Matthew
5:38-48 “those who hurt you"
Jesus challenges His followers in the extreme. If you have not been challenged by the sermon on the mount so far, then this passage will. Even before we finish reading our mind is filled with if’s and buts. Excuses and conditional clauses race through our mind, at least they run through mine.
Jesus challenges His followers in the extreme. If you have not been challenged by the sermon on the mount so far, then this passage will. Even before we finish reading our mind is filled with if’s and buts. Excuses and conditional clauses race through our mind, at least they run through mine.
In this passage Jesus is quoting Lev
24
Fiddler on The Roof, “the whole world
will be blind and toothless”
“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.”
Yet this command of Jesus is so far
above my natural self. Our natural self wants people to pay for their wrongs,
we want justice. This whole forgiveness and loving your enemies just does not
make sense does it? Yet here it is. This command is in repeated in Romans 12:17.
Jesus lived this teaching from the
cross Luke 23:24 “Father forgive them for they no not what they do.”
Steven is quoted in Acts 7:60 as he
was being stoned to death “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.”
How do we do this?
Admit our feelings.
Pray for them.
Find a way to bless them.
“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.”
Only in our efforts to carry out this
impossible task do we start to understand Jesus’ mind and heart, that allowed
Him to say from the cross “Father forgive them.”
Matthew
5:38-48
“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. “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.
“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. “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.
Lev 24:20
Whoever takes a human life shall surely be put to death. Whoever takes an animal’s life shall make it good, life for life. If anyone injures his neighbor, as he has done it shall be done to him, fracture for fracture, eye for eye, tooth for tooth; whatever injury he has given a person shall be given to him. Whoever kills an animal shall make it good, and whoever kills a person shall be put to death. You shall have the same rule for the sojourner and for the native, for I am the Lord your God.”
Whoever takes a human life shall surely be put to death. Whoever takes an animal’s life shall make it good, life for life. If anyone injures his neighbor, as he has done it shall be done to him, fracture for fracture, eye for eye, tooth for tooth; whatever injury he has given a person shall be given to him. Whoever kills an animal shall make it good, and whoever kills a person shall be put to death. You shall have the same rule for the sojourner and for the native, for I am the Lord your God.”
Romans 12:17
Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be conceited. Repay no one evil for evil but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be conceited. Repay no one evil for evil but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Prov 20:22
Do not say, “I will repay evil”; wait for the Lord, and he will deliver you.
Do not say, “I will repay evil”; wait for the Lord, and he will deliver you.
Luke 23:34
And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” And they cast lots to divide his garments.
And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” And they cast lots to divide his garments.
Acts 7:60
And falling to his knees he cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep.
And falling to his knees he cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep.
No comments:
Post a Comment