Matthew 5: 38-48
Jesus said to his disciples: "You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for and eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I say to you, offer no resistance to one who is evil. When someone strikes you on your right cheek, turn the other one to him as well. If anyone wants to go to law with you over your tunic, hand him your cloak as well. Should anyone press you into service for one mile, go with him for two miles. Give to the one who asks of you, and do not turn your back on one who wants to borrow. 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, that you may be children of your heavenly Father, for he makes his sun rise on the bad and the good, and causes rain to fall on the just and the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what recompense will you have? Do not the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet your brothers only, what is unusual about that? Do not the pagans do the same? So be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect."
Jesus said to his disciples: "You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for and eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I say to you, offer no resistance to one who is evil. When someone strikes you on your right cheek, turn the other one to him as well. If anyone wants to go to law with you over your tunic, hand him your cloak as well. Should anyone press you into service for one mile, go with him for two miles. Give to the one who asks of you, and do not turn your back on one who wants to borrow. 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, that you may be children of your heavenly Father, for he makes his sun rise on the bad and the good, and causes rain to fall on the just and the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what recompense will you have? Do not the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet your brothers only, what is unusual about that? Do not the pagans do the same? So be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect."
This verse is one I always have to swallow hard. That is because it is one of the most difficult for me to actually put into action. Maybe others feel this way, too?? I find it difficult because while it is one thing to have a humble heart and spirit, it is quite another to then be humble and forgiving enough to treat some with dignity and even out-of-your-way kindness when they have wronged you. I think forgiveness-in-action is something that a lot of people do struggle with. In fact, some of the people that reflect God's light most on this earth in my opinion, are those that have the courage and compassion to stand before someone who has intentionally murdered someone that they love and tell them that they forgive them and want them to go on and live a good life for themselves. WHEW. Not only do such people reflect that the death penalty goes COMPLETELY against what this passage says (once again, in MY opinion) but further they are the absolute epitome of Christ-embodied.
ReplyDeleteHonestly, I cannot stand here today and say that I would be able to do something like that. But it is certainly a measuring stick for me to journey towards a depth of understanding of what true faith is.
The tough part for me to grapple with this is always this concept of meekness, which I believe is somewhat implied in this passage. Sometimes it is difficult for me to understand how one avoids becoming a "doormat" in effort to "love your enemies." I suppose this is where God's grace much come in. So that we may have the enthusiasm to stand up for ourselves when necessary but the compassion and humility to love those who may not love us.
Then Jesus finishes up by telling us to be PERFECT! Ha. Lord, help me.... :)