August 29, 2010M.                            A PECULIAR PEOPLE:

Matt. 5:38-48

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Review:

1. We have said that Jesus covers a lot of topics in these 3 chapters of Matt.  5-6-7.  We know they are important subjects, because He has taken His close disciples aside, and is teaching them what the Father’s will is on these matters.

2. We also mentioned the prophecy of Isaiah where he talked about the servant magnifying the law.  So far we have seen how Jesus magnified the laws of:

• Thou shalt not kill.
• Adultery.
• Divorce.
• Oaths.

3. This morning we want to look at what the Lord teaches us on;  retaliation, and love.

Retaliation:

Mat 5:38-42 KJVR Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth:

• God spoke to Noah in Genesis  Gen 9:5-6 KJVR  And surely your blood of your lives will I require; at the hand of every beast will I require it, and at the hand of man; at the hand of every man's brother will I require the life of man.  (6)  Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man.

• An eye for an eye ... - This command is found in Exo_21:24; Lev_24:20, and Deu_19:21.

Exo 21:23-25 KJVR  And if any mischief follow, then thou shalt give life for life,  (24)  Eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot,  (25)  Burning for burning, wound for wound, stripe for stripe.

• Lev 24:19-20 KJVR  And if a man cause a blemish in his neighbor; as he hath done, so shall it be done to him;  (20)  Breach for breach, eye for eye, tooth for tooth: as he hath caused a blemish in a man, so shall it be done to him again.
• In this particular place Moses is dealing with false witnesses;  Deu 19:21 KJVR  And thine eye shall not pity; but life shall go for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot.
• This was the judicial law.  This is what the judges had to go by.  Cut and dried.  “and thine eye shall not pity.”  Don’t feel sorry for someone judged in this manner.

(39) But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.

• Now this is tough.  I think of how we use to hear this in Sunday School, and go right out, and fight like cats, and dogs.  But we are older now, and have made the decision to follow the Master’s teachings, and He says turn the other cheek.  No more fighting, or retaliation, or get even.  Can this be done?
• Joh 18:22  And when he had thus spoken, one of the officers which stood by struck Jesus with the palm of his hand, saying, Answerest thou the high priest so?  Joh 18:23  Jesus answered him, If I have spoken evil, bear witness of the evil: but if well, why smitest thou me?
• Now the Apostle Paul responded with a little stronger language:  Act 23:2-3 KJVR  And the high priest Ananias commanded them that stood by him to smite him on the mouth.  (3)  Then said Paul unto him, God shall smite thee, thou whited wall: for sittest thou to judge me after the law, and commandest me to be smitten contrary to the law?
• Even as great a man as the Apostle was, it appears he was not as meek, and lowly as the Master.  And this is where many of us may be.  But none the less we are taught to grow into this ability.

(40) And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloak also.

• Jesus is using this law:  Exo 22:26  If thou at all take thy neighbor's raiment to pledge, thou shalt deliver it unto him by that the sun goeth down: Exo 22:27  For that is his covering only, it is his raiment for his skin: wherein shall he sleep? and it shall come to pass, when he crieth unto me, that I will hear; for I am gracious.

• Coat - The Jews wore two principal garments, an interior and an exterior. The interior, here called the “coat,” or the tunic.  Over this was commonly worn an upper garment, here called “cloak,” or mantle.

These items were very important to the individual, so we can see that Jesus is asking us to part with something very important to us, rather than resist, or fight for it.  Learn of me for I am meek, and lowly.

(41) And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain. (42) Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away.

• The thing here demanded is a readiness to submit to unreasonable demands of whatever kind, rather than raise quarrels, with all the evils resulting from them.
• Give to him,   and turn not away someone that would borrow from you.
• The idea is if you have it be willing to share it, even if it means you won’t get it back.
• I’ve always thought how difficult it would be to be rich, and hoard all that you have.  Jesus said, “hardly shall a rich man enter into Heaven.”  He didn’t say they couldn’t, but it would be hard for them.

Love:

The next subject goes right along with the idea of meekness, mercy, and love.

Mat 5:43-48 KJVR Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbor, and hate thine enemy.

• Lev 19:18  Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself: I am the LORD.

• That we must therefore hate our enemy was an inference drawn from it by the Jews. They supposed that if we loved the one, we must of course hate the other.

(44) But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;

• Christianity is a religion of love, mercy, grace, forgiveness, and meekness.  This is so contrary to the way of the world.  But we must understand that satan is the spirit of the world.  Christians are to be born again, of the water, and of the Spirit.  This is what gives you the ability to adhere to the Lord’s teachings.

Why should I do this?

(45) That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.

• God is no respecter of persons.  And if we are willing to do the things that Jesus teaches us to do, then we shall be called the children of God.
• Jesus said, “why do you call Me Lord, when you do not the things I ask you to do?”

(46) For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same? (47) And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so? (48) Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.

Tit 2:14  Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

1Pe 2:9  But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light:

Doing our best to follow our Lord’s teachings will to the world make us a peculiar people zealous of good works.

And it will pull us out of darkness into the marvelous light of God’s dear Son, our Lord, and Savior Jesus Christ.

Father help us to be that peculiar people, so we can bring glory to Your Holy Name.   Amen.