Good morning,
Having laid the foundation of the message in the summary statement of the Beatitudes, Jesus now proceeds to show the superiority of His message to that of the law of Moses. He makes it clear that He had not…come to destroy the law. That is, the New Testament gospel is not contradictory to the Old Testament law; rather it is the ultimate fulfillment of the spiritual intention of the law. Where the law had degenerated into legalism among the Pharisees, Jesus now takes the law beyond mere outward observance to the inner spiritual intention of God.
This week we will look at the contrast between the outward behavior demanded by the law and the inner attitude of the heart desired by God. The law versus the Spirit.
Retaliation No retaliation vs forgiveness (38-39)
38 Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: 39 But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also. 40 And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloak also.41 And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain.42 Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away.
“The principle of retaliation is common in both Hebrew and other Near Eastern law codes. The judicial penalty of eye for an eye, and tooth for a tooth is stated Exodus 21:24 as a means of ending feuds. However, Jesus is clearly saying this method is not is not a license for vengeance. The Savior’s point is that we should resist not evil. Evil is seen here, not as a state, but rather as the action of the evil ones or the malicious ones. It represents the evil and sinful element in man which provokes him to an evil act. Jesus shows how the believer should respond to personal injury.”
Love for enemies Hatred for your enemy vs Love for your enemy (40-48)
43 Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbor, and hate thine enemy.44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.46 For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same? 47 And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so? 48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.
“The law of love, sometimes called law of Christ, “summarizes the ethical principle of the Sermon on the Mount. “Love thy neighbor” summarizes the second table of the law (Leviticus 19:18-34). But the unscriptural addition “hate thine enemy” was a popular concept in Jesus day. The admonition Love your enemies is one of the greatest statements Jesus ever made. The love enjoined in this passage is love that originates from God Himself. Man is not commanded to attempt to love his enemy on the basis of mere human affection but rather on the basis of love that comes from God. The quality of love commanded here is expressed by giving. Bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them that persecute you. Loving an enemy involves doing good toward that enemy in order to win them over to Christ.” (Excerpts from the Liberty Study Bible, 1988, pages 1417-1420)
Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001 chaplain@alaskaseniors.com
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