Mercy Not Vengeance - Luke 6:29

We're going to continue a. Study that we started.

The beginning of summer in Luke chapter. 6.

So please turn your. Bibles to Luke, chapter 6.

Luke 6 · chapter mention

And we'll be looking at verse 29 this morning before we.

Get to the scripture. I want to start with where we're

at. In the.

The study of this. Sermon that Jesus giving to his

disciples in the very first part of this sermon, the Sermon on

the plane often called the Sermon on the Mount from the

Matthew account. It's all about what his people

will do. And what they'll look like in

their blessings. He's telling them with me,

you're going to be blessed and it's going to look different

than the blessings of the world. And now he's giving us a.

Picture of those. Blessings turning into.

How we treat others. And so, very simply, if you're a

note taker, I just want you to to give.

You a phrase or just to have. In your mind for the framing of

what we're going to? Look at Jesus is.

Teaching. That truly his disciples.

Are going to be. So blessed.

That they can become a blessing. And that is the point wherever

you read about or experience the blessings of God in your life

from now until you meet Him face to face, He.

Blesses us to. Become a blessing to.

Others A few years ago I was. In.

A little car altercation. And it was 100% my fault.

So I guess I'm confessing that to you now.

I I was in an accident. I was backing out of a parking

lot and I ran right into someone's truck and caused a

dent in the side of their truck. And I just got out.

And I thought, you know, all the things you think about is you're

looking at the damage, how much is this going to cost?

Is this person going to be reasonable?

And the person looked at his truck and he looked at me and he

said, hey, I got some good news for you.

Not long ago, I did the exact same thing.

I hit somebody's car. And you know what they told me?

Don't worry. About it this car.

Is not worth fixing. So just be blessed.

And with. That story fresh.

On his heart, he looked at me and said, so I've been waiting

for somebody to hit mine. And I guess I got to be that

lucky guy that because he was blessed.

He became a blessing. That is a picture.

In real world experience. Of what?

Jesus is doing to. Raise up disciples.

To change the world. It feels great to be blessed

with the gift. Of grace when we receive it.

I went home and I said you will not believe what happened to me

today. And it ends with some great news

everybody wants to receive. But what Jesus is?

Saying is I'm actually going to teach you to be the kind of

person that changes somebody. 'S life, so the.

Question of this sermon is. What would it look like for your

life? To become.

So blessed, so. Trusting of who?

God. Is as your provider.

As your protector that you can become.

A radical. Blessing to someone else.

And I will say just with that. Fresh on our minds that God.

Blesses us to. Become a blessing, remember?

The blessings are very upside. Down Jesus says you're blessed

when you're poor and you're hungry and you're crying and

you're going to see that he's taking care of you.

And in the same way, the blessings.

Of your life are. Surprising in the way.

Of Jesus, the way that Jesus will use you to bless others.

Is going to be surprising and so.

We'll get that right out the gate as he tells us what a

disciple who's blessed will do to bless others as we look at

Luke chapter. 6 Verse 29 he says to him, Who strikes you on the

one cheek? Offer the other also.

And from him who? Takes away your cloak.

Do not withhold your tunic. Either, so we've titled this The

Way of. Jesus and right.

Here we have two. Principles that are in fact the.

Way of Jesus for his disciples. Modeled by his life and it is

the way of non retaliation and radical generosity.

Those. Are two things that Jesus is

going to train. His disciples to.

Follow him after and with these kind of upside down blessings

and ways to be a blessing, there's going to come all sorts

of questions about. What this looks like.

Practically in your life and already.

People will will. Try to find how.

To do this. Within the boundaries of wisdom,

does this mean that I become a doormat for anyone who knows

that I'm a Christian, they can just take advantage of me with

no end. Does this mean I can never

defend myself from defend ourselves from physical

violence? And so let's answer some of

those questions as we. Look for what this looks like

practically and how to leave the.

Sanctuary with hearts. To do it.

So once again, we find a little bit of clarity by the cross

reference in Matthew. So let me read you, Matthew.

Matthew 5 · chapter mention

Chapter 5 Verse. 39 where he gives the same command with some

more detail says but I tell you not to resist an evil person

but. Whatever.

Slaps you on your right cheek. Turn to him.

Also the other side. So many people trying to

understand this will point out that when Jesus says for

somebody to slap you on the right cheek, if there's a

right-handed person, they need to give you one of these, a

backhanded slap, which gives us insight that it's more of an

insult than an injury. This is how.

One scholar puts it a backhanded, a right-handed.

To right cheek slap. Was intended to injure and was

intended not to injure as much as to insult, and so Jesus

audience would have recognized it as a symbolic attack on your

honor and your. Pride.

And your ego. So you've probably seen the

movie that's kind of recounting maybe our closest reference

point where where two guys finally meet and one of them

takes off his glove and he gives them.

The the old slap. Across the face, it's not that.

That was supposed to. End the the confrontation that's

supposed to. Escalate it to the duel.

And what Jesus is saying is when you get the moment when the

insult. Is supposed.

To escalate the situation, when you get the backhanded comment,

how do you respond? You know we've.

All got to. Live in a world where sometimes

nice things are said in a way. That are actually rude.

Even as I was preparing this message, I.

I've got the fresh. Cut and my.

My daughter says. That's a nice haircut.

And I think that's so nice of you to say.

And then she says, now you don't look so old and Gray.

And I thought, no, that's not nice.

See that was more one of these and I have a decision to make on

how I want to retaliate to a 10 year old and could.

Tell her that Gray. Hair is a sign of wisdom, and

your scoffing will be punished by the.

Lord and I. Wouldn't have been wrong, but

I'm also cultivating a heart. To try to practice.

Not escalating situations where we get insulted and we get our

feelings hurt and our ego is attacked.

And So what has? Jesus been teaching his

disciples you are going to go out into a world where people do

not like the Master you follow and they insulted me.

They're going to insult you, and he's already.

Said which we have. Covered.

They're going to cast out your name is evil.

They're going to revile you. They're going to curse you.

They're going to gossip about you and defame you and drag your

name through the mud and people are going to question your

integrity and spread rumors about you and if you're

following. Jesus correctly, it will all be

for. His namesake and he says.

Here's how you bless. Them anyway, so the question of

this whole. Series as we've titled, The Way

of Jesus is Which way do you follow?

When you are met. With what you should.

Expect is the incoming. Trials of life there is the way

of the world. And there is.

The way of Jesus. And the way of.

The world. Is our natural instinct.

I don't have to. Teach you that.

When people insult you. That there's a way to.

Call a lawyer and sue them for defamation you can hear.

About that all. In all kinds of examples in the

real world, and there's all sorts of ways that just our

modern vernacular has terms for how to.

Get back at people to clap back. To bring the receipts to flame

them in the comments section. I mean, we live in a world where

the popular genre of music in our day is rap and one of the

best. Ways to grow a.

Rap song is with a diss track where you can say they ain't

like us and you'll be right. And people will judge who was

right based off. Who had the better comeback in

the escalating battle of insults?

But then there's the way of Jesus and to.

Study His word is to study his life.

And the way of. Jesus, when you look.

At everything he did. As he walked this earth to bless

people. He was met with all sorts of

opposition people that insulted him for being born out of what

they claim to be an illegitimate relationship that his mother.

Had to. Be working and operating with

the. Power of.

A demonic influence. They called him a glutton for

hanging out with people who feasted, and they called him an

alcoholic for hanging out with people who who drank, and they

called him a friend of sinners, and he responded by continuing

to bless. Them, he responded with stories.

And parables. To try to.

Help them understand that they were missing what was actually

happening and this is how we answer the question of this.

Last couple of weeks, how do you bless?

Someone who has cursed you by not cursing them back.

By. Taking it by absorbing the pain

that they. Caused you?

And having the escalation end with you and.

This is. Offending your human instincts.

There's all sorts of. Questions that are going to stir

in all of our hearts when the rubber hits the road on this

message becoming real in your life.

And there's all sorts. Of.

Things that will come across and we'll think, well, maybe, you

know, I'm I, I, I can. Disregard this whole.

Command because this scenario doesn't quite make sense to how

it would. Work.

So let me. Overcome some of the objections

that are waiting for you. As we've done this whole series,

let's. Discuss what?

Jesus. Isn't saying Jesus is not saying

that evil will never be dealt? With.

And that's one of the ways this will challenge your flesh.

This person is so rude and they're lying.

And if I don't stop them in their tracks, they're just going

to. Go on a rampage of evil.

And it's never going to end. Well, there's a.

Promise of. Scripture that the Lord is

actually very just as the Apostle.

Paul was writing to the church in Rome.

As they were dealing with their own real time insults and and

reviling, he wrote them a letter of encouragement on how to

handle it. And he says in Romans chapter 12

Romans 12:19

verse 19, Beloved, do not avenge.

Yourselves, but rather give place to wrath.

Save room for the wrath. Of God for.

It is written. Vengeance is mine.

I will. Repay, says the Lord, so to.

Turn the other cheek is not to just sweep everything under the

rug and rug and and just take on all of the the hurt and pain and

pretend it never happened. It is to trust that there is a

just God. Who sees injustice and will deal

with it? Paul was.

Quoting Deuteronomy 32 when the Lord says vengeance is mine and

recompense. Their foot shall slip.

In due time. For the day.

Of their calamity is at hand and the things to come will hasten

upon them. So Paul is saying, don't worry,

don't take vengeance. It's not yours to handle.

It's not your duty to make sure that all of the injustice that

is that is causing you harm is dealt with.

The Lord sees. And in due time, maybe not now,

but soon. Their foot will slip.

And the Lord. Will take care of all of the

ways that his. People are being revivaled and

once again, the Sermon on the Mount.

Requires us to have faith. That the immediate story is not

the final. Story throughout the whole.

Sermon The. Only way the blessings work to

be poor. And to be hungry and to weep.

Is to trust that. God is going to bring a future

day when his people are completely compensated.

For all of their. Suffering with more.

Glory that is outweighed. On the other.

Side of the scale. And to and to turn the other.

Cheek is to have. Faith that.

God will. Take care of the vengeance.

That is owed the. Person who's hurt you.

And so Jesus is not saying that evil.

Will never be dealt with. We have.

Confidence that. God is very just.

He's. Also not telling us.

How we should expect society to be.

Governed there's no in the current climate if.

You've ever heard? Well.

As Christians, what? What the heck?

Can Christians be in favor of the police and prisons?

Aren't you? Guys supposed to just.

Forgive everything and turn the other cheek.

And the answer is Jesus talking to his disciples is not giving a

vision for earthly government. In fact, Paul will go on to say

in his letter to the Romans in Romans chapter 13 For rulers are

Romans 13 · chapter mention

not a terror. To good works but.

To evil. When he says rulers, he's

talking about. The system of government.

That includes their system of policing and judging and

prosecuting criminal offenses. He says there's a.

System that will punish evil, he says.

Do you want to be unafraid of the authority?

Do what is good and you will have praise from the same.

And then he has a warning for evil doers.

For he is a For the the authorities are God.

'S minister. For your good, but if you do

evil, be afraid. For he does not bear the sword

in vain, for he is God's minister and avenger.

To execute wrath. On him who practices.

Evil. So God.

Has as a temporary solution to the fallen nature of humanity

Has. Allowed.

Systems of man to govern as an extension of his vengeance.

So we live in a world. Where we can trust that there's

governing authorities and we don't have to try to implement

on a society level that everyone is.

By law required. To turn the other cheek.

God will avenge, and someday will be once and for all.

You will meet him face to face, or he will return and there will

be no more need for human government.

He will be the King that reigns supreme with perfect justice.

And in the meantime, there's a system in place.

For evildoers to be. Punished, you can turn the other

cheek and trust. That they.

Live in a world where. God will execute his wrath.

Upon them and he's also not saying that we now as.

Followers of Jesus just. Turn a blind eye to all evil.

We we live in a world where there are injustices done.

Where God? Can use his.

People as lights. In the dark to stand up.

For people who are. Being abused and mistreated from

the the the mother's womb to the grave we can see.

All sorts of ways where God's. People can.

Serve those who are. Being mistreated, and we see

this example in Jesus. He's deeply concerned.

With justice on behalf of others.

Matthew chapter 21 says Jesus went into the temple of God and

Matthew 21 · chapter mention

drove out. All.

Those who bought and sold in the temple and overturned the tables

of the money changers and the seats.

Who of those who sold doves? He did not turn his cheek.

For the way that. People were taking advantage of

people. So he's not saying that evil,

you know, we just never have to worry about it ever being dealt

with. He's not saying that we we have

to completely remove ourselves from the governments of this

world. And he's not saying that we have

to turn a blind. Eye to evil.

So what is he saying? What does this look like for our

lives? He is saying.

To his disciples, to those of you who are part.

Of his Kingdom you've received the blessing of poor in spirit.

You. Trust him with your life.

He now. Says for those of you.

Who are willing to suffer now with confidence for eternity on

a personal level, as people mistreat you on a relational

level as much as possible within you to those who insult.

You. Show them mercy to anyone of

you, and I should. Say to all of you who have the

gift of. Relationships in your.

Life that will test your ability to trust Jesus.

And give you the power to be his witness, he's saying.

The way of. The world is vengeance.

The way of my people is mercy. And once again we we just read

it. The Matthew account gives us

insight. It says but I.

Tell you. Not to resist an evil person in

the same. Exercise we did last week as we

heard Jesus tell each. One of us to love our enemies.

I'm trusting that there are people.

There is the example of an evil person in your life that God may

be speaking to you right now. That your response to them.

Is to not retaliate and to not get back at them.

But to exercise mercy, we bless people with mercy.

We bless people with grace, which is where Jesus.

Is taking this this? Whole.

Command on love, he says in Luke chapter. 6 verse 36.

Just going down in the. Bible.

Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful.

The model is You have been blessed by the mercy.

Of God, therefore be a. Blessing of mercy and if we need

a reminder in the blessings of God and the mercy that exists

new every morning in the sanctuary right now.

Lamentations chapter 3 verse 22 says through the Lord's mercies

Lamentations 3:22

we are not consumed because his compassions fail not they are

new every morning. Great is your faithfulness.

I encourage. You to.

Practice the the discipline of waking up in the morning to

celebrate the new. Mercies of God every.

Single day that God has compassion on your life, that

none of us get even one. Single day, perfect and we can

wake. Up refreshed.

By the mercy. Of God.

And be blessed. To be a blessing, receive mercy

so that you can give mercy. And this is now.

A picture of what this looks like.

And, and now he's going to get very.

Practical, he says that. You will not.

Repay evil for evil. You will in all the ways that

people may slap you on the right cheek, you will not return.

Serve and then, he says, and do good.

Last week it was do good to those.

Who hate you? And now he gives an example of

what that. Goodwill look like.

Here's a picture of what it. Looks like and from him.

Who takes away your? Cloak Do not withhold your tunic

either. And so there's a little Pharisee

inside all of us. Sometimes we look at the.

Picture that Jesus is. Giving us to point out the

principle and we say OK, I'll be ready if anyone asks for my

outer garments to share them. Anything beyond that, I'm just

going to keep it. To the the literal words of the

Jesus. Command.

So Jesus is giving us a picture. He's giving us a principle.

Of how to do. Good.

And the principle is. That property.

Is never more important than people, principally.

There is a Don't ever let a piece of.

Property be more important or get in the.

Way of the call. To make peace with.

People. That's what he's saying.

I heard a story of. Just one way that this.

Played out way. Beyond outer garments in your

life. All of you, I hope, will have.

Opportunities to exercise this principle in a picture.

That looks very. Different than sharing.

A coat or a sweater. And one story.

I heard was that. A a pastor went out to to put up

his fence. He wanted to went out there with

the hole digger and he started to dig his holes and his

neighbor ran out immediately said that you've gone way.

Too far you're. You're now into my property and

he's got a moment where he can argue and he can dispute and his

response? Was here.

Here's the here's the post hole digger.

Why don't you show me where you think the property line is?

So the guy grabbed it. And he moved it over about 12

inches and he said, OK, so we. Can be at peace?

Over 12 inches? And how often is that the case?

People will fight over. Tunics and outer garments and

lose. People over it.

And Jesus is saying just. Give it away.

As much. As is possible to live at peace

and have people. That more value than the

precious possessions of your life.

Give it all away. So one principle that we get

from this picture is that people are more important than our

possessions. And there's another principle,

and this is one that will. Fit with the upside.

Down nature of the entire sermon that we've been studying in this

principle, he says if someone asks for the for one thing, you

give them two. And he's giving us a principle

of even more good. And this is turning upside down

something that lives in all. Of your hearts.

For even more, all of us understand the principle of even

more when it comes to vengeance, when someone hurts you and

insults you and says something rude about you.

What do you want to do? You don't want to just get.

Even you want to get them better than they got you, you want to

get them even more than they got you.

If someone takes from from you, from something, you want to take

even more to teach them a lesson.

And this is. Actually where Jesus is.

Drawing this from in the Matthew account.

He says you've heard it said. An eye for an eye and a tooth,

and a tooth for a tooth. This was a command.

That was actually the law of retribution.

Moses was. Stopping people from going even

more in their vengeance. So Moses is saying if if it's an

eye, you can only take an eye, if it's a tooth, you can only

take a tooth, that the punishment has to be equal to

the crime. Because he's speaking to the

human instinct that if someone gets your tooth, you're going to

knock out their whole mouth. And now Jesus is not just saying

the punishment has to match the crime.

He's saying I'm going to turn the instinct for even more

upside down. Now you're going to have not

even more vengeance, you're going to have even more good.

Your instinct is to get people. Back.

More than they got from you. The way of Jesus is to give.

People even more good than what they even thought was coming.

One of those things this does. Is protect our hearts.

From turning this whole sermon into a homework assignment, you

know if if. This was a.

Command that I gave to children, they would do it, but they

wouldn't be happy about it and said all right, fine, I'll give

him my coat. And then they stomp off and

Jesus is teaching his people. Be.

Radical in your generosity? Be.

Radical in your mercy. And so once again we have the

objections of the human heart. Are you telling me to be a

doormat? How many of you ever thought

that or. Felt that.

Sometimes I read this and I think, yeah, it sounds good on

paper, but in real? Life, there's all sorts.

Of things that we have to figure out which isn't wrong.

There is boundaries to. How this should be?

Implemented and you can sum up the boundary in one word, love.

The boundary is, Am I still loving this person by giving it

all away? So for this example if.

Someone that you know has borrowed money from you before

because they needed to get a fix for their addiction.

And they said they come back and they say, man, I really need

another 20 bucks. In that moment you don't give

them 40. Love would actually say no, I'm

actually not going to give you money because I know that you're

in the middle of a of a major addiction right now and I'm

going to love you in a different way.

If someone says they need food from you and you have a decision

on whether or not to feed your children or to give all your

food. Away, love would say.

I have a responsibility to care for my children, so I'm going to

love them as much as it's responsible for me to also love

my children. The boundary is never self

preservation. The boundary.

Is always love. How can I love you and stay

within wisdom in my love for you?

But the principle, the exceptions to the.

Rule. Prove the rule it is supposed

to. Be a radical example.

Of otherworldly love. It is not supposed to align with

your senses and what makes sense.

For your real life. Experience it is.

Supposed to be. A radical example.

Of people that would. Only be.

Able to do this if they were radically loved.

So once again, the whole thing requires A renewed vision for

some of us, the first time. Vision of what the.

Gospel is the gospel is that we are radically loved, that we are

in. Desperate need of mercy and

grace and God sends his Son into the world in an upside down way

to pay for our sins and this is supposed to give us all a vision

of the cross. The The cross is radical,

otherworldly love that shows that Jesus is altogether.

Different than any other. Story of salvation Last week we

looked. At Luke chapter 23 and we.

Luke 23 · chapter mention

Got this picture. The gospel writer shows us the.

Vision of Jesus hanging on the cross and as we were wrestling

with what it. Looks like to forgive.

Enemies we. We read that as Jesus is.

Hanging on the cross and they backhanded compliment.

You saved others, why don't you save yourself?

And they insulted him and sneered him and mocked him.

It says. Father forgive them, for they

don't know what they. Do but the verse.

Doesn't end there. The verse actually includes one

detail that I find so hopeful for for understanding what it

means to give away a garment. It says.

And they divided his garments and cast his lots as Jesus was

hanging on the. Cross, There were soldiers.

Taking his garment and the whole message to them was I'm giving

even more than you. Realize they thought.

They were getting a cloak and they got his entire life and

that is the gospel. For your life.

Jesus is giving you even more than you ever realized.

Sometimes we we come to the cross because we needed our

marriage to to be fixed or we needed.

Our our lives to be. Rehab from addiction or we we

needed to find our own purpose and Jesus gives us even more

from the cross. He forgives our sins and then he

gives us eternity. He gives away his garment, but

he gives. Away his whole life the way of

Jesus is to. Give your things to give away

your. Life it's not about.

The things it's about. Who?

You are in laying down your life, Tim Keller says.

Forgiveness always comes. At a cost.

To the one granting the forgiveness to not.

Retaliate is to absorb the cost. Jesus absorbed the cost.

Of your sin when you're insulted to turn the other cheek, you are

willing. To absorb the cost because.

You've been forgiven. You can now forgive others.

Be blessed so that. You can be a blessing.

Receive. This vision of Jesus giving you

mercy so that you can be merciful.

See the cross? As your salvation and see the

cross as you are now mission of life.

I have so many. There's so many people that that

wear. The cross.

And there is even sometimes where, you know, we've had the

cross up in our stage and people say, you know, I missed the

cross and you know, we put it up for.

Easter and where's the cross the.

Cross is not supposed to live in an air conditioned sanctuary on

Sunday morning. I I like the reminder.

But if you look for the cross outside of this place, if you

look for the cross. In the way that you could love

someone who insulted you. If you saw the cross as a way

to. Give mercy instead of vengeance.

If you saw the cross every. Time that an enemy tested

whether or not that you could love them as you were loved.

We would see a radical, radical. Impact.

Of God's people. Being a blessing.

So look for the cross this week. And we'll remember.

That the cross is. Our is God's mercy to us so that

we can be merciful to others. Thanks for joining us today.

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