GETTING EVEN

GETTING EVEN

Matthew 5:38-42 "You have heard the law that says the punishment must match the injury: 'An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.'  (39)  But I say, do not resist an evil person! If someone slaps you on the right cheek, offer the other cheek also.  (40)  If you are sued in court and your shirt is taken from you, give your coat, too.  (41)  If a soldier demands that you carry his gear for a mile, carry it two miles.  (42)  Give to those who ask, and don't turn away from those who want to borrow.

Exodus 21:24 “an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, a hand for a hand, a foot for a foot,”

In our passage today Jesus expounds on the “Law of Retaliation” or what we might call “The Law of Getting Even.” Mankind’s problem with getting even has always been that what we really want is to be ahead. The law of an eye for an eye was given, in part, to keep people who had been wronged or injured from going beyond what was just. In other words you are not allowed to lop off someone’s arm because they pinched your finger in a door. But the law did allow one to get even. Slap my face and I get to slap yours and then we are even.

This law was also a warning to one who would do injury to another. “If I kill my neighbor, I will be killed. If I lose my temper and poke out my neighbor’s eye I’m going to have an eye poked out.”

What Jesus is pointing out to us is a better way. Rather than lowering ourselves to the tactics of an evil person accept the injury and offer the other cheek. Don’t demand to be “even.” Demand to be better, to be like Christ in your response to others. Don’t pay insult for insult. Instead, show love and forgiveness and forbearance.

If someone sues you don’t just do what the law requires. Give more than what is demanded. Roman law allowed a soldier to demand aid from the Jewish people for a distance of one mile. If he asked a Jew to carry his armor that Jew was compelled to carry it for one mile. A Roman mile was a thousand paces. At the end of the mile most would cast down the load and grumpily walk away. Jesus command of love would cause us to “go the extra mile.” Imagine, you are in that situation and instead of counting steps, you carry the soldier’s armor with a smile and joyfully share your faith. Before you know it you’ve gone two miles or further and the seed of the Gospel is sown in the heart of that soldier and perhaps he will become a brother in Christ.

Move that scenario up to modern day. Your lost slave driver of a boss asks, or demands that you work longer on a project. You have a choice. You can gripe to everyone about your plight. You can refuse and possibly lose your job. You can do just enough to satisfy the bare minimum of the task. Or, you can do your best at the task with joy as if you are doing the task for God instead of for man. If you take the last approach you are again sowing the seeds of the Gospel and you are honoring your heavenly Father.

I don’t believe this to be a call to pacifistic martyrdom. 1 Timothy 5:8 “But those who won't care for their relatives, especially those in their own household, have denied the true faith. Such people are worse than unbelievers.” As the verse above states we are to provide for our families and I believe that includes protection. There came a point in Paul’s sufferings that he did defend himself as a Roman citizen (Acts 21:39).

That being said, as in all of life we must walk in the Spirit. He will give us direction in each situation as to whether we need to defend ourselves or if we are to submit to an evil person.

Let me suggest an exercise to help us with this. We live in a very sarcastic age. We often react to one another with criticism and sarcasm and biting insults. Today, make an honest effort to respond to each individual, situation, and even news reports with love, prayer and your best effort for God’s glory.

Ephesians 4:28 “If you are a thief, quit stealing. Instead, use your hands for good hard work, and then give generously to others in need.”  It would be good if we could work with this thought in mind, “Work, so you may have, so you may give.” If that were more our mindset we would not often have to turn the beggar away empty handed.

Father in heaven, Jesus came and showed us a new and better way. It is so easy for us to go with the flow of society by demanding our rights and by demanding that we be even. Fill us with Your love and power to walk in Your love. May others be drawn to the truth of Who You are by our lives of sacrifice and love. Give us grace to respond the way Jesus would respond in each situation this day. In Jesus Name, AMEN!!!