We're going to read now from Matthew 5, partway through the Sermon on the Mount.
Matthew 5, again thinking about retaliation and injustice.
So Matthew 5, and from 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.
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.
This is God's Word.
Ryan.
Thank you to the worship team for that key modulation.
So that my voice shouldn't crack because it's loose and ready to go right now.
We are continuing a series on the Sermon on the Mount.
One of the things that we'll talk about sometimes in circles that I'm in is like,
if you were king for the day, what would you do?
And we usually are talking about if you could control your situation,
like how would you orchestrate things?
Like we'll do this with uni students.
So like they're trying to figure out what kind of career they should pursue or a job.
It's like, well, if you were king for the day and could do anything you want,
like what would you choose?
And a lot of times the answers that are going to come to our mind that we might give
are typically something that's going to make life more enjoyable or at least more comfortable.
Definitely less pain and less strain.
Well, the king in the Sermon on the Mount has actually given us what a beautiful life, as Corey has said,
what a life of flourishing looks like.
The one who's the king for all time has told us what life in the kingdom looks like.
And so that's what we're talking about in this series on the Sermon on the Mount.
Our passage tonight is one of six passages where Jesus says,
you have heard it said, referring to some of the traditions that the Jewish leaders have given.
But I say to you, and when Jesus is saying that, I say to you,
he's actually not giving a new law, like Lewis reminded us a couple of weeks ago,
that he's not giving us a new and harder way to live.
When you read the Sermon on the Mount, you're like, this is impossible.
I can't live like this.
Like the one who lusts is like committing adultery in his heart.
And if I have anger towards my brother, I'm committing murder.
It's like this is not a life we can live.
He's not giving us a new law to obey or making life in the kingdom more difficult.
But instead, he's getting at the heart of things and he's teaching as one who has authority.
In fact, at the end of the Sermon on the Mount, you will see in chapter 7, verse 29,
that the people were astonished, it said, because he was teaching them as one who had authority.
So he's giving them, this is what life in the kingdom looks like or is to be like.
Now, when you approach the Sermon on the Mount, there are a couple of things that you need to understand.
One is that this was a sermon that was preached all at one time.
And we don't know how long it took him to preach this sermon.
But when we take parts of this sermon and don't see it in the context of the whole,
we can really misunderstand what Jesus is telling us.
So we need to see it as a whole sermon and keep that in mind so that when Jesus says something that seems to us really weird or really hard,
we can't just ignore it because he is telling us, for instance, in chapter 7,
that he who hears these words and does what it says is like the man who builds his house on the rock.
But if you hear it and don't do it, you're like building your foundation, your house on the sand.
So he expects us to obey it, but he wants us to hear the whole sermon
and to be able to hear what he is saying life in the kingdom is like as this whole thing.
But also, the second thing would be that when we approach this passage,
I mentioned it's one of six passages where Jesus said,
you've heard it said, but I say to you,
just like in the rest of the Sermon on the Mount,
Jesus is getting at the heart of the law.
He's getting at the heart of what God would have his people to do.
So keep that in mind when you hear he's giving us the spirit or the intention of the law.
So our section tonight, Lewis kind of mentioned,
your Bible heading might have retaliation.
I entitled the sermon Responding to Injustice.
A better title might be Responding to Personal Injustice,
because that's what Jesus is talking about here.
And he starts out in verse 38,
you've heard that it was said,
an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.
Now, why was that given in the law?
An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth?
To understand what Jesus is about to tell us,
we have to understand why he said that,
or why the law said that to begin with.
This was something given to the nation of Israel in the law,
an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth,
to prevent revenge, retaliation, and excess.
It was actually to prevent chaos from happening.
So, for instance, you know,
you damaged my eye,
therefore I'm going to cut off your arm.
Well, then my family member,
the other person's family member,
is now going to come and take both of your legs.
And then my family member comes and ends a life.
It's to prevent all of that from happening.
So when it says an eye for an eye,
it's basically saying,
don't turn this into chaos.
Don't let this be something that becomes
personal revenge and retaliation.
But it's actually something that helps society
to function as a whole.
In fact, many ancient legal codes had this.
It's called the Lex Talionis,
or the Law of Retaliation.
A very ancient legal code
found in many ancient societies.
And it was to prevent chaos from happening,
or even personal revenge.
However, what is happening,
when Jesus says,
you have heard it said,
he's addressing an error that's happening,
the Jewish leaders have done
a couple of things with it.
they've, one, turned a negative injunction
into a positive one.
Meaning, they've basically said,
yeah, you should actually do this to people
if they've done it to you.
If you have been injured,
you have every right to take their eye as well.
A tooth has been knocked out,
you have every right to take their tooth.
And they've used it to actually promote
retaliation, revenge,
instead of preventing it.
And then the second thing is,
they've encouraged the people
to take out justice for themselves.
Which, the eye for an eye,
tooth for a tooth,
that was given to the nation of Israel
for the judges to make sure
that bad things don't happen
and society runs properly.
And the Jewish leaders here
have made it a matter of personal revenge,
retaliation.
You have every right to do this.
So Jesus comes along the scene,
and he says,
but I tell you,
verse 39,
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.
Now, this is a passage
that pretty much everyone
in Western civilization knows
this saying about,
turn the other cheek.
What is this talking about?
What is Jesus saying to us
when he says,
do not resist the one who is evil?
This passage has been one
that has been very misinterpreted.
Every commentator kind of happens
to pull out something
that Tolstoy wrote about
that basically said,
we shouldn't even have police
and judgment systems
because we shouldn't resist evil.
Corey would have probably read Tolstoy
after reading that.
I just kind of Googled it.
So, but basically,
that is like completely misunderstanding
and misinterpreting
what is being said here.
He's talking about personal injustices.
And just like Jesus
was getting to the heart
with these other passages
when he said,
you've heard that it was said,
you shall not commit adultery,
but I say to you,
he who lusts after a woman
commits adultery in the heart.
He's getting to the heart right here
of what's going on.
So what lust is to adultery
and what anger is to murder,
instead of practicing self-justice,
we entrust ourselves to the judge
and the one who brings justice
to the world.
We're instead of insisting
on our own personal rights,
we're entrusting ourselves
to the giver of rights.
God is the judge
and vengeance belongs to him.
And so Jesus is saying,
we're not to avenge ourselves,
but entrust ourselves
to the one
who will bring vengeance for us.
So, do we literally turn
the other cheek
when someone slaps our right cheek?
Before we answer that,
what is,
when Lewis read that,
did anybody find it odd
that the passage says
that if anyone slaps you
on the right cheek,
or did we just kind of gloss over that?
If someone slaps you
on the right cheek,
like most people are right-handed
and if you were left-handed,
you were probably back then
taught to be right-handed
because it was really
kind of a faux pas.
If I'm to slap someone,
what cheek am I going to slap?
The left cheek, right?
Tom's figuring it out up here, right?
It's the left cheek.
But if I backhand you
with my right hand,
I'm going to hit your right cheek.
Back in Jewish society
at this time,
one of the biggest insults
you could give to someone
was to backhand them
in their right cheek.
It was an ultimate sign
of humiliation.
There were even laws
that if you did that to someone,
there could be like
a double portion of judgment
on you for doing it
because it was such a humiliation,
such an offense.
It was a massive deal
in an honor-shame culture.
This was one
that brought complete shame on you.
So Jesus is saying,
if someone does that to you,
ultimate shame,
completely offensive,
dishonors you,
probably in public,
give him the other cheek also.
So this would be a big deal
for Jesus to say that.
It's kind of like
the statement of,
you know,
if your eye offends you,
pluck it out
because it's better
to go into heaven
with missing an eye
than to go to hell
with both eyes.
That drastic,
cut your arm off,
pluck your eye out.
This would feel
like that same thing.
You mean
someone insults me like this
and I'm just supposed
to take it
and turn the other cheek?
What is Jesus saying?
The point
is not necessarily
to follow this literally
as much as,
one,
we do need to take it
very seriously.
But also to understand
that to be salt and light,
as he's mentioned
in chapter five,
to be kingdom people,
we must let go
of our rights
to say,
it's not about me,
it's about King Jesus,
I can do
as he tells me to do
and entrust him
with that.
Do we trust him
even in situations
like this?
Now you might be saying,
okay,
you just let me
off the hook there,
just wait.
And Jesus is not saying
you can't protect yourself
and you can't protect
your family.
He's giving us
the spirit of the law
and the spirit of the law
here is
don't seek revenge
for yourself.
Don't cling to your right
to retaliate.
That was something
that was being promoted.
Take vengeance
for yourself.
Retaliate.
You have the right.
Eye for an eye,
tooth for a tooth.
He's telling us
that's not the way
of the kingdom.
If there's been
a personal injustice
done to you,
entrust yourself
to the Lord
and his provision
for you
to take vengeance
for you.
Everything in us
wants to make people
pay for it
when they do something
to us.
Even something as small
as being cut off
while we're driving
or if you're walking
the scaffolding
up here
above Victoria
and someone just
will not turn
and they expect you
to kind of get
out of their way,
that can kind of stir.
Is this just me
and my personal confession
here?
What does it stir up
in us?
One time I literally
was like,
I am not turning.
I'm going to make
them turn.
That's terrible.
That's not the kingdom
way, right?
The kingdom way
says I'm not going
to make you pay for it.
I'm going to let go
of my rights
in order to promote
the way of King Jesus.
And really,
do we believe
what Jesus has just
said in verses 11
and 12?
Blessed are you
when others revile you
and persecute you
and utter all kinds
of evil against you
falsely on my account.
Rejoice and be glad
for your reward
in heaven is great
for so they persecuted
the prophets
who were before you.
Can we entrust
ourselves to Jesus
even when we're
being reviled?
Even when we're
being persecuted.
He says rejoice
and be glad?
Jesus, are you
crazy here?
Jesus himself
resisted evil.
You can think of
the story of the
money changers
in the outer courts
of the temple
where his commentators
say he's probably
preventing women
and Gentiles
from praying
in the temple
and that made him
angry,
righteously angry.
He resisted
that evil.
evil.
So do we need
to not resist evil
and turn the other cheek?
Sometimes.
But sometimes not.
Back to our question,
do we literally
turn the other cheek?
Remember what I said
about looking at
the sermon as a whole?
If you wait just a little
bit in the sermon,
Jesus is going to tell us
this in Matthew 7,
verse 12.
So whatever you wish
that others would do
to you,
do also to them
for this is the law
and the prophets.
We know that as the
golden rule,
do unto others
as you would have
them do unto you.
And so the question
would be,
if you were doing
something evil,
would you want
another person
to just let you
continue to do
that evil?
Or would the loving
thing be to resist you,
to confront you,
to help you do
the right and
righteous thing?
What would it look like
to follow the golden
rule here?
If someone struck you,
would you want,
sorry,
if you struck someone
in the right cheek,
would you want them
to just let you
persist in your anger
right after Jesus
has just said,
if you're angry
towards your brother,
you've committed
murder in your heart?
Would you want
that friend,
that person,
to let you persist
in your anger?
Do we turn
the other cheek?
Sometimes,
but not always.
And Jesus is giving
us a way
to have some wisdom
in these circumstances
by saying,
first and foremost,
the default mode
is to let go
of your rights
in order to think
about love
of my neighbor,
in order to think
about the way
of the kingdom
and being salt
and light.
Jesus gives us
a great example
in John chapter 18
when he is before
the high priest.
He's being questioned
by the high priest.
The high priest
questions him
about what he was teaching
and Jesus says,
I did nothing in secret.
Ask those who heard me.
And when he said this,
an officer struck him
in the face.
Presumably,
this could have been
a backhand.
The passage
doesn't tell us that,
but it could have been.
It could have been
to the right cheek.
But instead of turning
the other cheek,
in this moment,
while he's still under trial,
still on trial,
chapter 18,
verse 23 says,
Jesus answered him,
if what I said is wrong,
bear witness about the wrong.
But if what I said is right,
why do you strike me?
Instead of turning
the other cheek,
he actually confronts
the guy with the fact
that basically
he's broken the law
because when someone's
under trial,
you're not allowed
to strike them.
You have to treat them
with dignity and respect.
It would not have been loving
to let the officer
continue to slap him
when he had done something
that was clearly wrong.
Before judgment
has been rendered,
he's not allowed
to actually punish Jesus.
He has to wait
for judgment
to be rendered.
So Jesus confronts,
very lovingly it seems,
but just says,
if what I said is right,
why do you strike me?
Verse 40,
if anyone would sue you
and take your tunic,
let them have your cloak also.
What is he saying here?
It was actually illegal
to take someone's cloak.
Someone could give it
as a pledge,
but they would have to
then return it at sundown.
Why is that?
Because the outer cloak
was used sometimes
as a blanket,
sometimes as a bed.
It was to keep warm at night
and Jerusalem being
a mile high city,
like it would get cold.
You couldn't take
someone's cloak.
And they're saying,
if someone sues you
for your inner garment,
go ahead and give him
your outer garment.
The pattern is,
let go of what
your rights are
and give.
Let go of your rights
and give.
Now, again,
taking this literally
could cause us
to do something
that's unwise.
Just promoting something
that's evil behavior even.
However,
he says that
we are to be reconciled
to our brother.
He just said that
in chapter 5, verse 25.
The point is to be
reconciled to your brother
and make sure that
he has what he needs.
In Christ's kingdom,
instead of fighting
for personal rights,
we lay down those rights
for the sake of others.
Are we willing to do that?
Verse 41.
If anyone forces you
to go one mile,
go with him two miles.
What is this all about?
You've probably heard this.
That it relates
to a common practice
whereby in Roman law,
a Roman soldier
could require a person
to carry his gear.
Now, the gear
might be weapons,
supplies.
They estimate
that that might have weighed
like 60 to 80 pounds.
definitely enough
to be a burden.
And you can just imagine
that this was
something that was done
to actually humiliate
other people sometimes.
It was abused.
A Roman soldier
might do that
just to be a bully.
In fact,
if anybody is like me
growing up in the 80s,
there were these movies
where the bully
would make you
carry their book bag.
It's kind of that same thing
where it's like,
this is not okay.
This is not fair.
And Jesus says,
instead of just taking
it that one mile,
take it another mile.
Take it two miles.
Now, if you take this literally,
that could mean
that after I take it
the two miles,
I just drop it on his foot.
Is that the way
of the kingdom?
But instead,
he's getting at the heart.
Let go of your rights
and give.
Give more
than is actually required.
The kingdom life
means you would do this
even for those
that would be your enemies.
Think about
who he's talking about here.
Who were the Romans?
They were intruders.
They were oppressors.
They were my enemies.
In fact,
the Jewish people
were looking for a Messiah
who would come
to deliver them
from the Romans
or other oppressors.
Even to your enemies,
you give.
In the kingdom,
you are blessed
when you're persecuted
for the sake of Jesus.
Verse 42.
Give to the one
who begs from you
and do not refuse
the one
who would borrow from you.
What's he saying?
Don't cling
to your money
and possessions.
What would you want
someone to do for you?
Now,
you're in this situation.
Because the golden rule says,
hey,
what would we have
them do for us?
Right?
How do I want
to be treated?
What if you were
the one that was begging?
What if you were the one
that was wanting
to borrow?
Would you want them
to give?
Sometimes yes.
But what if
you've gone into debt
because of something sinful?
You didn't obey the law
in the way that you
borrowed money
or you borrowed
resources?
What if,
which could happen
back then,
you had a gambling addiction
and you owe a lot of money?
What if you had
other self-destructive
behaviors
that would cause you
to be a beggar?
Some of these
are found in Proverbs.
Proverbs talks about
sluggards,
drunkards and gluttons,
lovers of pleasure.
They will all come
to poverty.
Several passages
that talk about that.
What if you were
in a self-destructive behavior?
Would you want
someone to help you
persist in that?
Is that the loving
thing to do
to let you borrow money
when you beg
or ask them
at that time?
Sometimes yes.
Sometimes no.
But are we willing
to let go of our rights
in order
to give to someone?
And sometimes
when someone asks
us for money,
it feels like
a personal injustice.
Jesus,
I'm working hard
for my money.
I'm doing what
God's called me to do.
And you're just going
to sit there
and ask
and beg?
Why don't you
go get a job?
We have these thoughts,
right?
Why don't you
go do this?
The way of the kingdom
says we let go
of what is owed to us
and we give.
But we do
what the loving
thing is.
We are willing
to inconvenience
ourselves
in order for others
to have
what they need.
Now do you see
the pattern
in these
four things?
Give
the other cheek.
Give
also
your cloak.
Give
another mile.
Give
to him
who asks.
In other words,
give your resources.
When you are
facing
personal
injustice,
don't focus
on the rights
that you have
to retaliate,
but have
a spirit
of giving.
How can I
love this person
and treat them
the way
in which
I wish
they would
treat me?
Now,
this
sounds like
one of those
things,
like,
I'm not sure,
Ryan,
if you're trying
to let me
off the hook
here of having
to actually
obey this,
or,
like,
this seems
like a very
gray area
thing,
like,
help me know
what to do.
The way
of the
kingdom
is learning
the heart
of the
master,
and when we
learn the
heart of the
master,
we can
obey him,
because we
can entrust
ourselves to
him,
even doing
things that
seem really,
really hard.
So we
entrust
ourselves
to him
to do
what he's
calling us
to do,
because he
does expect
us to
obey him
in the
Sermon on
the Mount.
One
illustration
that has
been given
from the
pulpit
since I've
been here,
so sorry
for the
repeat,
but I
couldn't
help it,
that I
think one
of the
best
illustrations
of this
going the
extra mile,
giving your
cloak also
comes from
Les Mis.
When
Jean Valjean
comes into
the church,
they invite
him in
as the
guest,
they give
him the
warm fire,
they give
him wine,
they give
him food,
they give
him a place
to sleep
and restore
himself,
and what
does he
do?
He steals
the silver
and he
leaves.
He's caught
by the
authorities,
they drag
him back
to the
priest,
and they
say,
we caught
the one
who stole
from you.
He had
the audacity
to say
that you
had given
this to
him.
He said,
he is
correct,
the priest
says,
but why
did you
leave so
early,
sir?
You
left the
best part
and he
reaches over
and gives
him the
candlesticks
that are
worth more
than all
the other
silver.
He gives
him more.
And you
just see,
like,
I watch
this scene
and it
just,
I know
you're not
going to
believe this
as an
American,
it makes
me really
emotional,
probably
doesn't do
the same
thing it
does for
you,
but I
just get
emotional
even
watching
this to
say,
this is
the gospel
of grace
that we
stole
and deserve
complete
condemnation,
yet he
lavishes
his grace
on us.
You
left the
most
expensive
part.
Jesus
tells us,
give the
other cheek,
give your
cloak also,
give another
mile,
give your
resources.
All of
us here
can think
of someone
who's
tried to
humiliate
us,
or take
advantage
of us,
or maybe
has just
asked too
much of
us.
So we
can just
think of
those times
where,
man,
how could
I let
go of
my rights
and give?
And the
answer is,
how could
we best
love our
neighbor?
What is
the right
thing here
that would,
how would I
want to be
treated in
this so
that would
lead me
in the
way of
the
kingdom?
Jesus
said,
you are
blessed
when others
revile you
on his
account?
Do we
believe that?
Do we
believe that
when we
suffer
persecution
for doing
what's
right,
we are
blessed?
What should
you feel
when you
face personal
injustices?
Could we
do what
Matthew 5
12 says
when it
says rejoice
and be
glad?
Could we
rejoice in
facing personal
injustices
because we're
suffering for
doing what
is right?
Paul says
something similar
to this in
Romans 12
17-21
He says,
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
yourself,
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's
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.
Does all of
that sound
ridiculous?
Overcome
evil with
good?
ultimately,
Jesus didn't
resist evil,
but he
suffered the
greatest
injustice
that has
ever been
known to
man,
and he
did it
for us.
Ultimately,
he willingly
gave the
other cheek
in order to
be the
sacrifice
for our
sins.
He didn't
just give
his tunic,
he gave
his outer
cloak,
he was
stripped
down of
all of
his clothing
in order
to bear
our shame.
Jesus not
only went
the extra
mile,
he went
the whole
way to
suffer the
wrath of
God on
our behalf.
He gave
his very
life,
the only
one who
deserved
honor and
glory and
praise.
Gave it
all up so
that we
could have
life with
him,
a relationship
with God.
God
because of
this,
we have
life.
He took
on our
sin and
gave us
his
righteousness
so that
through
repentance
and faith
we could
be redeemed.
Does all
of this
sound
ridiculous?
That's how
life has
been given
to us.
Follow
in the
way of
our
master.
How could
he do
this?
Peter
addresses
that in
1 Peter
chapter 2
so I'm
glad you
asked.
When he
was reviled
he did
not revile
in return.
When he
suffered
he did
not
threaten
but
continued
entrusting
himself
to him
who judges
justly.
He himself
bore our
sins in
his body
on the
tree
that we
might die
to sin
and live
to
righteousness.
By his
wounds
you have
been healed.
He kept
entrusting
himself
to the
one
who judges
justly.
Jesus
is not
just giving
us laws
to obey.
He's not
giving us
a new
law.
He's
calling
us
to life
as he
says in
John
chapter 10
abundant
life.
The
kingdom
life.
A life
of flourishing.
Life
as it
should
be
as
Corey
has
reminded
us.
Jesus
says I
came
that they
may have
life
and have
it
abundantly.
People
of the
kingdom
are people
who give
even in
the face
of personal
injustice
done to
us.
This
should be
our default
mode.
We're not
getting let
off the
hook by
saying well
if you
take this
literally
you can
do some
unwise
things.
We're not
being let
off the
hook
in that
way.
Instead
we're
being called
to something
higher.
The default
mode is
to give.
to entrust
ourselves
to the
righteous
judge.
And you
never know
it could
lead to
someone else
having
life.
And that
would be
our hope
that we
would be
salt and
light and
that people
would see
our good
works and
glorify our
Father who
is in
heaven.
Like Jesus
said in
chapter 5
verse 16.
So let's
follow our
Lord into
this
abundant
life.
Let's
pray.
Our
Father when
we read
your
scriptures
when we
read this
passage
it can
lead to
a sense
of how
in the
world could
we ever
obey
Jesus'
commands?
How could
we ever
lift the
life he's
called us
to?
And that
poverty of
spirit is
where we're
supposed to
be.
We say
we can't
live this.
We have
to rely
on you.
We are
completely
dependent.
We are
completely
helpless
and hopeless
without
Jesus.
And Lord
Jesus you
live the
life that
we couldn't
live.
So that
you could
exchange your
righteousness
for our
sin so
that we
could become
the righteousness
of God
in you.
So thank
you Lord
Jesus.
Thank you
for your
sacrifice for
the way that
you didn't
resist evil
that you
turned the
other cheek
that you
went the
extra mile
that you
gave everything
in order
that we
might have
life.
Now empower
us we
pray to
live that
life in
our community
in our
city before
our family
and our
neighbors
our
co-workers
our
friends.
Help us
to be salt
and light
not so
that people
say man
what a
good guy
what a
good awesome
person she
is but
they would
glorify you
our father
who is in
heaven and
we pray all
this in the
precious name
of Jesus.
Amen.