Sunday, August 16, 2020 am – Online Lesson
Teachings of Jesus (16)
Sermon on the Mount (15)
Turn the Other Cheek
Matthew 5:38-42
Today, we come to the 5th of 6 examples that Jesus gives in
describing the type of righteousness God wants us to have.
This is a continuation of the Sermon on the Mount.
It is also a section that some view as the most controversial of
the statements of Jesus in this sermon.
Let us talk about turning the other cheek.
NOTE: This is a passage that remains controversial as it is used by some
to avoid military or law enforcement service (conscientious objectors),
owning a gun, pacifism or even defending yourself and your family from
intruders. Thus, addressing
this brings up current issues that can potentially divide us as a
country and sometimes as brethren.
But in this I will give my understand of this text.
a.
“An eye for an eye” –
i.
A statement found 3
times in the LOM -
Exodus 21:22-25 – men fight and hurt a woman with child – whatever
happens to the child shall be done to the one who hurt that child and
mother
Leviticus 24:19-20 – if a man causes disfigurement of his neighbor –
what he has done shall be done to him
Deuteronomy 19:16-21 – concerning a false witness, if he is found it is
to be done to him as he intended to be done to his brother (think about
that one – TT).
ii.
Some observations about
these passages:
1.
All three were dealing
with judicial decisions – in other words, the outcome was decided by
“the courts”. They are the
ones who have the right to exact punishment. Cf. Romans 13:1-3 notes the
authority of governments to bring judgment and punishment for evil
deeds.
2.
In reality this was a
just way to take care it of such things:
a.
It was merciful – in
that it made “the punishment fit the crime” rather than being too severe
b.
It was just – because it
was a suitable punishment (not too light or too heavy).
c.
It prevented vigilante
justice – the real point.
Get it away from the emotional response.
3.
Together these standards
could deter criminal behavior (when punishment is excessive, it tends to
more resistance, when too lenient it doesn’t deter at all).
4.
This is HOW the
statement was found in the LOM.
b.
How had the scribes and
Pharisees corrupted this?
i.
By making a judicial application apply personally.
Thus, they taught personal vengeance which is NOT what the expression
means.
ii.
By taking the law into their own hands
– vigilante justice, or personal retaliation
iii.
By reinterpreting punishments
– one source noted that in the time of Jesus rather than
taking an eye or a tooth, they had valued these things (much like our
personal injury litigation).
And is it possible, that like today, people seek not only compensation
but the destruction or ruin of the offender (and there are plenty of
lawyers to help them).
a.
Jesus gives us five
examples to consider. We
want to notice each of these, but FIRST consider some things about what
He said:
i.
In each of the examples
Jesus gives, His point is that we should go out of our way to be
different from the world round us in an exemplary way
ii.
What Jesus says in each
example must be qualified in light of His overall point – don’t
retaliate, or for the sake of the kingdom, don’t even resist being
wronged or compelled to do something. We
will see in each of the examples given, there is a context.
iii.
BUT we must be careful
to NOT dismiss what is actually stated by interpreting our own
exceptions into what Jesus said.
iv.
Furthermore, we need to
apply these things throughout our lives continually – including the
“little things” which we are more likely to come across than the “bigger
issues” (such as military service, civil service & self-defense in a
home invasion, etc.). Do we
apply these things when someone cuts us off while driving, or someone
takes advantage of us or maybe curses us – whether for our faith or just
because we did something they didn’t like?
v.
Our purpose is to
further the gospel by letting our light shine.
You “overcome evil with good” and let God take care of the
injustices and vengeance.
vi.
We are more prone to
underemphasize how far we should go, rather than overemphasizing it.
We will illustrate this too as we examine what Jesus said.
a.
Not to resist an evil
person.
a.
Is Jesus saying that you
must always allow an evil person to have his way?
Is He saying you cannot protect
yourself? Is He saying you should be a spiritual “doormat” and let
everyone walk all over you? Or that you ignore evil?
b.
No!
The word for “resist” is a word that means to actively oppose
something. In the NT, there
are many things we are to oppose:
i.
Acts 13:8 – Elymas
“withstood” Paul and Barnabas.
Note that Paul did not passively take it – He struck him blind
for a season and rebuked his deceit (vs. 10-11).
ii.
Paul appealed to Caesar
(Acts 25:11), he used his Roman citizenship to his advantage preventing
being beaten (Acts 22:25-29)
iii.
Jesus continually
defended Himself, and until the time He was not taken captive, including
slipping away from an angry crowd in Nazareth (Luke 4:29-30)
iv.
Galatians 2:11 – Paul
resisted Peter to his face for his hypocrisy
v.
Both 1 Peter 5:9 and
James 4:7, use the same word to tell us to “resist the devil”
c.
The point – ACT like a
Christian at all times, ESPECIALLY when you are being mistreated
(whether for the cause of Christ or not) – DON’T retaliate in kind when
you are wronged.
Let God take care of it – Romans 12:18-21 is a good summary of this.
Can we agree that we have enough ugliness around us without us
contributing to it with harsh words, loose tempers and an “I’m going to
get even with you” mentality?
This is about how we will not always get our way and at times things
that are unjust and even evil will prevail and maybe even hurt us. Don’t
try to get even and if needed be willing to suffer wrong and maintain
your Christian demeanor.
d.
Consider several
examples of this:
i.
Joseph was clearly
wronged by his brothers (Genesis 39), but later in life he forgave them
and even protected them (Genesis 45, 50:19-21 – “You meant evil against
me, but God meant it for good…”)
ii.
David, on many occasions
spared King Saul’s life because he did not want to be the one who took
the life of God’s anointed.
This in spite of Saul’s hatred for him.
iii.
Jesus was often wronged,
but consider everything He did for us – 1 Peter 2:21-23
iv.
Stephen, who being
stoned to death, prayed to God to forgive them, just as Jesus had done
on the cross (Acts 7:59-60, cf. Luke 23:34).
e.
These are the types of
things we must think about when the ungodly of this world act evil.
1 Peter 3:8-9, Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion
for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous;
not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the
contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you
may inherit a blessing.
f.
In the rest of this
text, Jesus gives us examples of this
b.
Whoever slaps you…turn
the other cheek.
a.
Was Jesus saying we
cannot defend ourselves?
Consider how He told His disciples to sell his garment to get a sword
(Luke 22:36). NOTE: It was
for self-defense, and not for aggression (cf. Matthew 26:52).
Paul defended himself when appropriate – by appealing to Caesar, his
Roman citizenship.
b.
You are insulted personally -consider Jesus mentioned the “right cheek”.
Most people are right-handed, so this could have been a
backhanded slap – which was an INSULT! Like
challenging one to a duel.
c.
WHEN insulted how do we
respond? Jesus said to
turn the other cheek.
DON’T return the insult.
When someone says something hateful or does something rude and you are
tempted to respond in kind, or say something hateful – DON’T.
BE a Christian!
Ephesians 4:29, 31-32 – Let no corrupt word proceed out of your
mouth…let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor and evil speaking be put
away from you…
d.
One author described
this by saying - perhaps offering the other cheek is a gesture of love
(you know there’s a problem and you want to help resolve it); Another
said – “Walk away!” Turn away from them (turn the other cheek) and leave
rather than retaliating or acting in kind.
c.
Whoever wants to sue you for your tunic, let him have your
cloak also
a.
Litigation can get ugly,
and we live in times where we find it everywhere.
Sadly, most of what we see advertised is not about restitution as
much as it is about revenge and the destruction of the offended party.
b.
Here we find one suing
you for what little you have.
IF you have wronged someone – ADMIT IT and seek to make it right.
I think of what Jesus said earlier about when your brother has
something against you – Matthew 5:24-26 – do what you can to resolve it
BEFORE you get to court, EVEN if it means you pay a little extra to
resolve a dispute.
c.
And EVEN if you are
wronged, consider the consequences of what one is doing.
Remember Paul in 1 Corinthians 6:7 spoke of brethren taking each
other to court (likely civil). Paul notes its better for you to suffer a
little wrong than for the name of God to be maligned.
d.
The point: ACT LIKE A
CHRISTIAN! There’s more to life than stuff!
d.
Whoever compels you to
go one mile, go with him two miles
a.
Under Roman law, a
soldier or other dignitary could at any time compel someone to carry
their personal gear for the distance of about 1 mile.
Imagine this in Jerusalem that was under Roman rule and they did
not think highly of Romans.
They may have complied, but probably with complaining the whole way and
bitterness that their time and pride had been unwillingly taken
b.
Jesus said, don’t just
go that one mile, but take it a second mile.
Be willing to go “above and beyond” and do so WITHOUT complaining
(James 5:9, 1 Peter 4:9).
c.
Your rights and time have been insulted – we live in times where everyone demands their
rights! “Don’t you dare
infringe on my rights” (or my “personal space”), so many will say.
There is disrespect for authority and even for others in general.
If someone asks for help with something, the question is, “What’s in it
for me?”
The Christian ought to be benevolent and caring of others – we do good
even to those who despise us (more on this next week).
We will give our best in whatever we do and if we are able to do a
little extra, we will do it.
1 Corinthians 13:4-5 – love is kind, suffers long, does not behave
rudely, does not seek its own…, etc. Philippians
2:3-4 – look out for interests of others.
d.
The point: ACT
LIKE A CHRISTIAN! Let your
attitude and actions demonstrate your faith.
e.
Give to him who asks or
wants to borrow – don’t turn him away.
a.
Jesus next speaks of
giving and lending to those in need.
Again, the LOM had some instructions concerning these things. They were
to be a generous people to others, especially their brethren.
They were to be compassionate especially to the poor and
defenseless. In fact, they
were forbidden from charging interest to their brethren and every seven
years there was to be forgiveness of debts (Deuteronomy 15:7-14)
b.
Very likely there was
abuse of these things as Jesus spoke of some devouring widow’s houses
(Matthew 23:14). You also
find greedy usury in the book of Nehemiah (Nehemiah 5)
c.
Galatians 6:10 calls for
us to do good to all, especially our brethren (I believe both
spiritually and physically).
1 Timothy 6:17-19 – the rich are commanded to do good and share.
d.
Jesus is simply
emphasizing, we need to be compassionate toward others and their
needs. IF we know
someone has a need and we can help, we need to help (James 2:14-17).
And it should not be self-serving (“What’s in it for me?”).
e.
Simply stated, ACT LIKE
A CHRISTIAN.
In
this teaching we find some very practical things we need to be doing.
Easy to understand, but it can be difficult if we have not opened
our heart to God as we ought to. Let
us strive to apply these principles in everything we do, EVEN the hard
things. Thus we find, as Paul himself said, “Do not be overcome by evil,
but overcome evil with good.” (Romans 12:21)
How do you respond the unrighteousness around us?
Think about it!