An Eye for an Eye

Happy Sunday! Today I resume our study on The Sermon on the Mount. I'll be reading from Matthew 5:38-42. Before I do that, I want to remind you that Jesus talk is talking to a big crowd, and that crowd were his disciples and hundreds of followers at all different levels of commitment. The the words of Jesus uttered that day would have been tough for all who heard them. They're tough today as well.

You may recall that Jesus is addressing what had become of the Old Testament law and teaching in chapter 5 specifically. So much had been interpreted wrongly that Jesus is now shedding light on how we are to live. Let me read verse 38 to you. Jesus said, "You've heard that it was said, 'An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.'"

Here Jesus is quoting from the Old Testament. We find this phrase, an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth, three times in the Old Testament. We find it in Exodus 21, Leviticus 24, and Deuteronomy chapter 19. They all shed light on the law. When this was established in the Old Testament, it was instruction for Courts, for judges, not for individuals.

When we hear an eye for an eye, we think that it's permission for us to get even, vigilante justice. Actually, it was established for fairness in sentencing wrongdoers. In verse 39, Jesus talks about how we are to deal with attacks and insults: "But I say to you, do not resist an evildoer. But if anyone strikes you on the right cheek, turn the other also."

Now, interpreting this takes a little bit of wisdom. Does Jesus really want us to sit there and take a beating? What about the third time, when we run out of cheeks? It's interesting to note that Jesus specified the right cheek. If we're hit on the left, can we jump on somebody?

It's likely that you're right-handed. Only around one and 10 are left-handed, so this speaks to most of us and applies to all of us. If you were to hit someone on the right cheek, how would you do it? With your left hand? I doubt it. I can't do much with my left hand.

What Jesus is talking about, he's referring to a custom in the Middle East in the day. If you were to backhand someone with your right hand with a slap, and a hard one, you would hit them on the right cheek. This was known as a horrible insult. What Jesus is doing here is he he's teaching us to be quiet when we're insulted, to not retaliate, to keep our mouth shut, to be loving, not hateful, to be kind, not harsh.

These words words would so improve our world today. In 2023, there were over 200 murders in our country as a result of Road rage, and thousands of incidents. People are out of control. Jesus is talking about being under the control of the Holy Spirit.

His challenging teaching continues in verse 40 when he says, "If anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, give your coat as well." Now here Jesus is talking about being generous, not defensive. It's hard to imagine that there were a lot of lawsuits surrounding clothing. The shirt was worn as an inner garment; the coat was the outer. It was used by the poor as a blanket at night to keep cold, to keep warm in the cold.

People didn't have extensive wardrobes, maybe just one set of clothes, perhaps too if they were lucky. Does Jesus really want his followers to give up everything and run around unclothed? What Jesus wants is for his followers to be unselfish. He wants us to be generous. He wants us to be giving.

A couple of scriptures come to mind. Philippians 2:3 and 4 tell us this: "Do nothing from selfish ambition or empty conceit, but in humility regard others as better than yourselves. Let each of you look not to your own interest but to the interest of others." In Galatians 5:22, we see listed in the fruit of the spirit that all believers should have the fruit of generosity. In giving more than expected, Jesus wants us to be radically unselfish.

Now to verse 41: "If anyone forces you to go one mile, go also the Second Mile." That phrase, go the extra mile, is still in use today. It's a beautiful example example for giving 110%. When Jesus talked about it on that day long ago, it was shocking and unpopular.

The Roman soldiers were occupiers in the land of Israel at the time, and a Roman soldier could legally force you to carry his pack for a thousand paces. The people of Israel hated this. It was humiliating. And Jesus again is talking about changing the heart of people. If a Christian treated a Roman soldier like a king, perhaps they would have opportunity to witness about the King of Kings.

We'll end with verse 42. In verse 42, Jesus said, "Give to the one who ask of you, and do not refuse anyone who wants to borrow from you." We're expected to have giving hearts. Now, does this scripture mean that we're to never say no?

I had a friend who had a brother-in-law asked him if he could borrow a large amount of money to buy a business. He came to me and asked what I thought. I thought for a moment, and I said, "Can I have a half a million dollars for a Lamborghini?" Obviously he told me no. He got the point. I didn't get the Lamborghini. I really don't want one.

Jesus is talking about legitimate need: being hungry, being thirsty, needing clothes. Sadly, today the lazy are clogging up Ministries, and it's hard to know who to help. I have a relative who works at a food bank, and he's saddened by the number of illegitimate needs that come in. In second Thessalonians 3:10, Paul plainly writes, "For even when we were with you, we gave you this command: anyone unwilling to work should not eat." Harsh words? Absolutely.

We should give up our resources. All of us should tithe. All of us should go above and beyond our tithe. But we should be wise, and we should have generous Hearts. Today's words are challenging. Only by the power of the Holy Spirit can we accomplish such radical living.

Pray with me. Lord, as this new year has begun, we pray that you continue to work in our lives. Help us to continue to radically change, to be different from the world, to March to the beat of your dream drum, not the drum of all that's popular around us. So help us to put others first, because we've put you first. Give us wisdom for daily life. In Jesus name, amen.

Thanks for joining me today. God bless you.