SHARING BREAD
38 “You have heard that it was
said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ 39 But I tell you, Do not resist an evil
person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. 40 And if someone wants to sue you and take
your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. 41 If someone forces you to go one mile, go
with him two miles. 42 Give
to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow
from you.”
Matt 5:38-42
(NIV)
In our verses for today Jesus clearly states we are not to
be retaliators of evil. The Law of
retaliation presented in Exodus, Leviticus and Deuteronomy was given to protect
the innocent and to make sure that the retaliation did not go beyond the
offense – the punishment was to fit the crime and not to exceed it. Scripture states:
You must
purge the evil from among you. 20 The
rest of the people will hear of this and be afraid, and never again will such
an evil thing be done among you. 21 Show
no pity: life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for
foot. Deut 19:19-21 (NIV)
Jesus, however, teaches us we are not to be vengeful – we
are to avoid and resist evil as is necessary for our own security but we must
not harbor a grudge (unforgiveness) nor avenge ourselves nor seek to get even
when wronged. The rights of those
innocent were protected by the Law yet our Lord states the righteous need not
necessarily claim their rights. Indeed,
Scripture teaches us we are to repay evil with good. Paul tells us in Romans:
17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do
what is right in the eyes of everybody. 18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live
at peace with everyone. 19 Do
not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is
written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord. 20 On the contrary: "If your enemy is hungry, feed
him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will
heap burning coals on his head." 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with
good. Romans 12:17-21 (NIV)
Forgiveness when wronged demonstrates the divine miracle of
grace in one’s life and points to Jesus.
Forgiveness is supernatural and flows against the flesh which is desirous
of retaliation. Forgiveness costs and it
is marked by mercy and love - its origins are in God Himself. We are never more Christ-like than when we
forgive when wronged. Like Jesus, we are
to entrust ourselves to the One who judges justly. Christians are to bear a striking resemblance
to their Master. God sees every slight
against His children and it is His to make right. Furthermore, He does a far better job! Peter writes of Christ’s example:
23 When they hurled their insults at him, he did not
retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself
to him who judges justly. 1 Peter 2:23
(NIV)
“Make me into a rock which swallows up the waves of wrong in its great caverns and never throws them back to swell the commotion of the angry sea from whence they came. Ah! To annihilate wrong in this way – to say, ‘It shall not be wrong against me, so utterly do I forgive it!’” George MacDonald
“Forgiveness
saves us the expense of anger, the cost of hatred, the waste of spirits.” Hannah
More
Christians are to think kindly, speak kindly and do
kindly. We are to forgive as we have
been forgiven. Those who themselves have
experienced the grace of God and are thankful for the forgiveness of the Lord
are to be quick to forgive as well. We
are to always love the sinner yet hate the sin which is the downfall of a soul. If we have been privy to have heard the words
of forgiveness spoken to our own hearts we will want others to hear them too. Returning good for evil is Christ-like.
“Be God-like, then; and in all ways and by all means, so
live that all may say of you, ‘You have been with Jesus.’” Charles H. Spurgeon
8 Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another;
be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble. 9 Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but
with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a
blessing. 1 Peter 3:8-9 (NIV)
“You
never touch the ocean of God’s love as when you forgive and love your enemies.” Corrie
ten Boom
What I glean from this:
· I am not
to be vengeful - it is God’s to avenge.
We are all sinners. When one sins
against another it is really sinning against God. Remember David’s penitent words to the Lord
in Psalm 51 after his fall with Bathsheba: 4 Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is
evil in your sight, so that you are proved right when you speak and justified
when you judge. Psalms 51:4 (NIV)
· Forgiveness
when wronged demonstrates grace and points to Jesus. Forgiveness is more for me than even the one
I am forgiving.
·
I am to think kindly, speak kindly, and do kindly. 12 Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly
loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and
patience. 13 Bear
with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one
another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds
them all together in perfect unity. Col
3:12-14 (NIV)
