Please turn with me to Matthew 5 - starting at verse 38.  We are working our way through Jesus’ Sermon on the Hill - Jesus teaching a large diverse crowd on a hillside on the north shore of the Sea of Galilee.  Jesus has been teaching about what?

Jesus is taking the mind bending reality of God and His kingdom - and bringing all that down to the reality of where we live our lives.   Teaching us what it means for us to live in relationship with the living God down on the level where we live life.

The section of Jesus’ teaching that we’ve been looking at these past Sundays - that we’re looking at today - Jesus is focusing on our relationships with others -  how those who live in relationship with the living God - that’s us - how we are to live out that relationship with others.  Specifically - in today’s passage - Jesus is going to be teaching about payback.

How people living in relationship with the living God respond when we’re wronged.

Think about the worst job you’ve ever had - either the stuff you had to do or the conditions you had to do it in.  Maybe the boss you worked for.  Some of you are having trouble narrowing down the list.  The last day on the job would be a great opportunity for payback.  Wouldn’t it?

Check this out - the bosses new car doesn’t even have its new plates yet and its already got a permanent parking place.

This is another approach to paying back the boss on your last day.

Imagine - your last day - as the sign guy.  The safe combination is 26-89-14.

Never fire the guy who knows the secret formula.

Last one.   Some peoples packages are going to be a little late.  Track this.

Payback.  How do we who live in relationship with the living God respond when we’re wronged?

Matthew 5 - starting at verse 38:  You have heard that it was said, “An eye for and eye, and a tooth for a tooth.”  But I say to you...

Remember that there’s a pattern that Jesus follows in this part of His teaching.  First - He quotes a commandment or law from the Old Covenant - “You have heard that it was said...” - Then - second part of the pattern - He goes on with His application of that law - with the deeper implications for our lives.   Verse 39:  “But I say to you…”  Jesus teaching with Divine authority what God requires in our relationships with others.

Verse 39:  But I say to you, do not resist an evil person; but whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also.  If anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, let him have your coat also.  Whoever forces you to go one mile, go with him two.  Give to him who asks of you, and do not turn away from him who wants to borrow from you.   

Let’s pause.   There are two things we need to be clear about.    First:  We need to be clear about the meaning of the laws that Jesus summarizes in verse 38.  In other words - if we were a first century Jew listening to Jesus what should be going through our minds when we heard Jesus summarize these laws.

Jesus is summarizing at least 3 different passages from the Old Testament - passages from Exodus, Leviticus, and Deuteronomy - that in effect said this:  “If two men struggle with each other and one of them hits a pregnant woman and something happens to the woman or the child then the penalty shall be life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burn for burn, wound for wound, bruise for bruise.  Or, if a man injures his neighbor, in the same way that he injured his neighbor so it shall be inflicted on him:  fracture for fracture, eye for eye, tooth for tooth.  If a malicious witness rises up to accuse someone falsely you shall not show pity so that others will hear and be afraid.  You shall do to him as he intended to do to his brother:  life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot.” (Exodus 21:22-25; Leviticus 24:19,20; Deuteronomy 19:15-21)

These laws were intended by God to limit vengeance and to promote justice.

Two Saturdays ago I was watching Jonathan’s soccer game.  The coach for the other team was loud - obnoxious - saying things like, “It doesn’t matter run into him anyway.”  Finally he got a yellow card.  We’re all thinking, “It’s about time.”

Game goes on for a bit and this coach just keeps on going.  Finally, the ref gives him the red card.  At which point all the parents on our side are cheering.  “Yeah.  Good job ref.”  Their side is screaming about how unfair the ref is.

Coach Red Card has a few words with the ref - acts like he wasn’t doing anything wrong and the ref is some buffoon.  Finally Coach Red Car leaves the park - swaggering - like some really important dude.

Sarek:  “Klingon justice is a unique point of view.”  Ever noticed that?  How justice often tips in favor of the beholder.  How we see ourselves as so innocent compared with the staggering wrong done against us.

Do you remember the Klingon proverb “Revenge is a dish that is best served - what? cold”?  Kahn Noonian Singh - Star Trek II.  Revenge - vengeance - with all the bitterness and anger and malice possible.  Given the opportunity to retaliate most people will over-retaliate - overdo the response.  “Your ox gored my goat.  I will kill your whole family.” 

These laws were there to give the extent at which one could expect retribution - equivalent justice.  One eye for one eye.  One tooth for one tooth.  No more.  Regardless of the emotions involved.

Of course the Rabbinical teaching - which the people listening to Jesus would have been very much aware of - the Rabbinical teaching had found exceptions - clauses - ways to manipulate the clear teaching of Scripture.

For example:  If the eye that was lost was of a vital young man who had his whole life before him; could the offending village take the eye of one of its old men who was blind anyway, and offer that in exchange?

We see this today.  What used to be taken care of with a verbal agreement or a handshake now requires reams of pages of fine print and teams of lawyers.  Remember the bumper sticker:  “Hit Me I Need The Money.”  The law no longer is as important as how it can be manipulated to our own personal benefit.

The problem with the law is that it doesn’t change the heart.  Say that with me:  “The problem with the law is that it doesn’t change the heart.”

That’s where Jesus goes starting in verse 39.  The second thing we need to be clear about is Jesus’ application of these laws to where we live life.

Jesus gives 4 examples of injustice done to us - and what our response should be.

First - verse 39 - someone slaps us on the right cheek.  Anyone been slapped on their cheek?  Hurts doesn’t it?

Many - many - years ago when I worked in a sporting goods and music store - which is a long story in itself - renting band instruments - selling team uniforms - shoes - and pianos.  It was an interesting job.

There was this really obnoxious customer who used to come in and buy sports stuff from us - team uniforms and things.  This guy was a tad big - had issues - had the attitude to go along with it.  Are we tracking together?  He was not a pleasant person to deal with.

One day when he was on his way out of the store - but apparently not out of ear shot - I made some unfortunate under the breath comment about his character.  This guy came back in and just reamed me across the face.

What hurt worse than the slap - which hurt - was the humiliation.  Standing in the store with everybody - co-workers - customers - just staring.

Jesus says if someone slaps you on your right cheek.  Which is backwards.  A right-handed person is going to slap us on our left cheek.  Go ahead and try that with the person next to you.  NO!  Don’t do that.  To slap on the right cheek means a backhanded slap.  Intended to humiliate more than hurt.

In other words - if someone just royally humiliates you - trashes your pride - why don’t you leave yourself open to being hurt again?

Hang in there.  Verse 40.  If someone sues you for your shirt.

Shirts were like clothing we wear next to our skin - like we’d wear pants and shirt today.  Cloaks were outer clothing.  Think about a heavy coat - like a blanket - that we could wrap around ourselves to keep ourselves warm.  That’s a cloak. 

According to Old Testament law the poorest Hebrew - even a homeless person - always had a right to a cloak.  (Exodus 22:26,27) No one could sue us and take away our cloak.  Because a cloak was an essential for life - like a portable tent - something to huddle under on a cold night.

Jesus says, if someone brings a lawsuit against you and is awarded your shirt - which they may be entitled to - but its really petty - suing someone for something as frivolous as a shirt.  If someone wins against you in some humiliating petty lawsuit - why not give them your cloak - which they’re not entitled to - why not give them your cloak also?

Example number 3 - verse 41.  Someone forces you to go a mile.

Roman soldiers had the right to demand someone - anyone they chose - to require that person to carry their pack for a mile.  Remember Simon of Cyrene?  Jesus is unable to carry His cross to Golgotha.  The Romans   drafted Simon to carry Jesus’ cross for Him. (Matthew 27:32)  Same idea.

We could be standing on the side of the street minding our own business.  This Roman soldier walks by.  Says to himself, “Self.  I’m tired.”  And next thing we’re carrying his luggage for a mile.  Imagine having to do that for the hated occupiers of your land.  It adds insult to injury.

The law said they could only compel us to go one mile.  Jesus says, “Go the extra mile.  Go two.”

Fourth example - verse 42 - if someone - who you know will never ever - not in this lifetime - will never ever pay you back - comes and asks you for something - give it to them anyway.

The point Jesus is making - with these four examples - has to do with yielding our rights.  Our normal tendency when wronged is to demand justice - and maybe a little more.  Well, maybe a lot more.  Payback.

But, when we yield - not wallowing in victimhood - not demanding our rights verses someone else’s - causing hurt to others - or ourselves living bitter and angry - when we yield our rights we open up our hearts to God’s transforming work within us.  God begins to show us the truth about our hearts - where its hard for us to let go - where we’re hanging on to ourselves and not trusting God.  We begin to learn to get past ourselves and to love as Jesus loved - to be people of mercy and grace.

Verse 43:  You have heard that it was said - again the pattern - Old Testament law - You have heard that it was said, “You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.”  But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.

Let’s pause.  There are two things we need to be clear about.    First:  We need to be clear about the meaning of the law that Jesus summarizes in verse 43.  In other words - if we were a first century Jew listening to Jesus what should be going through our minds when we heard Jesus summarize these laws. 

In Leviticus 19 God tells His people, “You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the sons of your people, but, you shall love your neighbor as yourself… Love your neighbor as what? yourself.  The stranger who resides with you shall be to you as the native among you, and you shall love him as yourself...” (Leviticus 19:18,32,33)

Back to verse 43 - When Jesus is quoting Leviticus what does He leave out?  The whole “as yourself” part.  Completely leaves it out.  Then, notice, what does Jesus add to Leviticus?  The “and hate your enemy part.”  That wasn’t in  the Old Testament law.

Remember the Biblical scholar that came to Jesus to test Him?  He asked Jesus the question, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?”

Jesus answered, “What’s written in the Law?”

The scholar answers, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor - as what?  yourself.”

Jesus says, “You’ve answered correctly; do this and you will live.”

What was the scholar’s next question?  “Who is my neighbor?”  Who qualifies - who fits in the category - as my neighbor?

What comes next?  Jesus launches into the parable of the Good Samaritan.  A man gets mugged on the way to Jericho.  He’s left naked and half dead on the side of the road.  2 guys come by.  One’s a priest - sees the man - and does what?  Crosses over to the other side of the road and passes by.  Second man - a Levite comes by - crosses over to the other side of the road and passes by.   Then who comes by?  The evil - dreaded - not quite a Jew - we don’t touch those - Samaritan.

Who does what?  Takes care of the mugged guys wounds - takes him to an inn - pays for his care.

Jesus asks this Biblical scholar, “So, which of the three proved to be a neighbor to the man?”  (Luke 10:25-37)

Who are our neighbors?  Everyone.  Anyone who needs love poured out on them like we pour it out on ourselves.

The reason Jesus - here in the Sermon on the Mount - presents the Old Testament law leaving out neighbors as yourself part and adding enemies - the reason this Biblical scholar struggles with the question - is because the widespread understanding of the law in Jesus’ day was to love those in our community and to hate everyone else.

Its possible that while Jesus is misquoting the law that the people He’s talking to may not have known the difference.  They’d be saying, “Yep, that’s what we’ve heard.”

Imagine that you’ve decided to go on a diet to loose weight.  With the diet comes a long list of foods you can’t eat.  But, when you go out to a restaurant you skim the dessert menu to find foods which are not on the “cannot eat” list.  To your delight you find that most of the dessert items are not on the list.  Without a second thought you order the triple layer dark chocolate cream cake with the extra whipped frosting à la mode - three scoops of ice cream - chocolate, strawberry, and vanilla.  In one sense you’ve fulfilled the letter of the law.  But, as your soon bulging waistline tells you, you’ve failed at your diet.

We often think, “What can I get away with?”  Be honest.  We don’t always verbalize the thought.  But, subconsciously we think it.  Those Jesus is challenging had focused on the boundaries of God’s law.  They asked, “Who are we actually required to love?”  How small can we draw that circle?  How few neighbors can we narrow this down to? 

The law was intended by God to limit vengeance - payback - and to promote a response of love towards others.  But, God’s people - After they had accomplished what was required they then felt free to mistreat and reject everyone else - rip them off - ignore their needs - alienate them - take from them whatever they felt entitled to.

Little Jack Horner
Sat in a corner
Eating a Christmas pie;
He put in his thumb,
And pulled out a plum,
And said, "What a good boy am I!"

A lot of that goes on in religion today.  Christians sitting around - putting in their thumb - pulling out a plumb - telling ourselves how good we are.  We’ve done all the right things so we feel that we’re off the hook for anything else.  But, by God’s standard of the heart we haven’t even come close to good.  Jesus is talking about our hearts.

The second thing we need to be clear about is Jesus’ application of this law to where we live life.

Verse 45:  “But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.”  That’s a reversal of thinking isn’t it?

The word “love” in Greek is “agape.”  Same word as in Romans 5:8:  “But God demonstrates His own love - agape - toward us, in that while we were yet sinners - enemies of God - Christ died for us.”

“Agape” is the kind of love that moves God to send down sunlight on both the evil and the good.  To send rain down on the righteous and the unrighteous.  God indiscriminately taking care of all our needs - both those who are in rebellion against Him and those who love Him.

“Agape” love isn’t about lust or sex or friendship or romance or if we might be feeling good about someone or what we get back when we love someone. 

“Agape” is a dogged commitment to love what often is unlovable - us.  With that kind of love we’re to love others - even those who are against us - who humiliate us - sue us frivolously - compel us against our will - borrow stuff from us and never have the respect for us to return it.

To “pray” is the Greek word “proseuchomai.”  Same word as in James 5.  “If you’re sick - call the elders of the church - let them pray - “proseuchomai” - over you and anoint you with oil in the name of the Lord.”  “Prosuechomai” is always used of prayer to God - petition for great need.

When we pray for our enemies - its not, “God toast ’em.”  But, “God bless them.  God help them.  God forgive them because they have no clue what they’re doing.”

Jesus says - in verse 45 - when you do this - loving and praying for your enemies - you really are God’s children.  You really are living out your relationship with God in the way you’re living with others.

Do people see on our hearts the imprint of God’s heart?  Do they see in us the love that God has for those created in His image?

Verse 46 - two examples:  For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have?  First example:  Do not even the tax collectors do the same?  Second example:  If you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others?  Do not even the Gentiles do the same?

Tax collectors were the scum of the earth.  Traitors in league with the Roman occupiers who are ripping off their own people.  They’re legalized crooks.  They’re unclean because they associate with Gentiles.  They associate with prostitutes and other people who could care less what others think about their sinful ways.

But even a tax collector is going to love someone who loves them - someone who’ll help them line their pockets with money.   At the very least their mother might even love them.

Gentiles were pagans.  Non-Jews.  Unclean.  Worshippers of other gods.  Not to be associated with.  But still, even the Gentiles show love to other Gentiles.

Do you see what Jesus is getting at here?  If we only treat well those people who can benefit us or who are like us, what difference is there between us and everyone else?  The issue is not how we would like to be treated but a heart attitude which places the well-being of others - at least as a minimum standard - places their well being at least equal to ours.

Verse 48 - Jesus’ summary statement - verse 48:  Therefore - because we’re to love others as God loves us - Therefore, you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

Philippians 2:5-8:  Have this attitude in yourselves which was in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men.  Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

Jesus is God.  But Jesus did not “grasp” - or hang on to - His rights and privileges as God - to be worshipped as God - to exercise His power as God.  Jesus set all that aside.  He didn’t insist on His preeminence.  He became a man - without any advantage over us.  He faced life counting on His Heavenly Father, just as we do.

Jesus became a servant - literally “a slave.”  Slaves were the possessions of their masters.  In the Roman world they were looked on with the same regard as a shovel or pick - a tool to be used.  Jesus should have been worshipped - adored by people - angels - animals - by all of creation - yet He willingly became a slave.

Having become a man - Jesus did not come as a king - a ruler or rich person - someone insulated from the worst parts of our human condition.  He became the son of a common family - in a conquered nation - born in the humility and filth of a cave used as a stable.  He came and embraced us a brothers and sisters - going through what we go through.

Jesus didn’t have to die.  He isn’t born - as we are - with the terminal illness of sin.  Jesus loved us so much that He volunteered - chose - to receive the death sentence that is really ours.

Jesus could have chosen to die quickly - painlessly - surrounded by His family and friends.  But, He chose to die on a cross - in pain and agony - rejected and despised - executed as common criminal - in shame and disgrace.  Deserted by everyone - including His Heavenly Father - He died finally - because He was unable to breathe.

Love risks.  It costs.  It requires everything that we are given up - yielded - for those who do not deserve our love.  Jesus is the greatest example of that kind of perfect love.  Jesus yielded His rights for us because of His love “agape” for us.

Thinking this through for us today...

There may be someone who’s stabbed you in the back - inflicted tons of pain on you - abused you - lied about you or to you.  Someone who has destroyed a whole lot of your life.  Someone you’ve trusted who’s betrayed that trust - crushed you emotionally.  Family is not a pleasant warm fuzzy feeling.  Where you work could be hell on earth.   People at school may shred you daily.  For some reason you’re their target.  You’ve been ridiculed and laughed at.  You could name their names without giving it second thought.

How are we suppose to love these people and pray for them following the standard that Jesus sets for us? 

Two thoughts of application.

First:  It takes heart.  Say that with me, “It takes heart.”  

Remember when Jesus accepted a dinner invitation to the home of a Pharisee?  When Jesus shows up the Pharisee doesn’t extend - what in that culture was an expectation - the Pharisee didn’t extend the usual courtesies to Jesus - giving him a cup of water - giving him a welcoming kiss on both cheeks.  He’s rude - inhospitable - unloving - towards Jesus.

A prostitute comes in with an expensive vial of perfume - and from behind Jesus - weeping and getting her tears all over Jesus’ feet - she’s kissing his feet and anointing them with this perfume.  Do you remember this?

The Pharisee is indignant.  “If Jesus was really a prophet He’d know what kind of women this is.  He never would have allowed her to touch Him.”

Jesus says to the Pharisee, “This woman has wet My feet with her tears.  You didn’t even give Me water.  You gave Me no kiss.  But she hasn’t stopped kissing Me.  You didn’t anoint My head.  She’s anointed My feet with perfume.  She has a ton of sins.  But they’re all forgiven.”  Then this statement - powerful:  “He who is forgiven little, loves little.”  (Luke 7:36-50)

Jesus isn’t calling us to be blind, denture wearing, red cheeked, naked, luggage toting paupers.  He’s compelling us to look at our hearts - to remember how greatly we’ve been forgiven - how immeasurably we’ve been loved.  To find in that realization the possibility of loving others.

Steve Zeisler put it this way:  “The one who recognizes little need of forgiveness loves little; and the converse is also true - the one who has been forgiven much loves much.” (1)

If we’re going to be sons of our Heavenly Father - at the heart level - loving others - we need to begin with the understanding that we also do not deserve His love.

Second thought of application:  It takes openness.  Say that with me, “It takes openness.”

We can carry on living by putting ourselves first - limiting God’s love through us.  Or, we can admit our inadequacy and ask Him to change us.

Thinking about how Jesus loves us - in our rebellion and sin - we need to acknowledge the source of love is God - who loves us.  We need God to enable us - to work within our hearts to make this possible. 

I’m going to challenge you to do something this week - all of us - myself included.  At least once this week extend God’s love to someone who you could never reasonably expect to pay you back - or even perceive that you we’re showing love to them and so to be tempted to try to do something for you in return.  Not someone in your usual circle of friends.  Maybe even someone that you might consider an enemy - someone you struggle with.

And if you find that hard - especially the showing love to an enemy part - that’s when you need to go to God in prayer.  “God I open my heart to You.  Change my heart.  Make me to be one who will love my enemies as You have loved me.” 

_______________

1.  Steve Zeisler, “Your Father Will Reward You” - sermon on Matthew 5:43-48