Welcome to Day 11 of our 40 Day challenge! Matthew 5:38-48

(Catch up with us, with our reading list March, reading list for April,  and Day 1, Day 2, Day 3, Day 4, Day 5, Day 6, Day 7, Day 8, Day 9, Day 10)

Today we are in Matthew 5:38-48:

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Matthew 5:38-48

Eye for Eye

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 anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also.⁴⁰ And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well. ⁴¹ If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles. ⁴² Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.

Love for Enemies

⁴³ “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ ⁴⁴ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, ⁴⁵ that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. ⁴⁶ If you love those who love you, what reward will you get?Are not even the tax collectors doing that? ⁴⁷ And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? ⁴⁸ Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

 

These are all passages I could recite from memory, so I’ve been trying to focus on how radical they would have seemed when Jesus first said them. It does seem as if we’ve spent 2,000 years trying to rewrite the clear but hard teachings of Jesus to make them more palatable to our lives.

The Israelites had very strict behavior codes that dictated every part of their lives. Loving our neighbors and immigrants in our area wasn’t a new idea. Way back in Leviticus, they were commanded to love their fellow Israelites and any foreigners near them. And while we won’t find any place where they are commanded to hate their enemies, we can see many instances of people doing just that all through both Testaments. We can assume that in their culture, hating those who hate you was accepted as the logical thing to do.

I’ve heard many reworkings of these passages that try to soften what Jesus is saying. I’ve been told that turning the other cheek isn’t a pacifist idea, but a rebellious one. However, from context alone, we can see in each command that Jesus expects us to behave in ways that are against our automatic responses and require His help to do well. In them, we glimpse the nature of God’s Kingdom and how we are to act as children of the King.

We have such a privileged position in Him, that we can be truly humble, completely kind, and fully generous. Even (especially) when we don’t feel like it and the other person doesn’t deserve it. We ourselves know we don’t deserve all the Lord has given to us, and out of His abundant generosity to us, we can give these things even to those who are terrible to us.

I can’t think of anyone I would call my enemy. Because of this, I had a hard time with some of David’s wrathful prayers. He’s pretty intense. But when I remembered Jack’s Old and New perspective, what’s external and physical in the Old Testament is internal and spiritual in the New. We do have an enemy, but our battle isn’t against flesh and blood. And so when another person acts horribly, we can see that as a result of living in a fallen world and being influenced by forces against Christ. With this in mind, along with the overflow of love and abundant grace we have received, we are empowered to love them.

This kind of love is agape. It’s not a warm feeling. It’s acting generously, with kindness and compassion to everyone, not just those who treat us well. Nancy Missler called this “contrary to feelings choices.” Jesus isn’t telling us to feel all warm and fuzzy toward someone we don’t like. He is telling us to have the mindset that they are made in God’s image just as we are, and are beloved by Him as much as we are. We are held responsible for acting generously and compassionately toward them. Actively loving them.

And it’s also not the “tough love” of modern thinking either. This is not choosing what we think is best for another person and making tough choices to make them change their behavior. This is a sacrificial love of Jesus, that feels loving, not haughty or superior. It’s not our job to change anyone’s behavior or thinking. It’s our job to show them the kind of love God has for them. It’s His kindness that draws them, after all.

In the Kingdom, we do not have the authority to deny anyone kindness and compassion or act without generosity toward them. Our King calls them beloved and so we must treat them as such.

Right now is a critical time for this teaching of Jesus. Every year since Jack went home, I’ve received messages from people trying to navigate church or community divisions. The divisions seem to be growing rapidly, and we must remind ourselves that no human is our enemy. But if they are acting like it, our command is clear to act generously with kindness and compassion. In Jesus, the dividing lines have been removed. We are one in Jesus. It doesn’t matter which political party we are in, or which side we are on in any debate.

We are one in Jesus. There are no sides in the body of Christ. And if we aren’t acting like it, all we need to do is ask Jesus for His help and take a first step toward His command. We can choose one action of generosity, full of kindness and compassion, that we can take toward someone we feel is on a side against us. We aren’t allowed to have sides as disciples of Christ. Remember He chose both a tax collector and a Zealot to be part of His close circle of apprentices. He called them to live, and love, and serve together.

The last thing on my mind this morning, is the last verse:
Be perfect, therefore, as your Heavenly Father is perfect.

This verse caused so much fear in my childhood self. There couldn’t have been a more extreme command. There were already so many commands, but I also have to be perfect?!

And then I came to Christ and was told, well, this command just means we accept the perfection of Jesus on our behalf. Ok. That helps.

But the word perfect here means complete, as in maturing, becoming complete in growth. Our goal in following Jesus is to be transformed by His Spirit and to grow into the full measure that He made us to be, to become more like Him. And what amazing tools for growth and maturity, for completeness, we find in turning the other cheek, going the extra mile, giving to those who ask, and loving our enemies. Praise be to God. ♥

You can also see Jack’s article on this passage: Be Perfect, As Your Heavenly Father is Perfect

Options for further  journaling or discussion throughout the challenge:

• Choose a part of the passage to write out by hand. Writing by hand helps us slow down and focus on what the Lord might highlight for us in the passage. Our brains can focus and remember better by writing than just reading alone.
• Journal about what the passage brings to mind. Does the passage tell us anything about God? Does it tell us anything about our response to Him?
• Does your heart respond in gratitude to any part of the passage? Write or pray your gratitude to the Lord.

 

We’ll see you next time, for Day 12 and Mark 4:26-41

♥ Samantha