. (The Fourfold Gospel: or A Harmony of the Four Gospels)

Love Your Enemies: For real!

Matthew 5:43-48 "...You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect..."

Luke 6:27-28 "...But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you..."

Luke 6:32-36 "...If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to get back the same amount. But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful..."

What scripture is Jesus citing?

Leviticus 19:17-18 "...You shall not hate your brother in your heart, but you shall reason frankly with your neighbor, lest you incur sin because of him. You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the sons of your own people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord..."

How had this scripture been perverted?

- the standard of love was narrowed by leaving out "as yourself".

- an exclusion was made by adding "hate your enemy".

Why had this scripture been perverted?

- the bloody wars waged in Canaan at God's command degraded from hating what God hates to hating what man hates.

How do we know that Jesus didn't define neighbor as only those who were of your own country, nation, and religion?

- In response to the lawyer in Luke 10, He told the story of the good Samaritan.

Why should we love and pray for evil men?

- because Jesus said we should!!

- evil men can repent, be justified, and be saved.

- God's people are to be perfect and merciful.

How can we "be perfect" and "be merciful, even as your Father is merciful"?

- we must abide with Him. He must dwell in us. We must be led by the Spirit.