Responding to Injustice

We're going to read now from Matthew 5, partway through the Sermon on the Mount.

Matthew 5, again thinking about retaliation and injustice.

So Matthew 5, and from verse 38.

You have heard that it was said, an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.

But I say to you, do not resist the one who is evil.

But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.

And if anyone would sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well.

And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles.

Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you.

This is God's Word.

Ryan.

Thank you to the worship team for that key modulation.

So that my voice shouldn't crack because it's loose and ready to go right now.

We are continuing a series on the Sermon on the Mount.

One of the things that we'll talk about sometimes in circles that I'm in is like,

if you were king for the day, what would you do?

And we usually are talking about if you could control your situation,

like how would you orchestrate things?

Like we'll do this with uni students.

So like they're trying to figure out what kind of career they should pursue or a job.

It's like, well, if you were king for the day and could do anything you want,

like what would you choose?

And a lot of times the answers that are going to come to our mind that we might give

are typically something that's going to make life more enjoyable or at least more comfortable.

Definitely less pain and less strain.

Well, the king in the Sermon on the Mount has actually given us what a beautiful life, as Corey has said,

what a life of flourishing looks like.

The one who's the king for all time has told us what life in the kingdom looks like.

And so that's what we're talking about in this series on the Sermon on the Mount.

Our passage tonight is one of six passages where Jesus says,

you have heard it said, referring to some of the traditions that the Jewish leaders have given.

But I say to you, and when Jesus is saying that, I say to you,

he's actually not giving a new law, like Lewis reminded us a couple of weeks ago,

that he's not giving us a new and harder way to live.

When you read the Sermon on the Mount, you're like, this is impossible.

I can't live like this.

Like the one who lusts is like committing adultery in his heart.

And if I have anger towards my brother, I'm committing murder.

It's like this is not a life we can live.

He's not giving us a new law to obey or making life in the kingdom more difficult.

But instead, he's getting at the heart of things and he's teaching as one who has authority.

In fact, at the end of the Sermon on the Mount, you will see in chapter 7, verse 29,

that the people were astonished, it said, because he was teaching them as one who had authority.

So he's giving them, this is what life in the kingdom looks like or is to be like.

Now, when you approach the Sermon on the Mount, there are a couple of things that you need to understand.

One is that this was a sermon that was preached all at one time.

And we don't know how long it took him to preach this sermon.

But when we take parts of this sermon and don't see it in the context of the whole,

we can really misunderstand what Jesus is telling us.

So we need to see it as a whole sermon and keep that in mind so that when Jesus says something that seems to us really weird or really hard,

we can't just ignore it because he is telling us, for instance, in chapter 7,

that he who hears these words and does what it says is like the man who builds his house on the rock.

But if you hear it and don't do it, you're like building your foundation, your house on the sand.

So he expects us to obey it, but he wants us to hear the whole sermon

and to be able to hear what he is saying life in the kingdom is like as this whole thing.

But also, the second thing would be that when we approach this passage,

I mentioned it's one of six passages where Jesus said,

you've heard it said, but I say to you,

just like in the rest of the Sermon on the Mount,

Jesus is getting at the heart of the law.

He's getting at the heart of what God would have his people to do.

So keep that in mind when you hear he's giving us the spirit or the intention of the law.

So our section tonight, Lewis kind of mentioned,

your Bible heading might have retaliation.

I entitled the sermon Responding to Injustice.

A better title might be Responding to Personal Injustice,

because that's what Jesus is talking about here.

And he starts out in verse 38,

you've heard that it was said,

an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.

Now, why was that given in the law?

An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth?

To understand what Jesus is about to tell us,

we have to understand why he said that,

or why the law said that to begin with.

This was something given to the nation of Israel in the law,

an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth,

to prevent revenge, retaliation, and excess.

It was actually to prevent chaos from happening.

So, for instance, you know,

you damaged my eye,

therefore I'm going to cut off your arm.

Well, then my family member,

the other person's family member,

is now going to come and take both of your legs.

And then my family member comes and ends a life.

It's to prevent all of that from happening.

So when it says an eye for an eye,

it's basically saying,

don't turn this into chaos.

Don't let this be something that becomes

personal revenge and retaliation.

But it's actually something that helps society

to function as a whole.

In fact, many ancient legal codes had this.

It's called the Lex Talionis,

or the Law of Retaliation.

A very ancient legal code

found in many ancient societies.

And it was to prevent chaos from happening,

or even personal revenge.

However, what is happening,

when Jesus says,

you have heard it said,

he's addressing an error that's happening,

the Jewish leaders have done

a couple of things with it.

they've, one, turned a negative injunction

into a positive one.

Meaning, they've basically said,

yeah, you should actually do this to people

if they've done it to you.

If you have been injured,

you have every right to take their eye as well.

A tooth has been knocked out,

you have every right to take their tooth.

And they've used it to actually promote

retaliation, revenge,

instead of preventing it.

And then the second thing is,

they've encouraged the people

to take out justice for themselves.

Which, the eye for an eye,

tooth for a tooth,

that was given to the nation of Israel

for the judges to make sure

that bad things don't happen

and society runs properly.

And the Jewish leaders here

have made it a matter of personal revenge,

retaliation.

You have every right to do this.

So Jesus comes along the scene,

and he says,

but I tell you,

verse 39,

but I say to you,

do not resist the one who is evil.

But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek,

turn to him the other also.

Now, this is a passage

that pretty much everyone

in Western civilization knows

this saying about,

turn the other cheek.

What is this talking about?

What is Jesus saying to us

when he says,

do not resist the one who is evil?

This passage has been one

that has been very misinterpreted.

Every commentator kind of happens

to pull out something

that Tolstoy wrote about

that basically said,

we shouldn't even have police

and judgment systems

because we shouldn't resist evil.

Corey would have probably read Tolstoy

after reading that.

I just kind of Googled it.

So, but basically,

that is like completely misunderstanding

and misinterpreting

what is being said here.

He's talking about personal injustices.

And just like Jesus

was getting to the heart

with these other passages

when he said,

you've heard that it was said,

you shall not commit adultery,

but I say to you,

he who lusts after a woman

commits adultery in the heart.

He's getting to the heart right here

of what's going on.

So what lust is to adultery

and what anger is to murder,

instead of practicing self-justice,

we entrust ourselves to the judge

and the one who brings justice

to the world.

We're instead of insisting

on our own personal rights,

we're entrusting ourselves

to the giver of rights.

God is the judge

and vengeance belongs to him.

And so Jesus is saying,

we're not to avenge ourselves,

but entrust ourselves

to the one

who will bring vengeance for us.

So, do we literally turn

the other cheek

when someone slaps our right cheek?

Before we answer that,

what is,

when Lewis read that,

did anybody find it odd

that the passage says

that if anyone slaps you

on the right cheek,

or did we just kind of gloss over that?

If someone slaps you

on the right cheek,

like most people are right-handed

and if you were left-handed,

you were probably back then

taught to be right-handed

because it was really

kind of a faux pas.

If I'm to slap someone,

what cheek am I going to slap?

The left cheek, right?

Tom's figuring it out up here, right?

It's the left cheek.

But if I backhand you

with my right hand,

I'm going to hit your right cheek.

Back in Jewish society

at this time,

one of the biggest insults

you could give to someone

was to backhand them

in their right cheek.

It was an ultimate sign

of humiliation.

There were even laws

that if you did that to someone,

there could be like

a double portion of judgment

on you for doing it

because it was such a humiliation,

such an offense.

It was a massive deal

in an honor-shame culture.

This was one

that brought complete shame on you.

So Jesus is saying,

if someone does that to you,

ultimate shame,

completely offensive,

dishonors you,

probably in public,

give him the other cheek also.

So this would be a big deal

for Jesus to say that.

It's kind of like

the statement of,

you know,

if your eye offends you,

pluck it out

because it's better

to go into heaven

with missing an eye

than to go to hell

with both eyes.

That drastic,

cut your arm off,

pluck your eye out.

This would feel

like that same thing.

You mean

someone insults me like this

and I'm just supposed

to take it

and turn the other cheek?

What is Jesus saying?

The point

is not necessarily

to follow this literally

as much as,

one,

we do need to take it

very seriously.

But also to understand

that to be salt and light,

as he's mentioned

in chapter five,

to be kingdom people,

we must let go

of our rights

to say,

it's not about me,

it's about King Jesus,

I can do

as he tells me to do

and entrust him

with that.

Do we trust him

even in situations

like this?

Now you might be saying,

okay,

you just let me

off the hook there,

just wait.

And Jesus is not saying

you can't protect yourself

and you can't protect

your family.

He's giving us

the spirit of the law

and the spirit of the law

here is

don't seek revenge

for yourself.

Don't cling to your right

to retaliate.

That was something

that was being promoted.

Take vengeance

for yourself.

Retaliate.

You have the right.

Eye for an eye,

tooth for a tooth.

He's telling us

that's not the way

of the kingdom.

If there's been

a personal injustice

done to you,

entrust yourself

to the Lord

and his provision

for you

to take vengeance

for you.

Everything in us

wants to make people

pay for it

when they do something

to us.

Even something as small

as being cut off

while we're driving

or if you're walking

the scaffolding

up here

above Victoria

and someone just

will not turn

and they expect you

to kind of get

out of their way,

that can kind of stir.

Is this just me

and my personal confession

here?

What does it stir up

in us?

One time I literally

was like,

I am not turning.

I'm going to make

them turn.

That's terrible.

That's not the kingdom

way, right?

The kingdom way

says I'm not going

to make you pay for it.

I'm going to let go

of my rights

in order to promote

the way of King Jesus.

And really,

do we believe

what Jesus has just

said in verses 11

and 12?

Blessed are you

when others revile you

and persecute you

and utter all kinds

of evil against you

falsely on my account.

Rejoice and be glad

for your reward

in heaven is great

for so they persecuted

the prophets

who were before you.

Can we entrust

ourselves to Jesus

even when we're

being reviled?

Even when we're

being persecuted.

He says rejoice

and be glad?

Jesus, are you

crazy here?

Jesus himself

resisted evil.

You can think of

the story of the

money changers

in the outer courts

of the temple

where his commentators

say he's probably

preventing women

and Gentiles

from praying

in the temple

and that made him

angry,

righteously angry.

He resisted

that evil.

evil.

So do we need

to not resist evil

and turn the other cheek?

Sometimes.

But sometimes not.

Back to our question,

do we literally

turn the other cheek?

Remember what I said

about looking at

the sermon as a whole?

If you wait just a little

bit in the sermon,

Jesus is going to tell us

this in Matthew 7,

Matthew 7:12

verse 12.

So whatever you wish

that others would do

to you,

do also to them

for this is the law

and the prophets.

We know that as the

golden rule,

do unto others

as you would have

them do unto you.

And so the question

would be,

if you were doing

something evil,

would you want

another person

to just let you

continue to do

that evil?

Or would the loving

thing be to resist you,

to confront you,

to help you do

the right and

righteous thing?

What would it look like

to follow the golden

rule here?

If someone struck you,

would you want,

sorry,

if you struck someone

in the right cheek,

would you want them

to just let you

persist in your anger

right after Jesus

has just said,

if you're angry

towards your brother,

you've committed

murder in your heart?

Would you want

that friend,

that person,

to let you persist

in your anger?

Do we turn

the other cheek?

Sometimes,

but not always.

And Jesus is giving

us a way

to have some wisdom

in these circumstances

by saying,

first and foremost,

the default mode

is to let go

of your rights

in order to think

about love

of my neighbor,

in order to think

about the way

of the kingdom

and being salt

and light.

Jesus gives us

a great example

in John chapter 18

John 18 · chapter mention

when he is before

the high priest.

He's being questioned

by the high priest.

The high priest

questions him

about what he was teaching

and Jesus says,

I did nothing in secret.

Ask those who heard me.

And when he said this,

an officer struck him

in the face.

Presumably,

this could have been

a backhand.

The passage

doesn't tell us that,

but it could have been.

It could have been

to the right cheek.

But instead of turning

the other cheek,

in this moment,

while he's still under trial,

still on trial,

chapter 18,

verse 23 says,

Jesus answered him,

if what I said is wrong,

bear witness about the wrong.

But if what I said is right,

why do you strike me?

Instead of turning

the other cheek,

he actually confronts

the guy with the fact

that basically

he's broken the law

because when someone's

under trial,

you're not allowed

to strike them.

You have to treat them

with dignity and respect.

It would not have been loving

to let the officer

continue to slap him

when he had done something

that was clearly wrong.

Before judgment

has been rendered,

he's not allowed

to actually punish Jesus.

He has to wait

for judgment

to be rendered.

So Jesus confronts,

very lovingly it seems,

but just says,

if what I said is right,

why do you strike me?

Verse 40,

if anyone would sue you

and take your tunic,

let them have your cloak also.

What is he saying here?

It was actually illegal

to take someone's cloak.

Someone could give it

as a pledge,

but they would have to

then return it at sundown.

Why is that?

Because the outer cloak

was used sometimes

as a blanket,

sometimes as a bed.

It was to keep warm at night

and Jerusalem being

a mile high city,

like it would get cold.

You couldn't take

someone's cloak.

And they're saying,

if someone sues you

for your inner garment,

go ahead and give him

your outer garment.

The pattern is,

let go of what

your rights are

and give.

Let go of your rights

and give.

Now, again,

taking this literally

could cause us

to do something

that's unwise.

Just promoting something

that's evil behavior even.

However,

he says that

we are to be reconciled

to our brother.

He just said that

in chapter 5, verse 25.

The point is to be

reconciled to your brother

and make sure that

he has what he needs.

In Christ's kingdom,

instead of fighting

for personal rights,

we lay down those rights

for the sake of others.

Are we willing to do that?

Verse 41.

If anyone forces you

to go one mile,

go with him two miles.

What is this all about?

You've probably heard this.

That it relates

to a common practice

whereby in Roman law,

a Roman soldier

could require a person

to carry his gear.

Now, the gear

might be weapons,

supplies.

They estimate

that that might have weighed

like 60 to 80 pounds.

definitely enough

to be a burden.

And you can just imagine

that this was

something that was done

to actually humiliate

other people sometimes.

It was abused.

A Roman soldier

might do that

just to be a bully.

In fact,

if anybody is like me

growing up in the 80s,

there were these movies

where the bully

would make you

carry their book bag.

It's kind of that same thing

where it's like,

this is not okay.

This is not fair.

And Jesus says,

instead of just taking

it that one mile,

take it another mile.

Take it two miles.

Now, if you take this literally,

that could mean

that after I take it

the two miles,

I just drop it on his foot.

Is that the way

of the kingdom?

But instead,

he's getting at the heart.

Let go of your rights

and give.

Give more

than is actually required.

The kingdom life

means you would do this

even for those

that would be your enemies.

Think about

who he's talking about here.

Who were the Romans?

They were intruders.

They were oppressors.

They were my enemies.

In fact,

the Jewish people

were looking for a Messiah

who would come

to deliver them

from the Romans

or other oppressors.

Even to your enemies,

you give.

In the kingdom,

you are blessed

when you're persecuted

for the sake of Jesus.

Verse 42.

Give to the one

who begs from you

and do not refuse

the one

who would borrow from you.

What's he saying?

Don't cling

to your money

and possessions.

What would you want

someone to do for you?

Now,

you're in this situation.

Because the golden rule says,

hey,

what would we have

them do for us?

Right?

How do I want

to be treated?

What if you were

the one that was begging?

What if you were the one

that was wanting

to borrow?

Would you want them

to give?

Sometimes yes.

But what if

you've gone into debt

because of something sinful?

You didn't obey the law

in the way that you

borrowed money

or you borrowed

resources?

What if,

which could happen

back then,

you had a gambling addiction

and you owe a lot of money?

What if you had

other self-destructive

behaviors

that would cause you

to be a beggar?

Some of these

are found in Proverbs.

Proverbs talks about

sluggards,

drunkards and gluttons,

lovers of pleasure.

They will all come

to poverty.

Several passages

that talk about that.

What if you were

in a self-destructive behavior?

Would you want

someone to help you

persist in that?

Is that the loving

thing to do

to let you borrow money

when you beg

or ask them

at that time?

Sometimes yes.

Sometimes no.

But are we willing

to let go of our rights

in order

to give to someone?

And sometimes

when someone asks

us for money,

it feels like

a personal injustice.

Jesus,

I'm working hard

for my money.

I'm doing what

God's called me to do.

And you're just going

to sit there

and ask

and beg?

Why don't you

go get a job?

We have these thoughts,

right?

Why don't you

go do this?

The way of the kingdom

says we let go

of what is owed to us

and we give.

But we do

what the loving

thing is.

We are willing

to inconvenience

ourselves

in order for others

to have

what they need.

Now do you see

the pattern

in these

four things?

Give

the other cheek.

Give

also

your cloak.

Give

another mile.

Give

to him

who asks.

In other words,

give your resources.

When you are

facing

personal

injustice,

don't focus

on the rights

that you have

to retaliate,

but have

a spirit

of giving.

How can I

love this person

and treat them

the way

in which

I wish

they would

treat me?

Now,

this

sounds like

one of those

things,

like,

I'm not sure,

Ryan,

if you're trying

to let me

off the hook

here of having

to actually

obey this,

or,

like,

this seems

like a very

gray area

thing,

like,

help me know

what to do.

The way

of the

kingdom

is learning

the heart

of the

master,

and when we

learn the

heart of the

master,

we can

obey him,

because we

can entrust

ourselves to

him,

even doing

things that

seem really,

really hard.

So we

entrust

ourselves

to him

to do

what he's

calling us

to do,

because he

does expect

us to

obey him

in the

Sermon on

the Mount.

One

illustration

that has

been given

from the

pulpit

since I've

been here,

so sorry

for the

repeat,

but I

couldn't

help it,

that I

think one

of the

best

illustrations

of this

going the

extra mile,

giving your

cloak also

comes from

Les Mis.

When

Jean Valjean

comes into

the church,

they invite

him in

as the

guest,

they give

him the

warm fire,

they give

him wine,

they give

him food,

they give

him a place

to sleep

and restore

himself,

and what

does he

do?

He steals

the silver

and he

leaves.

He's caught

by the

authorities,

they drag

him back

to the

priest,

and they

say,

we caught

the one

who stole

from you.

He had

the audacity

to say

that you

had given

this to

him.

He said,

he is

correct,

the priest

says,

but why

did you

leave so

early,

sir?

You

left the

best part

and he

reaches over

and gives

him the

candlesticks

that are

worth more

than all

the other

silver.

He gives

him more.

And you

just see,

like,

I watch

this scene

and it

just,

I know

you're not

going to

believe this

as an

American,

it makes

me really

emotional,

probably

doesn't do

the same

thing it

does for

you,

but I

just get

emotional

even

watching

this to

say,

this is

the gospel

of grace

that we

stole

and deserve

complete

condemnation,

yet he

lavishes

his grace

on us.

You

left the

most

expensive

part.

Jesus

tells us,

give the

other cheek,

give your

cloak also,

give another

mile,

give your

resources.

All of

us here

can think

of someone

who's

tried to

humiliate

us,

or take

advantage

of us,

or maybe

has just

asked too

much of

us.

So we

can just

think of

those times

where,

man,

how could

I let

go of

my rights

and give?

And the

answer is,

how could

we best

love our

neighbor?

What is

the right

thing here

that would,

how would I

want to be

treated in

this so

that would

lead me

in the

way of

the

kingdom?

Jesus

said,

you are

blessed

when others

revile you

on his

account?

Do we

believe that?

Do we

believe that

when we

suffer

persecution

for doing

what's

right,

we are

blessed?

What should

you feel

when you

face personal

injustices?

Could we

do what

Matthew 5

12 says

when it

says rejoice

and be

glad?

Could we

rejoice in

facing personal

injustices

because we're

suffering for

doing what

is right?

Paul says

something similar

to this in

Romans 12

17-21

He says,

Repay no one

evil for evil

but give

thought to do

what is honorable

in the sight of

all.

If possible,

so far as it

depends on you,

live peaceably

with all.

Beloved,

never avenge

yourself,

but leave it

to the wrath

of God

for it is

written,

vengeance is

mine,

I will

repay,

says the

Lord.

To the

contrary,

if your

enemy is

hungry,

feed him.

If he's

thirsty,

give him

something to

drink.

For by

doing so,

you will

heap burning

coals on

his head.

Do not

be overcome

by evil,

but overcome

evil with

good.

Does all of

that sound

ridiculous?

Overcome

evil with

good?

ultimately,

Jesus didn't

resist evil,

but he

suffered the

greatest

injustice

that has

ever been

known to

man,

and he

did it

for us.

Ultimately,

he willingly

gave the

other cheek

in order to

be the

sacrifice

for our

sins.

He didn't

just give

his tunic,

he gave

his outer

cloak,

he was

stripped

down of

all of

his clothing

in order

to bear

our shame.

Jesus not

only went

the extra

mile,

he went

the whole

way to

suffer the

wrath of

God on

our behalf.

He gave

his very

life,

the only

one who

deserved

honor and

glory and

praise.

Gave it

all up so

that we

could have

life with

him,

a relationship

with God.

God

because of

this,

we have

life.

He took

on our

sin and

gave us

his

righteousness

so that

through

repentance

and faith

we could

be redeemed.

Does all

of this

sound

ridiculous?

That's how

life has

been given

to us.

Follow

in the

way of

our

master.

How could

he do

this?

Peter

addresses

that in

1 Peter

1 Peter 2 · chapter mention

chapter 2

so I'm

glad you

asked.

When he

was reviled

he did

not revile

in return.

When he

suffered

he did

not

threaten

but

continued

entrusting

himself

to him

who judges

justly.

He himself

bore our

sins in

his body

on the

tree

that we

might die

to sin

and live

to

righteousness.

By his

wounds

you have

been healed.

He kept

entrusting

himself

to the

one

who judges

justly.

Jesus

is not

just giving

us laws

to obey.

He's not

giving us

a new

law.

He's

calling

us

to life

as he

says in

John

John 10 · chapter mention

chapter 10

abundant

life.

The

kingdom

life.

A life

of flourishing.

Life

as it

should

be

as

Corey

has

reminded

us.

Jesus

says I

came

that they

may have

life

and have

it

abundantly.

People

of the

kingdom

are people

who give

even in

the face

of personal

injustice

done to

us.

This

should be

our default

mode.

We're not

getting let

off the

hook by

saying well

if you

take this

literally

you can

do some

unwise

things.

We're not

being let

off the

hook

in that

way.

Instead

we're

being called

to something

higher.

The default

mode is

to give.

to entrust

ourselves

to the

righteous

judge.

And you

never know

it could

lead to

someone else

having

life.

And that

would be

our hope

that we

would be

salt and

light and

that people

would see

our good

works and

glorify our

Father who

is in

heaven.

Like Jesus

said in

chapter 5

verse 16.

So let's

follow our

Lord into

this

abundant

life.

Let's

pray.

Our

Father when

we read

your

scriptures

when we

read this

passage

it can

lead to

a sense

of how

in the

world could

we ever

obey

Jesus'

commands?

How could

we ever

lift the

life he's

called us

to?

And that

poverty of

spirit is

where we're

supposed to

be.

We say

we can't

live this.

We have

to rely

on you.

We are

completely

dependent.

We are

completely

helpless

and hopeless

without

Jesus.

And Lord

Jesus you

live the

life that

we couldn't

live.

So that

you could

exchange your

righteousness

for our

sin so

that we

could become

the righteousness

of God

in you.

So thank

you Lord

Jesus.

Thank you

for your

sacrifice for

the way that

you didn't

resist evil

that you

turned the

other cheek

that you

went the

extra mile

that you

gave everything

in order

that we

might have

life.

Now empower

us we

pray to

live that

life in

our community

in our

city before

our family

and our

neighbors

our

co-workers

our

friends.

Help us

to be salt

and light

not so

that people

say man

what a

good guy

what a

good awesome

person she

is but

they would

glorify you

our father

who is in

heaven and

we pray all

this in the

precious name

of Jesus.

Amen.