RETALIATION VERSUS GRACE

Matt 5:38-42

 

Our words and actions often go together!

What we say and what we do are travelling

buddies as we walk this life.

 

The greatest caution of this can be summarized in what Solomon wrote. There are six things that the LORD hates, seven that are an abomination to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that make haste to run to evil, a false witness who breathes out lies, and one who sows discord among brothers. My son, keep your father's commandment, and forsake not your mother's teaching. Bind them on your heart always; tie them around your neck. When you walk, they will lead you; when you lie down, they will watch over you; and when you awake, they will talk with you.” Proverbs 6:16-22

 

Words and actions are seldom separated; both are before the transcendent God who sees all, knows all, and over all. Jesus moves from words to actions here as we approach this portion of Jesus’ message. R C Sproul said “Of all Jesus’ teachings in the Sermon on the Mount, the one in the passage before us is the most challenging.”

 

Jesus' teaching here about turning the other cheek is the fifth of six times in the Sermon on the Mount in which Jesus took traditional interpretations of the law. "You have heard it said" and then He gives a radical reinterpretation for His followers "But I say to you”. The Old Testament teaching of "an eye for an eye" was intended to set a ceiling on how much someone could retaliate. There were limits to retaliation in the Old Testament that needed to understood and not broken.

Jesus quotes Old Testament Law. Laws such as “But if there is harm, then you shall pay life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burn for burn, wound for wound, stripe for stripe. "When a man strikes the eye of his slave, male or female, and destroys it, he shall let the slave go free because of his eye. If he knocks out the tooth of his slave, male or female, he shall let the slave go free because of his tooth. "When an ox gores a man or a woman to death, the ox shall be stoned, and its flesh shall not be eaten, but the owner of the ox shall not be liable. But if the ox has been accustomed to gore in the past, and its owner has been warned but has not kept it in, and it kills a man or a woman, the ox shall be stoned, and its owner also shall be put to death.” Exodus 21:23-29

 

In Lev 24:17-21 we read “Whoever takes a human life shall surely be put to death. Whoever takes an animal's life shall make it good, life for life. If anyone injures his neighbor, as he has done it shall be done to him, fracture for fracture, eye for eye, tooth for tooth; whatever injury he has given a person shall be given to him. Whoever kills an animal shall make it good, and whoever kills a person shall be put to death.”

 

Deut 19:21 states “Your eye shall not pity. It shall be life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot.”

 

What God is saying in the Old Testament is “The penalty must not exceed the crime'.” So in order to command to punish, it also says you mustn't punish too hard, over and above the crime that has been committed. You see, what happened in Old Testament times, or what ought to have happened, is that this law kept people from forcing the offender to pay a greater price than the offence he committed deserved. Another thing it did was…. it prevented people from taking personal revenge.

 

We are told not to seek revenge for the injuries we suffer at the hands of other people. 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." Rom 12:19

What Jesus is teaching here is radical and requires the person to check their anger and retaliation plans, at the door before entering. Mercy is withholding punishment from someone who deserves it. Grace is lavishing gifts on someone who doesn't deserve it. Jesus suggests that this is how we can and should respond to those who hurt us. Jesus is speaking specifically to the area of personal principles, how we are to behave as redeemed children. Speaking against individual pursuits of vengeance and retaliation.

 

“Retaliation” “the action of returning a military attack; a counterattack.” To retaliate is to return in like kind. Usually, we speak of retaliation in negative contexts, so it’s almost exclusively a returning of evil for evil.

 

Example: Someone hurts us; we hurt him back. Getting even is a natural response to being wronged, but God calls us to live above our natural responses. Both the Hebrew and Greek words translated “vengeance,” “revenge,” and “avenge” have as their root meaning the idea of “punishment.” Unlike us, God never takes vengeance from impure motives. He demonstrated holiness. His vengeance is for the purpose of punishing those who have offended and rejected Him. 

So we need to be very careful how we proceed! Because…. Prov 20:22 says “Do not say, “I will repay evil”; wait for the Lord, and he will deliver you.”

1 Thess 5:15 says “See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone.”

 

Prov 24:29 says “Do not say, “I will do to him as he has done to me; I will pay the man back for what he has done.”

 

Through His Son Jesus Christ and the precious Gospel, He offers to empower us through His Holy Spirit so that we can live above our selfish dispositions.

 

Jesus gives Four examples about “retaliation”

when it comes to who?

 

Who is Jesus referring to when we go the extra mile? 

Answer! Your enemies!

 

1. Turn The Other Cheek (v39)

 

This is referring to slapping which is most humiliating to receive from anyone. But not just a forward slap, but a backhand. The backhand was the ancient gesture of insulting someone. This would be very hard for right-handed people to do if that person was facing you. The use of the word “slap” is the same used in Matt 26:67-68 when Jesus was blindfolded and slapped by the Roman soldiers. The slap would be both painful and insulting. What Jesus is saying here is that “It’s better to be insulted twice than for violence be escalated.” As Peter said “For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God. For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps.” 1 Peter 2:20-21

 

(A quick disclaimer) when it comes to

an abusive person or spouse.

 

Do not interpret this passage to mean you’re supposed to stay in an abusive relationship and just suck it up for the cause of Christ. In those cases or incidents, you need to leave and find help quickly from the Police, your Pastor, Christian counsellor, or a friend, in whom you can have complete confidence in. Jesus is not referring to stay in an abusive relationship, its referring to individuals who purse “vengeance and retaliation.”

 

2. Give Your Tunic And Cloak (v40)

 

The “tunic” was an inner garment. We would call this a “shirt” that is worn next to the skin of our upper body. Usually made of wool or linen. This was often used to “barter with or to make payments” during this time period. The “cloak” was an outer garment. We would call this “coat” The Old Testament law prohibited someone from taking a man's outer garment since it provided protection from the elements. We read in Exodus 22:26-27 that the poor should not be made to surrender their coat, “If ever you take your neighbor's cloak in pledge, you shall return it to him before the sun goes down, for that is his only covering, and it is his cloak for his body; in what else shall he sleep? And if he cries to me, I will hear, for I am compassionate.” From the nature of the passage, this is the description of a poor man. The bed of the poor is usually nothing else than a mat; and, in winter, they cover themselves with a cloak. This would be all he or she would have to keep themselves warm and somewhat comfortable. What is Jesus saying then? “If he takes you to shirt offer him your coat. If he takes you to court and sues you for the shirt, wrap your coat with put a bow, and give it to him as well.”

 

Do what the law requires and go one step further. Why? We serve a great God who will defend and provide for His children. See! Jesus extends this truth by saying….. His followers find their security and protection from their heavenly Father, and not from the clothes they had in their closet. A little further in Jesus sermon, He elaborates on this, “Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not be anxious, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. "Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” Matt 6:26-34. This response is contrary to the world because it requires “a radical unselfish attitude” which will amaze the world.

 

3. Go The Second Mile (v41)

 

During this time period a Roman soldier had the right to press any Israelite into carrying his pack for him up to one mile without compensation. A Roman mile was 1000 paces. (A pace is equal to one natural step, about 30 inches long.) An example of this was demonstrated by Simon of Cyrene when he was told to carry the crossbeam for Jesus’ execution. “And as they led him away, they seized one Simon of Cyrene, who was coming in from the country, and laid on him the cross, to carry it behind Jesus.” Luke 23:26

 

Sinclair Ferguson said “The Jews hated the practice because it publically illustrated the humiliation of being a subjugated people.”

 

Think about going the extra mile

for a Roman soldier?

 

There is no doubt it would have shocked the soldier, and make him wonder why you’re doing this. What about your enemies? What do you think they would think? We go the extra mile not for them but for the King of heaven. I/we, serve them, because we have been served by the Son of God who came to take our place on the cross. The one who came to serve the world and to bear its burdens of sin. The Only One who went the extra mile to free us from the chains of sin and death.

 

What Jesus is saying here is….. When they/you are representing Jesus, the Christian, the child of the King, goes above and beyond what is required. Without reservations or expectations of receiving anything, whether that would be good or bad in return.

 

4. Give Generously (v42)

 

Jesus is not referring to be open-handed with every case or person you come across. The likes of…. Panhandlers or freeloaders. We are to use discernment and wisdom when dealing with others who are in need. The righteous are to give to those who are attempting to hurt them through borrowing. The Gospel of Luke refers to this “But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil.” Luke 6:35. Lord wants His followers to reject a tightfisted, penny-pinching attitude that says “This is mine and will never share it.” Our fallen human nature dislikes giving up anything that belongs to them, even if it’s temporary. What Jesus is saying to us is this “With your generosity that is genuine, seeks the need and meets it without reservation or expecting anything in return.

 

It’s an loving and generous 

desire to help others.

 

All of these scenarios are grace responses.

 

Remember our definition of grace?

“A gift to one who doesn't deserve it.”

Every time we respond with grace instead of revenge, we remind ourselves of what Christ did on our behalf. And we also show Christ to a watching world. As a human being, Jesus faced every pressure we face, and on a much deeper level. And since Jesus is the only perfect human being that has ever existed. We know that He never once surrendered in to pressure in any way or showed signs of weakness.

Do you remember what Jesus did? 

Did He respond the same in return? 

Answer: No

  

He demonstrated this grace in the person of Jesus Christ. Incarnate Deity.

Turn to Mathew 26:47-68 Jesus did not seek revenge or retaliation because He knew that there was a greater purpose to what He was going through. (v56) Had He called "Twelve legion of angels" (A legion was a division of the Roman army amounting to more than 6,000 men) to come to His assistance in the garden. (v53)

 

What do you think would happen?

Scripture would not have been fulfilled, and our redemption would not have been made possible. Remember what Isaiah wrote? “He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not.” Isaiah 53:3. God could easily protect Him, if He should pray to Him, and if it was His will. We know what His will was to do! “Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to his disciples, "Sit here, while I go over there and pray." And taking with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, he began to be sorrowful and troubled. Then he said to them, "My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and watch with me." And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, "My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will." Matt 26:36-39. In Jesus’ humanity we are to emulate the same response. In the same way, if we take matters into our own hands when someone else is mistreating us, we may be short-circuiting a bigger plan that God has for us.

 

How interesting that James, Jude, half-brothers to Jesus, had a front-row seat to how Jesus dealt with the pressure of life. At first they would mock and insult him and even send Him to his death. “After this Jesus went about in Galilee. He would not go about in Judea, because the Jews were seeking to kill him. Now the Jews' Feast of Booths was at hand. So his brothers said to him, "Leave here and go to Judea, that your disciples also may see the works you are doing. For no one works in secret if he seeks to be known openly. If you do these things, show yourself to the world." For not even his brothers believed in him. Jesus said to them, "My time has not yet come, but your time is always here. The world cannot hate you, but it hates me because I testify about it that its works are evil. You go up to the feast. I am not going up to this feast, for my time has not yet fully come." John 7:1-8. Their growing up response was with contempt and mockery. But later their response and attitude would be changed by the grace of the Gospel in their lives.

 

Because James whole letter is an examination of what the Christian life is “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. Let the lowly brother boast in his exaltation, and the rich in his humiliation, because like a flower of the grass he will pass away. For the sun rises with its scorching heat and withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beauty perishes. So also will the rich man fade away in the midst of his pursuits. Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.” James 1:2-12

 

Jude said in his letter, “But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life. And have mercy on those who doubt; save others by snatching them out of the fire; to others show mercy with fear, hating even the garment stained by the flesh. Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.” Jude 1:20:25

 

Though they probably failed many times in this area growing up, resenting their older brother, wishing to do harm to him because they were jealous and possibly envious of him. Overtime and the gospel penetrating their own hearts they recognized and reminded themselves of their brother. Their brother who demonstrated such excellence in non-retaliation.  A great example! When Jesus confronted the vengeance and retaliation of a group of men and asked one questioned that stopped them in their path. “The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery, and placing her in the midst they said to him, "Teacher, this woman has been caught in the act of adultery. Now in the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. So what do you say?" This they said to test him, that they might have some charge to bring against him. Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground. And as they continued to ask him, he stood up and said to them, "Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her." And once more he bent down and wrote on the ground. But when they heard it, they went away one by one, beginning with the older ones, and Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before him. Jesus stood up and said to her, "Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?" She said, "No one, Lord." And Jesus said, "Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more." John 8:3-11

 

This is a prime example of the gospel being delivered to  underserved sinners. Our response is to be done with grace and mercy as Christ showed towards us when He went to the Cross of Calvary. What Jesus says here is that we are to demonstrate the Kingdom that is yet to come; as we live by the example of the King.

Sinclair Ferguson said “Let the insults come, “says Jesus”, “and show by your response that you feel no need to retaliation, because you have your reputation secure with God as His child. Let your response to insult be gracious. Will anyone be won for the kingdom by your retaliation, by standing on your rights? How could they be, when the King in the kingdom is one who did not retaliate?”

 

As one theologian said “Revenge isn't a dish best served cold. It is best not served at all.” Let the insults come and demonstrate by your response that you feel no need to retaliate. Let your response to insults be gracious and extending mercy. Just as your Father responded to your sin when His Son died on that tree to demonstrate His holy anger and grace being extended towards us. As I said last week the more you read this sermon the more you realize

“Who can be saved? No one apart from Christ alone.” This sermon requires us to depend on Him alone, to depend on His righteousness so that we do not seek revenge, but emulate Christ to a broken, lost and evil world.