Have you ever heard someone use the phrase,
I don't get mad, I just get even?
Now normally, if you hear somebody say that,
they're just joking, right?
Because I've said that to some of you.
Some of you have got the best of me
with some kind of smart-aleck comment
or some kind of practical joke.
I've just looked at you and told you,
I don't get mad, I get even.
Sometimes I try to get ahead even.
If we say those things to someone,
everybody knows you're just, you know, having fun, going on.
But there's many people in this world,
they may not say that, but they think that,
and they do that.
There are many people that the slightest offense
they're going to get revenge.
They're going to plot some way to retaliate
because they don't take anything off anyone.
Now I don't think many of us in this room,
at least lately,
have actually tried to do bodily harm to someone
out of revenge.
but I wonder,
have any of us,
by what we said,
tried to retaliate
or get revenge,
by what we said to them
or about them,
that was designed
to pay them back.
You know,
Jesus knew that
we all have a tendency
to be overly concerned
with my rights.
Jesus knew that
we could be easily offended
and want to pay people back.
So He addressed this issue
in the Sermon on the Mount,
Matthew chapter 5,
beginning in verse 38.
I want you to turn with me this morning.
This is actually a follow-up message
from what we saw two weeks ago
in Romans chapter 12.
Now if you were not here last week,
I wasn't here last week.
Jeff preached last week.
Somebody told me in the early service
that he did a real good job.
And I said,
well, I'm going to get the tape
and listen to it.
They said,
well, it wasn't that good.
Don't worry about it.
Nah, nah.
I'm going to get it.
I'm going to listen to it.
But two weeks ago,
last time I was here,
we looked at Romans chapter 12,
verses 17 through 21.
And what we read,
what we looked at,
it's just hard to do.
And so we need to come back this morning
and see that what we read last week
from Paul's letter
actually came from the teaching of Jesus.
So let's read what we saw last week
just to refresh our memories.
We're two weeks ago.
Romans 12, verses 17 through 21.
Look at it.
It'll be on the screen.
Repay no one evil for evil,
but give thought to do what is honorable or right
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 doing so,
you will heap burning coals on his head.
Do not be overcome by evil,
but overcome evil with good.
What Paul wrote
is based on what Jesus taught
about revenge and retaliation
in Matthew 5,
beginning in verse 38 through verse 42.
And what Jesus said
on further in chapter 5 of Matthew,
verses 43 through 48.
We're going to look at what Jesus said
about seeking revenge
and not retaliating this morning.
Next week,
we're going to look at how God allows us
at times to seek justice
for ourselves,
to protect our family,
to even protect ourselves
through in lawful ways,
through law enforcement,
government-ordained law enforcement.
We're going to even look at the subject next week
of self-defense
and concealed weapons permits.
We're going to look at
a Christian perspective on that.
Now, for some of you who know me,
a lot of you who know me,
I want you to understand.
We are not next week
going to come
and find all kinds of reasons
why we ought to be armed to the teeth
and find justification
to just not take anything off anyone.
That is not what we're going to do.
In fact,
the reason we're looking at
what we're looking at today,
two reasons.
What we're looking at today
is really helping us to understand
what we saw two weeks ago,
that the Lord Jesus Himself taught us
do not have this mentality of
I don't take anything off anyone.
I'm going to always get even.
That's totally wrong.
We're going to come back in two weeks
and look at Matthew chapter 5,
verses 43 through the end of the chapter
where Jesus talks about loving your enemies.
You hear what I'm saying?
Loving your enemies in two weeks.
Don't retaliate.
Don't have this vengeful mindset today.
But Christians can protect themselves.
That's what we'll look at next week.
We'll take it all together
to get a true understanding
of what the Bible teaches
about how we live in this world
and act and interact
with people who don't like us,
with people who might even want to hurt us,
with people who are just plain evil, period,
and people who just want to persecute us
because we're Christians.
They're not always the same group,
not always the same person.
So, a big subject
that was introduced two weeks ago
that we just read from Romans 12.
Keep that in mind.
Let's look now
at what Jesus says in Matthew 5, verse 38
in talking about revenge and retaliation.
Verse 38.
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.
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.
Jesus is talking about
doing some hard things here.
He's talking about
there are times
when we need to give up our rights.
There's times when we just
need to take an insult.
Not try to pay someone back.
Not try to do to people
what they do to us.
Jesus is calling us,
his followers,
to live
according to a higher standard
than people who are not Christians.
The idea is
we are to treat people better
than they treat us.
We are to learn to trust God
to take care of us.
But as we're going to see next week,
the way God may take care of us
is through law enforcement,
is through some form of self-defense,
through the carrying
or even use of a weapon.
But for now,
the focus is on
we need to learn
to exercise restraint.
We are not prepared
as Christians
to talk about
defending ourselves
until we first understand
the importance
of exercising restraint.
So let's look.
Number one,
the law of God
has always required
his people
to show restraint.
Look in verse 38.
You have heard
that it was said,
an eye for an eye
and a tooth for a tooth.
Jesus is referring
to a famous law
in verse 38 there.
The law of retaliation
or the law of retribution
it's called.
The Latin phrase
lex talionis
is found
in Exodus chapter 21,
Leviticus chapter 24,
and Deuteronomy chapter 19.
Two things
need to be understood
about this law
of retribution.
Number one,
it is prescriptive.
It describes
punishment
or retaliation
when offended.
It prescribes
what a person
can do
and in so doing
what you cannot do.
Number two,
it is also
restrictive.
It restricts
or limits
the punishment
or the retaliation.
This law
is intended
to prohibit
severe
or over punishment.
In the ancient world,
it would prevent
a family feud
perhaps
or even a war
between tribes
or clans.
For an example,
say John
gets in a fight
with your brother
and in the fight
he breaks
your brother's arm.
in the ancient world
what that was saying
is
you can retaliate
but if you
retaliate
against John,
against
John's family,
all you can do
is break
his arm.
You can't hurt
him
more.
You can't take it
out on his
family.
That was designed
to help
the situation.
It was not designed
to teach us
tit for tat.
It was never designed
to say,
alright,
somebody did this
to you,
now you go
and do it to them.
It was designed
to teach
if that person
did something
to you,
you've got to
limit
what you do
to them
to something
of an equal
measure.
the law
was given
also
to the Jewish
people as a
nation.
It was to be
enforced
by their
judicial system.
It was not
designed to be
carried out
by individuals.
So we need
to understand
the law
of God
has always
required
his people
to show
restraint.
This is talking
about ancient
people.
Restraint
among God's
people
has always
been the
norm
Let's look
on.
Jesus
responds
to this
get-even
attitude
by giving
us now
four examples
of how
his followers
should deal
with personal
violations.
Look at it
in verses
39 through
42
God's
people
should
demonstrate
loving
restraint.
Before we
get into
that I want
to clarify
something.
Jesus
did not
teach
teach.
Paul did
not teach
in Romans
12 or
anywhere else
that God's
people are
not ever
to punish
evil.
God's people
are not taught
to just let
evil and wrong
and injustice
go.
We're going to
look in detail
at that next
week.
But verse
39 is not
teaching that
Christians can
never defend
themselves or
their family or
be a policeman or
in the military or
use the police or
military.
God has
established laws
and principles
that actually
require us as
people to
oppose evil
and to
see that
evildoers
are
restrained
and punished
and sometimes
that may be
the ultimate
punishment
or exercise
of force
slash
restraint.
I think it's
important that we
look at the
context of what
we're reading this
morning.
We're in
Matthew chapter
5.
We're in the
Sermon on the
Mount and in
Matthew chapter
5 beginning in
verse 12
rather excuse
me verse 17
Jesus starts
talking about the
Old Testament
law.
He says do
not think I
have come to
abolish the law
or the prophets
I've not come to
abolish them but
to fulfill them.
And then
beginning in
verse 21
he starts in
his teaching
pointing out
some of the
things that the
Old Testament
taught
or some of
the things
that the
people
thought
that the
Old Testament
taught.
And so
Jesus talked
in verse 21
there about
anger.
You have
heard that it
was said to
those of
old you
shall not
murder and
so forth.
Look in
verse 27.
You have
heard that it
was said you
shall not
commit adultery
but I say
to you
that everyone
who looks
to you
who looks
to you
fulfilling the
Old Testament
law.
He is either
showing a
deeper
understanding
of it
or he's
correcting
a misunderstanding
by some of
those Jewish
leaders of the
day who were
leading people
astray.
And so
for an
example
in verse
27
he says
you've heard
that it
said you
shall not
commit adultery
but I say
to you
that everyone
who looks
at a woman
with lustful
intent
has already
committed adultery
with her in his
heart.
Look at the
next verse.
If your right
eye causes you
to sin
tear it out
and throw it
away
for it is
better that you
lose one of
your members
than your whole
body be thrown
into hell.
Same thing
about your hand.
Your hand
causes you to sin
cut it off.
I think
everyone in this
room understands
Jesus is using
hyperbole
intended
exaggeration
to make his
point.
Jesus is trying
to teach
adultery is
more than
just a
physical act.
Before adultery
ever takes
place in a
bed it takes
place in
someone's
mind
in their
thoughts.
And so
he says
it would be
better for you
to gouge
out your
eye
if it's
causing you
to lust
is the
implication.
But is
that what
he really
means?
Every man
in here
knows you
can gouge
out both
eyes you
can still
lust.
It's in
your mind
it's in
your heart
it's not
in your
eye.
Jesus is
using an
exaggerated
statement to
make the
point
lust or
any sin
is so
serious you
need to
take extreme
measures to
make sure you
don't give in
to the
temptation.
You need
to do
whatever is
necessary.
Radical
action
to avoid
sin.
Disobeying
God's
word.
That's what
he's talking
about.
If you
carry that
over through
everything else
he says here
in Matthew
chapter 5
he begins
Matthew 5
talks about
the law
verse 17
then in
verse 21
for the rest
of the chapter
he says
you have
heard that
it was
said
but I
say to
you
or something
like that.
When we
get to
what we've
read here
back in
verse 30
now
39
but I
say to
you
do not
resist
the one
who is
evil
that is
not a
blanket
statement
that Christians
are to be
the doormat
for every
evil person
who wants
to do
them harm
in the
world.
You
understand
the rationale
here.
We'll talk
about it
more next
week.
Now
with this
clarification
let's see
how we need
to develop
loving
restraint
in
situations
involving
people who
oppose us
in some
way.
First
verse 39
the last
part.
We need
to show
restraint
when responding
to insult.
Look at
the last
part of
verse 39.
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.
What
Jesus is
describing
here
to the
first
century
audience
who heard
him
say this
they
understood
he's
talking
about
a
personal
insult.
to be
struck
on the
he's
not
talking
about
being
hit
with a
fist
upside
the
head
Jesus
is
describing
somebody
said
their
right
cheek
somebody
standing
looking
this
way
for me
to hit
that
person
on the
right
cheek
most
people
are
right
handed
to hit
the
person
on the
right
cheek
you
got to
hit
them
with
the
back
of
your
hand
Jesus
is
describing
what
people
in that
day
understood
as a
form
of
insult
by
slapping
someone
in the
face
with
the
back
of
your
hand
it's
not
intended
to
injure
physically
it's
intended
to
injure
psychologically
to make
you
angry
it's
intended
to
insult
us
Jesus
is
describing
here
what
somebody
does
to
just
provoke
you
and
the
point
is
we're
not
to
slap
back
we're
not
to
let
it
bother
us
we're
not
to
retaliate
or try
to
get
even
with
people
who
are
just
trying
to
hurt
us
hurt
our
feelings
insult
us
Winston
Churchill
was
reportedly
good
at
insults
while
prime
minister
he had
a strained
relationship
with
Lady
Astor
neither
one
liked
the
other
it
is
actually
reported
that
on
one
occasion
Churchill
was
drunk
in a
hotel
elevator
with
her
and
it
said
that
with
a
condescending
insult
she
snipped
Sir
Winston
you
are
drunk
he
replied
my
lady
you
are
ugly
and
tomorrow
I
will
be
sober
I
don't
think
Jesus
is
condemning
good
natured
joking
around
but
it's
questionable
how
good
natured
that
was
we
need
to be
careful
that we
don't
get caught
up in
this
always
pay
them
back
get
even
for every
little
thing
that
happens
and you
need
to make
sure
you
don't
teach
your
children
to
always
be
getting
back
always
don't
take
anything
off
any
one
kind
of
attitude
Jesus
tells
us
otherwise
number
two
second
example
Jesus
uses
is about
how we
should
respond
when our
rights
are
violated
verse
40
we need
to show
restraint
when responding
to lawsuits
look at it
and if anyone
would sue
you and take
your tunic
let him have
your cloak
as well
a tunic
was like
a shirt
a cloak
was like
an overcoat
it also
served as a
blanket
at night
the
old
testament
law
required
that any
kind of
dealings
that were
happening
between
two
people
this
cloak
this
overcoat
had to
be returned
to its
owner
before the
sun
set
because
that was
the owner's
only way
to cover
himself
at night
only way
to stay
warm
you can
read about
that in
Exodus
chapter
22
Exodus
22
beginning
in verse
26
Jesus
is talking
to you
about
being
sued
for your
shirt
and the
natural
response
would be
you don't
let it
happen
you fight
back
you do
whatever it
takes to
keep it
Jesus is
saying here
don't be so
concerned with
your rights
in fact
go a step
further
if they sue
you for your
shirt
let them have
your coat
they can't
sue you
for that
you are
taking the
initiative
there
now again
understand
this is not
a blanket
statement
Jesus is
not teaching
us that we
should let
every unethical
person
that comes
along
sue us
and take
everything you
have
in fact
you can only
do that
one time
couldn't you
one person
comes
sues you
takes
everything you
have
well you
don't have
anything
else
that's not
what he's
talking about
Jesus is
trying to
make the
point
throughout
this whole
section
that our
rights
our
personal
comfort
must not
be the
consuming
force of
our life
everything
can't be
about me
and mine
that's not
the idea
that's not
the mentality
of a follower
of Jesus
he's telling
us
we can see
that a little
bit clearer
in the next
example
look at
verse 41
we need to
show restraint
when responding
to oppression
he says in
verse 41
and if anyone
forces you to
go one mile
go with him
two miles
in those days
a Roman soldier
could require
a citizen
to make him
carry his
backpack
for one mile
and then
that was it
you couldn't
require
the second
mile
Jesus says
when that
happens
don't just
go one
mile
go
two
don't just
do the
minimum
do
more
Jesus is
saying
let's try
to apply
this
at your
work
are you
known as
someone
who only
does the
minimum
in order to
keep your
job
are you
always the
last one
to get
there
and always
the first
one
to leave
do you
always
insist
on
taking
your
break
or lunch
at the
exact minute
that it's
scheduled
even if it
inconveniences
your co-workers
who are doing
something with you
let me give you an
example
many years ago
Lisa worked with a lady
they worked
together
and when break time
came
let's say it was
10 a.m.
no matter what was
going on
no matter how urgent
it was
no matter how many
other people were
involved
when break time
came this person
stopped and went on
break
same thing about
lunch
this person was only
concerned about
themselves
this person didn't
care about their
work
didn't care about
their co-workers
that's what Jesus
is talking about
here
does your
employer
do your
co-workers
see
that you as a
Christian
member of this
church or some
other church
that they see
that
by just observing
you at work
that you really do
care about your
job
and you are
willing to go
the second mile
in order to do
a good job
and let's just
think for a moment
we're supposed to
do everything we do
as a Christian
for the glory of
God
Paul even says
in the book of
Colossians in third
chapter that we're
supposed to do
our work as
employees as if
we're doing it for
the Lord himself
the people that you
work with or the
person you work for
they see that you
as a Christian
you really do care
about the people
that you work for
or the people
that you work with
and you are
willing to go the
extra mile
for them
you know
such acts of
self-giving
that'll get people's
attention on it
that is a great way
to witness in the
first century
and today for us
too
Jesus provides us
with one more
example of how we
should respond when
our rights are
violated
look at verse 42
we need to show
restraint
when responding
to the needy
look at it
give to the one
who begs from you
and do not refuse
the one who would
borrow from you
the attitude here is
we need to be
willing to give
even sacrifice
to help people
who are truly
in need
the idea
Jesus is talking
about here is
we can't be just
selfish
self-centered people
and we're just
concerned about
ourselves and our
stuff
we can't be
hoarders
this would also
mean that
we've got
Jesus is concerned
that we as
Christians
we don't fail
to notice
people around us
who have
legitimate needs
that we could
meet
if we noticed
them
and cared
enough about
them
to want to
help them
now
this shouldn't
need to be said
but I'm going to
say it
this is obviously
not a call
to give away
everything that
you have
you can do that
one time
and we know
we've studied it
on other occasions
scripture in
multiple places
Old and New
Testament
teaches us
don't give to
people
who are in
need because
they brought it
on themselves
because they're
just lazy
or they won't
work
or they won't
practice sound
financial money
management principles
the idea here
is
help people
who are in
need
because we
really do
love people
because we
care
by the way
it is not an
act of love
to reward
laziness
it's not an
act of love
on a
governmental
level
on a church
level
or a family
level
to reward
laziness
you know
where I'm
going next
parents
don't hand
your children
everything
just because
they're your
children
don't enable
them to be
lazy
to be
bum like
to expect
everything
to be just
given to
them
just because
they're your
children
teach them
the word
no
teach them
the phrase
we can't
afford it
teach them
you can't
afford it
but then
teach them
how to
work
how to
save
how to
manage
their money
so that
they have
resources
so that
they
understand
the difference
between
working
and having
something
saving
and having
something
the Bible
nowhere
teaches
us
to help
people
who
refuse
to help
themselves
because they
just won't
manage their
money
they won't
work
or things
of this
nature
but don't
remember
that part
is the main
part of this
sermon
I know
see I can
be real
jaded
I'll be honest
with you
I can be
real jaded
about bums
who do
not want
to work
do not
want to
save
do not
want to
take care
of themselves
in any way
and expect
the handout
I have no
patience
with that
but I can
be so
jaded
that I don't
want to
help people
who are in
real need
and that's
wrong
that's
sinful
so don't
go away
from here
today
saying
yep
it's
right
you don't
help
those who
don't
work
forget
that
you know
that
what we
all need
just about
all of us
need to
remember
as we
leave here
today
is
open our
eyes
there's
people
around
us
they're
struggling
and they
can't
help it
they've
not had
the
opportunities
we've
had
they've
not
had
the
training
the
parents
the
help
we've
had
they
don't
have
the
mind
that
we
have
they
don't
have
the
skills
or
ability
to
do
the
job
that
we
have
there's
some
people
are
just
in
need
and
it's
always
been
this
way
since
the
foundation
of
the
world
just
about
and
there's
much
in the
Old
and New
Testament
about
Christians
noticing
and helping
the truly
poor
needy
it's
our
responsibility
and most
of us
we need
to
be better
at fulfilling
this
responsibility
this passage
does not
prevent us
from ever
taking a
stand for
our rights
at times
it is not
it's not
telling us
you can
never stand
up for
the rights
of others
as we'll
see next
week
let's
don't
make any
mistake
Jesus
is calling
us to
make some
difficult
choices
that will
require us
to change
some
attitudes
maybe
some
parts of
our
lifestyle
but the
fact is
we can't
do this
on our
own
we've
been in
a series
on Romans
chapter 12
where we've
looked at
what Paul
was writing
about how
we ought to
live in
this world
as Christians
in relationship
to other
people
and a lot
of that
stuff is
just plain
hard to
do
in fact
we can't
do it
on our
own
but if
we're
Christians
as I've
said just
about every
week
the spirit
of God
lives within
us
and the spirit
of God
living within
us
will enable
us
to live
like a
Christian
even in
these hard
ways
if we
want to
and we're
willing to
make the
decisions
and choices
to actually
live it out
there's three
keys to live
this kind of
life
number one
we've got to
trust God
we've got to
learn to
trust God
depend upon
him
depend upon
him to
make some
wrongs
right
number two
we've got
to love
people
we've got
to love
even
evil
people
people who
are out
to get
us
remember how
Jesus
prayed
as he was
being nailed
to the cross
father forgive
them for they
do not know
what they're
doing
you think
well that's
Jesus I
can't do
that
nobody
can do
that
well they
can
read in
the book
of Acts
chapter 7
and 8
talking about
Stephen
he was
actually
literally
stoned
to death
for what
all the good
things he was
saying about
Jesus
basically
preaching the
gospel
and as he
was being
pounded
as he was
dying
he prayed
that very
same prayer
for the
people who
were killing
him
he did
that because
he was
filled with
the spirit
of God
he was a
person
human being
just like
us
number three
we need
to die
to self
that's what
Jesus calls
us to do
he did it
on several
occasions
here's one
of the best
clearest
most succinct
statements
Luke 9
then he said
to them all
if anyone
will come
after me
he must
deny himself
take up
his cross
daily
and follow
me
that's the
only way
that we
can be
non-defensive
non-vengeful
not carry
a grudge
have spite
in our
heart
to die
to self
to my
way
to my
will
live our
life in
such a way
that we
want Jesus
to be
honored
and Lord
and seen
you know
we all need
to ask God
if you think
about it
look at this
we need to
ask God
to help us
to trust
him more
to learn
to love
others
and to
die to
self
every day
if you're
not a
Christian
this won't
make sense
to you
if you're
not a
Christian
the only
thing you
can do
is to
admit to
God
your need
for salvation
and I
encourage you
if you're
not a
Christian
right now
admit to
God
I am a
sinner
in need
of this
Savior
repent of
your sin
turn from
your sin
change your
mind about
the way
you're
living
put your
faith in
Jesus
that when
he died
on the
cross
he actually
took your
punishment
paid the
penalty for
the sins
that you
should suffer
for
call upon
him to
save you
the Bible
says whoever
calls upon
the name
of the Lord
will be
saved
this is a
message for
Christians
but the only
way that we
can ever
actually do
it
live it
out
is to
be dependent
upon the
spirit of
God
day by
day
even hour
by hour
and make
the choice
to obey
him
and deny
ourselves
I encourage
you as a
Christian
ask God to
help you
to want to
do this
ask God to
help you to
do this
day by
day
let's pray
together
Father
show us
how we
should
respond
every one
of us
then help
us to
respond
this way
and in an
attitude of
prayer let's
just be still
and quiet
before the
Lord
if I could
pray with
you I'll be
here at the
front glad
to do that
but you just
listen to the
Lord and you
respond as he
speaks to you
during this
time