An Eye For An Eye

Your Bibles with me if you return to Matthews gospel chapter number five. Matthew chapter 5 and were gonna look and read verse 38 down to verse number 42. Join me with that passage of Scripture Matthew chapter 5 verse 38 through 42 is God. He is worthy a myth Bible tells us here in this great sermon on the Mount, Jesus says in verse 38 you have heard that it has been said and I for an eye and a tooth for tooth. Every sibling said a man is the eye with her siblings.

Verse 39 but I say to you, that ye resist not evil, that whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek turned to him the other also. Any man will see the at the law and take away Geico led MFI cloak also. Whosoever shall compel the to go a mile, go with him.

Twain given him that SUV and from him that would borrow of the turn not thou away. Father, we are so joyful to be able to be together and sing praises to the name above all names to know that our eternity is set with God because of Christ. I pray that your word would accomplish or desire in the hearts of your people, but I pray if anyone today doesn't know Christ that they might come and trust in Jesus as Lord and Savior do your work father for your own namesake in your own glory be sovereign here today we ask it in Jesus name. And God's people said man, you may be seated this morning you think about the word vengeance and revenge comes to your mind being vengeful, being someone who is filled with a desire to revenge yourself, avenge yourself of something we you have now made superheroes out of those who seek vengeance in the avengers and all the Marvel movies.

It seemed to have penetrated our culture. I would ask you today. How do you respond to somebody who has wronged you somebody who is great in some kind of injustice against you. You do when you have been disrespected and when somebody has assaulted your dignity respond to those who may be seek to sue you or take you to court you respond to those who make some kind of a frustrating request to ask you to do something you couldn't believe they would ask you respond to those who are in need and seek your help will this passage before us today gives us the answers to such questions in Matthew chapter 5 Jesus said in verse 13 to 15 that we are to be the light of the world. The salt of the earth. I like what JC Ryle says about this passage in his commentary he said you have here the words of our Lord Jesus Christ and his rules for our conduct one toward another.

He that would know how he ought to feel and act toward his fellow man should often study these verses is that they deserve to be written in gold that exhorted praise even from the enemies of Christianity, but a smart well what they contain. So I call you today these words it should be written in gold that they would also be impressed upon our hearts, but not just in our heart. But in our living in verse 20 through 21 Jesus and told the people of his day. Unless their righteousness said exceeded the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees that they would not enter into heaven that they needed a foreign righteousness, one that they could not create on their own they needed God-given righteousness through Jesus Christ and Jesus told them that they needed the righteousness of God. They need to be pure in heart and in and in here in Matthew chapter 5 verse 20 down to the end of the chapter verse 48 Jesus gives six different areas of of teaching that differ from what was being taught by the scribes and Pharisees of his day. The religious leaders and the most influential religious leaders of his day and he was showing them how their religious leaders were leading them astray. All the while telling them they were teaching them the word of God. You know you can be taught the word of God by people who can also lead you astray. There are churches all across this country that is supposedly in Christian churches and in and in their being taught false things from the word of God because the ones teaching them are doing it for self-serving purposes. There there teaching from an area of pride and an arrogant CN in in in in self-fulfillment.

And so Jesus here comes in and he gives six different areas and we look at four of them already, but they had externalized the religion in the day of our Lord were Jesus says religion is not something you just wear externally. It's something of the heart. It's the inward man that needs to be transformed. Anybody can look good on the outside but only a true believer can love God with all their heart and love others as themselves and truly be broken in spirit and humble and poor in spirit and contrite in heart.

Those are the ones that God says will enter into the kingdom of heaven for those who are true citizens are those who are truly repentant on the inside that shows up on the outside but in their day. It had turned into just some external show of piety and the external show was done to receive the praise of men and not for the glory of God. Now here we find one of the most familiar statements in the sermon on the mount which has unfortunately been misunderstood, probably more than any other statement in this sermon and it's also been misapplied. I've heard people say things like that as well know, we don't believe in that Old Testament-I prefer to stuff what I've heard people say you know I'm just kind of that-I tooth for tooth kind of guy in both situations, I think.

How sad. They both have missed the teaching and understanding of what this means. And so this morning I want to look at exactly what an eye for an eye, tooth for tooth means and how we can apply this monumental teaching that deals with personal vengeance something we all have to reconcile in our life and Jesus gives us such clarity.

Your so what's the origin of this-I teaching related come from it's mentioned three specific times in the Old Testament. Deuteronomy as well as Leviticus and Exodus. In Exodus chapter number 21. They come to the Mount Sinai after God leads the people out of Egypt and he institutes a penal system, a danger to the system of jurisprudence and and in the judicial system of laws that would govern the nation and in that he lays out a very important teaching Jeremy says to them in verse 22 and that and that most important establishment of a governing system for the Jewish people. He said if men strive and notice what he says and heard a woman with what so this is a pregnant woman and God calls that not a clump of cells he calls anyone child soon so if you do things right.

Do you think America culture determines when a child's life begins or does God get so I agree with you. God is the one determines that right so he says that one of the child so that her fruit depart from her. That means the woman gives birth and yet no mischief follow the child born healthy woman is heard from somebody who's fought with her and the child born healthy but no mischief owes nothing happens to the woman or child from that. She just has a base child is born early says he shall surely be punished according to the woman's husband will lay upon him, and he shall pay as the judges determine so there be a system of judgment.

Verse 23 and if any mischief follow if anything worse happens to to the child or to the mother than thou shalt give life for life. The Bible did the Bible defines life as being in the womb whether the mother or the child dies you would give life for life, capital punishment is taught in the Bible is his eye for an eye, tooth for tooth in France with the burning burning one-for-one stripe for stripe.

So here God is establishing the penalty system for those who would commit a crime he is declaring that punishment is necessary to deter wrongful actions crimes must be paid for by the criminal and so the principle of an eye for an eye, tooth for tooth is what has known in its Latin phrase lex talionis and Lex means Law Italian Ace means retaliation if it's the law of retaliation and this is an old law, even going back 2000 BC in the writings of the Babylonian king Hammurabi found these kind of statements. This seems to be very very clearly law that's in the heart of men because most most of systems around the world are built upon lex talionis now. This law basically taught that the punishment was to equal the crime is been referred to as tit for tat. Also quid pro quo which was also Latin, which means something for something we've heard enough about quid pro quo in the last few years really sick of that statement, but but what was the purpose of this law was the purpose of this law. The R-I tooth for tooth.

What there's basically two purposes for this law that God established first of all, it was to curtail further crime. It's important understand that punishment is a deterrent to criminal activity. God says when you apply law and punish criminals. Deuteronomy 19 verse 20 says those which remain, and shall hear and fear, and shall henceforth commit no more. Any such evil among you. So what happens is when criminals see their punished severely. They don't want to continuing criminal activity because they don't want to be punished. Anybody have an older sibling. Yeah they went through in your like you know what, I'm not going to do that I realize how mom and dad responded within. By the time you get to the last child they can do whatever they want. Not that I'm bitter about that is the third of four children.

Nothing of it little brother gets away with anything. A man is probably listening to this sometime in text me but that's okay. He was spoiled. We call him Joseph sometimes their family get-togethers. All dad you may have another coat of many colors. How wonderful, wonderful, great. And so I think it is important I would mention this. It's as punishment deters criminal activity, capital punishment, which some people have pushed against the you need understand capital punishment actually saves a lot of human lives. People say will.

The Bible says Dowson not kill will begin. That's a misunderstanding. The Bible teaches. Do not commit that that door till there is a Hebrew word it refers to premeditated murder when you when you have there's a difference we just punishment to put somebody that for crime and pretended to premeditated murder based on human wickedness.

So in 2003 there was a study done by Emory University. The track data in 3000 counties for 20 years and have found that each execution. On average, resulted in 18 fewer murders in each one of the counties that had instituted capital punishment eight teen murders of lesson each one of those counties then data was retrieved and up from 78 to 97 by the Federal Communications Commission economist Paul Zimmerman in all 50 states, and it demonstrated that each state's execution annually deterred at least 14 murders for every execution 14 more lives were saved can tell you Chicago's a rack and it's going to get worse. I don't know if you've heard, I just read recently that in Illinois are getting away from their bond situation because they systemic racism. So now, starting January 1 there going to be letting out people they can't detain them for more than three months of the 2nd°, murderers, burglars only situation will be let loose. It is a horrific and soak in some of these states that were there there there violence and in just out of control.

They just continue to make it easier on the criminals that incredible things in it and so praise God this world is not the only home we have temporary place in but also it's not only set in place to deter future punishment future is a crime, but it also is to prevent excessive punishment-I tooth for tooth was a merciful application of justice upon people you need understand it is. Augustine said this for who would easily be satisfied with repaying as much injury as he received nobody gets hit says let me just hit you equally back know they want to hit them twice as hard. Nobody gets hurt and wants to hurt them equally. They want to hurt them twice as bad. And so that's that's the selfish overreaction that that retaliation produces in the heart of man, so lex talionis was a merciful limit. That said, you could only punish them to and equal to the crime that they committed.

You cannot surpass that. So whatever they did. You could only meet out punishment that equaled that that crime. And so it established a standard which the public magistrates could determine the, the application of that punishment to that criminal. Now some people have wrongly believe that the God of the Old Testament was like this mean God and in the God of the test was like really gracious. I remember as a young teenager feeling that way like the way I'm so glad that were not under the Old Testament mean God now are under Jesus and he's real nice to us and that's what I had thought and perhaps that was your thinking and maybe still is, at some level I just want to say that is a completely false understanding of Scripture is a completely it's it's even gone so far in some groups that they believe the Old Testament God is different than the New Testament God.

That's not true. It's the same God who sent Jesus the father sent the son to be the Savior of the world you know who's the merciful one. The father the son and the Holy Spirit. So it is not a different God in the Old Testament from the New Testament need understand this, God never taught to be hateful and retaliatory for people who has a have offended you or to Gord enemies. The Bible tells us in Proverbs 25 or 21 it says if thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink, so in the Old Testament told us to do that. Proverbs 24, 29, says say not, I will do so to him as he is done to me. I will render to the man according to his work. You don't take judgment in your own hands. According to Proverbs 424 and Exodus 23 45 says if you meet your enemies, ox, or his ass going astray Dowson not Mrs. thou shalt surely bring it back to him again in a I see that Mark is wearing his dealers are today.

What that means is today. We are not friends right know I love Mark is still like his jersey and so I was outside in his, his ox was walking down the field as is when a Steelers jersey today. I was going to hit that ox in the back and letting him run off letting go to James Dahlia is not somewhere else. You know the Bible tells us if if you see someone that that you're at odds with that you would do him a favor, you would go out of your way. Take your energy and seek to minister kindness to them and that's what the Bible is telling us in the Old Testament now in ancient Israel the right to carry out the principle of lex talionis was restricted to the judges and the court systems. It was not given to the individual Old Testament never allowed individuals to take the law into their own hands and apply it personally in this law. Also, you need to know is not necessarily received in a literal sense. The Jews understood understood that sometimes you cannot literally carry this out because if you did, you would create. Sometimes an injustice. For example, if I had only one I and I wrongly hurt someone else and they lost an eye if if if they took my other. I would be completely blind, which would be a greater judgment that I would face and what I inflict because they could still see and it also if you hurt somebody with it and they lost half their eyesight.

How could you half of their eyesight taken away. You just couldn't do that. You know the hitch on the IR value 2020 stallion on a yeti work that thing out so what would happen.

It is the judge would would review the information they would see what happened in the in the crime and then they would apply right justice to this evening. Understand that that's how that would work out, so this provided again for a just and fair legal system.

Lex talionis is what is also the basis for the for the jurisprudence of jurisdictions and and in the penal system of our country as well as really all countries, all the nations of the world and so let's see how Christ clarifies this in verse 38 through 42, both in our Lord's day in our day society is filled with people have a really a passion for revenge. Vengeance is is incredible. It's inside of our natural tendencies we want to be both judge and jury, and executioner carry this out, but the standard I think it's important no. This lex talionis was was to be applied and I've tried to critique was to be applied only in court systems. We don't want that to be applied inside of a person-to-person system.

Also, you don't want to have mercy and forgiveness inside of court systems like you do in person-to-person relationships.

We don't want the courts to be forgiven for giving.

We don't want the courts to be ruled merciful.

We want them to uphold justice and explain why you take somebody say they got they got drunk and went in and install something and got out another vehicle and in their in their in their intoxicated state ran over a mother who was pushing her child in a stroller and and in the police catch him and taken before the says you know what judge I was intoxicated. You know I was. I should've done that my bike might my dad had passed away and I got drunk and I got out of my mind. I don't remember what happened it just as you know what, this is the first time is never happier like you got your hearts on you to let you off the hook, which was good forgive you when anybody else think that that would be a great injustice besides me cake we would all cry out and say that man has wronged that family that there justice needs to be upheld. You need to punish that man for what he did. Just because he went through something doesn't mean you go out and commit crime even if he felt like it was in his response, but he did something. It was that took lives and so you want you want a judge to uphold justice in the same way you need understand God never forgives us without judging our sins. Sometimes you say will how to get to heaven knows they will just ask God to forgive you that's not going to get you to heaven, asking God to forgive you. It's no wonder heaven if if if you going to God is a God, forgive me and he just at all. I forgive you all that sin and didn't deal with your sin, how would God be any more just and that corrupt judge. We would cry out injustice to an earthly judge how much more should we crowd injustice to our heavenly judge. God must judge the sin or else justice is that and so for you and I to be forgiven.

God has has to judge every single one of our sins and guess where he judge them, judge them on the cross and Jesus Christ took my sins on the crosses Roger so will read this morning out of the book of Isaiah, Jesus was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities. The chastisement of our peace was upon him, and with his stripes we are healed. Jesus Christ died for our sins and to those who would come and repent and trust Jesus Christ and confess he is Lord he is my Savior.

He is my righteousness the Bible teaches. God imputes to you the righteousness of God and transfers your sin upon the account of Christ who died in your place. Anybody thankful for mercy this morning.

Amen. So that's how that works itself out and we have to understand that you don't tell somebody hey you just need to ask Jesus to forgive you know you need to confess your sin, and confess Jesus is Lord that he would take your sins and you rejoice in his death on the cross. You believe he died to pay for your sins as you do now when Jesus Christ say about this law will many think that when Jesus came he did away with an eye for an eye, but that's not the truth.

Jesus came to clarify it didn't come to destroy the law, he said in verse 17 through 19. He says I've come to fulfill the law. So in verse 38 through 42 Jesus is not changing the law. Here he's explaining its true meaning. And so, in Jesus's day the Pharisees through their rabbinic tradition had perverted this Old Testament law and they were using it for their own benefit. There were using it as a way of repaying their own personal lust and passions of somebody hurt then what I for nine they would take it back out and they were teaching this and so people were unforgiving. They were vengeful. They were vindictive. They were bitter and hateful and there were taken judgment in their their own hands. And so Jesus comes and he says you've heard it been said by an eye for an eye, tooth for tooth. This teaching, in other words is been being corrupted in verse 39 but I say and do you, that ye resist not evil that statement you resist not evil, literally means you do not resist an evil person which means to set against or depose an evil person is someone who is opposing you seeking to harm you. They've done something wrong against you.

He says don't resist somebody who is in some way attacking you and he gives the four different examples here in verse 39 through 41.

Know what Jesus is telling us here is that we are not to be the ones who are personally paying back someone who has done something wrong to us, were not to take judgment into our own hands. This also includes having an unforgiving and vengeful spirit being upset and offended easily with others being argumentative and contentious.

I would ask you the question.

Are you quick to get angry with others. People who choose to be angry have chosen to lose their joy for the illusion of control.

The reason we get angry is because people are living up to the expectations that we think. I expect someone to drive 5555 and if they don't live up to that then we can get frustrated because we are trying to control something we have no ability to control and so the illusion of control invades the human heart. And when people don't meet up to that control always produces two issues, anxiety and anger. If you live with anxiety and anger, you're living in the illusion of control. You don't control anything you don't control anything outside of yourself, especially in we can barely control ourselves and were trying to get our boss to act a certain way our children or parents or spouse art elected officials are neighbors or neighbors dog or neighbor's cat neighbors other dog or whatever to stop barking. Would you stop barking you driving you know we get into these kind of things that we we we we try to control things we can't stop it. Instead of saying you know what maybe God wants this person to drive 35 in front of millions instead of 55 guys trying to teach me some patients. Maybe I just need to let off and stop trying to get so in control of all these other issues would ask you do you get offended easily. Jesus is calling us not to resist evil stop firing back at this stuff.

Charles Spurgeon rightly said, not resistance but not resistance and forbearance are to be the rule among the believer. They are to endure personal ill usage without coming to blows. They are to be the envelope when bad men are the hammers and thus they are to overcome by patients, forgiveness, the Lord, our team would have us bear and forebear conquer by mighty patients you have mighty patients or mighty impatience.

We've all struggled with the latter.

Now we know Jesus is not saying don't stand up against evil here because even he stood up against evil. Jesus Christ made 1/4 web syndrome of evil men out of the temple turned over the money changers tables and John to as well as at the end of his ministry. See John the Baptist standing up against wicked King Herod in speaking out against the evil of his life. We see Paul rebuking the Jews and reject the gospel. We seek believers call to resist the devil in James four in first Peter five. So Christians are to resist evil to stand up against what is wrong. So what is Jesus mean here, what is he trying to tell us what Jesus is speaking about standing up against evil.

For the sake of our own personal offense that you would be standing up for your personal rights and yourself that you would take matters into your own hands, you become the judge the jury and the enforcer of the law. This is the same thing that Paul taught in Romans chapter number 12. Listen very closely what Paul says here in Romans 12 we have those verses. Verse 17 down to verse 21. Also as recompense to no man evil for evil, providing things honest in the sight of all men. If it be possible as much as life in you as much as you can live peaceably with all men that he says in verse 19, dearly beloved, let's all read verse 19 together dearly beloved, avenge not yourself but rather give place the wrath, for it is written, vengeance is mine, I will repay, save the Lord.

So when we turn judgment over to gods they got him to put them in your hands. It's not.

I'm not the God of their life. I'm not the ruler of your life. You are this is therefore what you can do now in verse 20 since judge since since justice is taken care of by God, since God's will, and it issued justice upon them. Therefore, if your enemy hunger gives you something really heavy.

Circe getting somebody drink Lord that come from came from the Old Testament rinsing during thou shall keep the coals of fire on his head. You can be so overwhelmed with what on earth because you know what happens when some different matter. Somebody treats him real bad and they get spiritual on you and treat you real good now miserable your your spouse ever do that to your ready you. You got all charge on a year to have you have put the good, the arguments together you are, judge, jury execution, you're gonna win this debate in your Gatorade unloading a look at you and say honey I just want to know. I'm so sorry you know what you're right I is was you I love you and I just want peace in our home you what and all that stuff just had water thrown on you like, you know smokes now lies all the things I had going on inside of you threw water on you, and it does it just sort of rather soft answer turns away wrath doesn't much better life would be if we worked at being gracious more than working at being angry. He says in verse 21.

Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with what so the Bible is clear. The civil government was created by God in a way to judge the lawbreaker in the evildoer you need to understand that the law is a blessing to those who do what's right. You are the only people who don't like strict laws, lawbreaker's people who are defending the criminals. Romans 1313 says the rulers are not a terror to good works to the evil without then be afraid of the power and so the Bible tells us that the laws were designed to punish evildoers. First Peter 214 says so.

Governing bodies are designed by God to be a two to be that group that would carry out the judgment against those who commit crimes. It's a blessing or church is going to be hosting a meal for our law enforcement. We have about 100 folks in law enforcement can be your Thursday and be able to provide a meal for them in the church is providing that and thank you for those who are helping with that in other heaven there were ceremony here is a blessing when law enforcement reaches out to lighthouses is take you guys been so friendly to us. Would we be able to would you be able to host that was absolutely in a world that wants to put you down. We praise God that you serve in that capacity. Amen as I can tell you all 9/11.

It wasn't pedestrians running up into the buildings wasn't pedestrians.

It was men in blue, and men and firefighters firefighters that were doing and police officers and EMTs. They were running in and they lost their lives by the hundreds. We thank God for those missing people who want to get rid of police officers what he want to do: some kind of pacifist to try to settle this dispute with your neighbor comes over your alcoholic neighbor tries to break in your own you come over here and give us some kind of maybe a psychologist amount going to give us a call this guy down on the fees office Medicaid now.

You want someone to come out they can allow them to be able to get to the level that's needed to keep you safe. Amen.

And so it's always Mona Ravitch really am trying to get off of this, but the same people who say we don't be law enforcement are the same people who have 15 bodyguards around them. Armed hip-hop resolve the charge limit is going to write any but but but governing systems typically are are are placing things there that that would seek to protect the people and they they do that normally nightly Christians and churches should be involved in, and in seeking to appoint men and women that are godly in those positions.

Exodus 1821 says moreover thou shall provide out of all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating coverages them over such to be rulers, and it talks about the legal system should be set up with godly people of those in leadership are also to be prayed for honored and obeyed in all things and less their laws would conflict with God and his word which those should be pointed out when that happens, but otherwise we need to respect those people in leadership reference those in leadership and to pray for those in leadership. So Jesus taught that we are not to be the ones who resist evil, evil person, and not to take out personal vengeance for our own sake. So when a Christian says they're going to pay for what they did.

I'll get back at them. They're not going to get away with this.

What you do and what I do in those situations as we place ourselves judge over them.

We become the avenger and God says to us dearly beloved, and he says in such a kind way dearly beloved, avenge not yourself discuss. Sometimes we can be hurt. Sometimes it can be very difficult sometimes the pain of the injustice can be very hard but don't avenge yourself to place the rest God will repay that but I would ask you today, friend. Are you filled with vengeance toward someone else is bitterness got all your heart, you live every day with anger and frustration toward someone who did something to you.

Always remember how great God's mercy has been to us.

Should we who have been the greatest recipients of mercy be the slowest to show mercy. Should we who have had judgment removed by the blood of Christ be those who are so quick to cry out for judgment upon others. I think it shouldn't be. So let's look at one last thought today in these closing verses the application of the law. How is this to be applied in verse 39 through 42 Jesus gives four specific areas that I believe will all gain wisdom and application from this as we seek to turn to the word of God with our tension says in verse 39 that you resist doing.

Don't resist an evil person. Don't don't don't do that do not, do not be caught up in, and what you can do to retaliate personally. They do something wrong you don't be the one who takes along your own hands.

You don't do that in any gives four different situations that we could be inflicted by that were responded in a right way.

He says whosoever shall smite you on my right cheek turned to him the other also. That's easy when he is talk about this.

Let's go to the next one is not easy as it there is a J. Vernon McGee was writing about this and he said there is an Irishman. He knew that got smacked in the face and he said the man turned to cheek and he got smacked again. He said he got up beat them into a pot which he asked, why did you do that he civil God said turn the other cheek, but he didn't tell me what to do after that so I just resist the government was understanding exactly what Jesus was trying to say now is Jesus teaching if someone hits you to let them continually beat you up, alters the Bible teach the words of the abused and allow that abuse to continue.

Sinclair Ferguson wrote is that I personally have seen this lived out. He said I knew a man who was present when his daughter and son-in-law were attacked physically by some thugs over legal dispute and the man did nothing to help her protect them. So unfortunately this is been misapplied by people to boot to teach pacifism that you're not even allowed to bear arms and military campaigns a year that you have even said Christians should not service and it is police officers or anything else because were to turn the other cheek will people who say such things showing a lack of understanding what the Bible's teaching here. Now the Bible says in verse 39 whosoever shall smite thee on the right cheek turned to him.

The leftward smite their comes from a Greek word it's spelled RHA PICU rock picked so and it it it means to hit with an open hand. It's a slap you could you could translate it. If any man slaps you on the face is the idea whether an open hand on the front side or even more was was a backhanded slap was even more this disgraceful and and there's also a word in the Greek that that was to punch someone in its full outfit so it means the stronger is the Stryker punch with a closed fist.

You need understand that among the Jews and open hand slap was the most disgraceful thing you could do to somebody.

Even the slaves spoke of in their day. They would rather be whipped on the and thrashed on their back, rather than someone smacked him in the face. This is smack in the face is probably what was among their day one of the most disgraceful, humiliating things we we recently read about install will dismiss this smack and went around the world right Chris rock was you know IIIII think you know Chris rock probably handled that better than a lot of Christians would've somebody slapping you that hard in front of the whole nation, and then just kind of blowing it often and not retaliating. I tell you, there's a lot of people in the world would've sued Will Smith done everything they could, and I are you are not promoting Chris rock. I don't watch those kind of guys, but that's just thought that was interesting. Jesus said against such an insult.

He said we need to turn the other cheek. The ideas not to let someone smack you on the other cheek until allow you to continue the abuse. What he saying is if your pride is assaulted.

If your dignity is assaulted. If you're disrespected you need to have a heart which would turn the other cheek and not seek to retaliate instead of the natural reaction would be to hit them back and impose your will upon them that you would take that insult you would take that disrespect upon you, and you would allow those insults to be heaped upon you, and you would turn the judgment over to God. Instead of bringing judgment and in that you would resist that evil person yourself. Jesus did this in John 18 when they slapped him on the face and when he was before the high priest, Jesus says if I spoken evil. He says bear witness of the evil, but if well why to use what you smite me what you smacked me.

Jesus didn't say keep smacking me on the other face the other cheek. He didn't turn his other cheek and that, since physically he was questioning them. How can you who are supposed to represent the law violate the law by slapping me in and so he questioned him and he sought to stop that and then and then you have policy Jesus handled it correctly, where Paul handled it in a wrong way and asked 23 all is before the Sanhedrin, which is the Jewish ruling body, and Ananias is the high priest and Paul says in acts 23 notice what he says the words Rucker says in Paul earnestly beholding the councils that men and brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God. Until this day and he's getting ready to give his opening speech to the court and the high priest didn't like what he said choices they slapped him in a guy comes up and smacks all right on the face right on the mouth and Ananias commanded them that stood by him to smite him on the mouth. How do you feel smite slap you right in the mouth. We want to slapping back and that's the raw that's the wrong not the right answer. That's the wrong then said Paul and him look like Paul says God shall smite thee thou lighted wall and in the Greek rendering of that. That's like that's like borderline using a cup cuss word with God's name that that is a severe white bringing God into curse you. That's like guarding. This is like a swearing statement, a very strong statement that was crossing the line. He says for citizen to judge me after the long commanded me to be smitten. Contrary to the law and is shocked the people in attendance.

They said revive us that all God's high priest, and look what Paul said. He said I was not. I didn't know brother that that was the high priest, for it is written, thou shall not speak evil of the ruler like people even when injustice came. He said I didn't have a right to speak evil of him and we sit in our comforting homes and we like to speak evil of the rulers of our people.

I could tell your friends that's not honoring God you can justify that and I can just whatever we want. We've all violated that I would assume at some level we need to be slow to do such things and David represent such a spirit toward Saul, that was such a humble spirit and turn them over to God and so we naturally react and say will will who takes vengeance and God says vengeance is mine will repay that you realize why most fights happen. I remember all the fights in high school and all that stuff that went on in and unfortunate the fights that I would get into you and you know it was it was never like typically like to protect someone you know you know you're being mean to that person will beat you up what it was not that it was somebody disrespected you some somebody somebody said something all they disrespected me or they they they were flirting with her.

And you know that's your girlfriend and people feel disrespectful when they do they go fight. That's the kind of silliness that the admin men go down to how to respond to attacks on your dignity. Jesus says here were to have a humble non-retaliatory response and that's just weakness in men is a weakness. As Francis Bacon wrote this in taking revenge.

A man is but even with his enemy when he passes over revenge.

He is superior to his enemy, and I would agree with that. Anybody can get in a fight and he bit if I do know that our goal at the Passover transgression. The Bible says that's the crowning glory of a man. Jesus could've wiped the earth out, but instead he resisted that's what meekness is you weakness is power under control.

You have the ability you can impress your power and your will upon the situation, but instead you know when resist that, to show mercy and forgiveness on the turn judgment over to God.

Vengeance is not mine.

Vengeance is his God, you are in judgment, and all in turn be gracious to the situation no one but a Christian can respond like that with the spirit of God in them. And even as Christians that's a struggle all God's people said secondly we see how to respond to attacks against our possessions. This has to deal with selfishness and greed.

In verse 40.

He said if any man will sue the epilogue. Take away thy coat. Now the co-talks about a the shirt of a man. Most men these days. Had a couple different shirts and and it says let him have my cloak also with the cloak was the more expensive outer garment. It was also used at night to be the blanket for someone. And so what this means is if somebody does something in a suit it is to say you wrong someone. Are there some kind of fallacy in your relationship and they feel like you owe them something they take you to court and Susie to see you at that and and you know what our natural responses will are not going to get a penny out of me. I'm not going to give a map and now I get my lawyers and her boy.

It is just fire on fire and that begins to happen what he saying is if somebody feels like you owe them something in you then then then don't. And then you owe me your coatings is not just give them your coat. Given your cloak also what this is saying is no just repay what's owed the pay over the top. Give them extra get the debt settled make get it taken care of.

I hate even share this because I don't want any self glory, but I just remember a situation like this happening in my life and had not planned on telling this but I remember when I was a young young man and my wife. We did have hardly anything are funny just so tight Osama brother start a church we lived out in a house that I renovated and in just we burned wood for years because we just do me just as cheap as you can live in everything and and I never had to borrow money never had the duty that stuff never put money on credit cards. God always provided we always faithfully given God just took care of us but but one of things I had to do is I had a burn work as I didn't have the money for the propane know that so the neighbor had a bunch of words hundred acres and I had like 3 acres and is in a get. I guess what is like and one morning I was out cutting some wood he come out screaming cousin on the 50,000 cuss words about this guy is crazy.

Not a chainsaw.

Now that I made. I did vacuum off this guy lost his mind and he said you're caught in the wrong file stuff and he's just going nuts. He's like that all users for fence post things and these like you only want a box and easiest. So Maddie went inside nose like sorry and so sewing up and I got $20 went down as a haven and he wouldn't talk to me just took the money and slammed the door and is like a neighbor 20 bucks. The big deal he held and so I went down there.

We end up leaving his daughter Christ one day out on the street. It and try to talk to me just would not talk to so so like literally like a month before we moved to senior. I was at a bowling alley and ineligible with some buddies from from the church and in he comes into noise areas right next to us. As I looked over and it was within three minutes he packed his family with all the other in the bowling alley so so before we left.

No one ever talked to Haygood see that it needs to use like this, like so uncomfortable for him because he's like a man's guy yelled and cussed out need to start but I went up to the sadist to lift myself up, but I just feel like you know what that guy knows of the Christian number do everything I can to repay that and I went up and I said how much. However much they want you to put on my account pay for their families bowling and whatever else they need to do and I never spoke to him against and I probably will never see him the rest of my life. I want that man to know that I'm not just repay you to go over and above.

I can tell you friends. I've been in enough fights in my life that I would want to grab that man and beat him to a pulp, physically. When I drove home. I thought like that guy you you you not only the natural man inside of us is like every man knows what that's like. The women are like why would you want to fight men like you have no idea, no idea how hard that is to restrain me. And honestly I drive by like a light him up. He said Lord forgive me I meet.

It took like years of just getting Mark clean and just but I can tell you what Jesus saying, don't just pay them back pay them back more than what they ask for.

Go over the top. You know what you know what my desire would be great.

One day that he says you know what I want to know the Lord Jesus Christ my state what what what matters is a few words.

I know I've said things the people that were rude and mean in my younger years and praise God for his mercy.

So thoroughly he teaches here how to respond to frustrating requests. Look at verse number 41 he says. And whosoever shall compel the to go a mile, go with him.

20 know those days Rome dominated up part of the world and under Roman law because they dominated the world a soldier could just walk up to you and say I want you to carry my luggage in my my gear for the next mile and you would have to carry it for them. Say you're out working on your property and they say hey Jewish guy come here and you're like many are in the middle you don't like these Romans anyway and there say all you have to carry my luggage for the next mile. You know what you said if if if they if they cause your patients to be challenged because you two to do something and it's a very frustrating request. Jesus don't just go with them 1 mile to go with them 2 miles. This is where the statement go the extra mile came from going the extra mile visit about like a good workout go the extra mile what he saying is when somebody ask you something that so sets you off so frustrates you. Mrs. don't just fulfill the request to go the extra mile. Sometimes those in authority over us.

Ask more of us than we feel is expected and we we get mad and say things like I can't believe they would even ask me to do that was the last time someone asked you to do something you thought I can't believe that how bold of them. How audacious, how would your heart be different if Jesus was actually the one asking you to the Bible in Colossians chapter 3 gives us the instance of the role it talks about the role of the father, the role of the children.

The role of the parents. I should say the role of children. The role of the husband and wife talked about the role of the employer and employee, and at the end of it.

It concludes by saying in Colossians 323 and whatsoever you do, do it heartily as unto the Lord, and not to men what it's saying is in each one of those horizontal relationships you're actually serving a vertical relationship with God or horizontal relationships are how we serve God as a Christian. The service we give others we give the Christ to talk to you for just a moment. Those that are still in the home living with mom you living with dad you, you're maybe a teenager or young preteen or posting or whatever you are. Sometimes they can ask you, you know what hey honey I need you to do the dishes, ranges, take out the trash or need you to vacuum the living room. They they give you some got you a lot of times we reduce teenagers, you probably do same thing I did last week that you work all week 4050 60 hours until you put the roof overhead.

You know you favor the water bill payment for that and you guys all the stuff you provide food you can make the food even you do the dishes like 70% to you this week. This is just as has been we we we we blow the top and the same kind of kid is like you might start doing the dishes.

You know what young person listening very closely. As a pastor and is your friend next time your parent ask you to say hey can you do the dishes you need to look at them and you need to see it as though Jesus were the one asking you because that's exactly how God sees it exactly how he sees you need to say you know what, I'm not only going to do the dishes today mom but all actually doing tomorrow and if you need more than that I could do the rest week if you want me to see where the ridiculous is is afforded Jesus go for you and I husband that you get frustrated with your wife and feel like she's not met some expectation wife, your husband, he's not met and maybe they they they ask request of you that you get frustrated. Next time you need say you know what my love and my service and my devotion, my wife, my love and service to my husband's as I'm doing it. Christ did you understand there is no separation between the carnal and and in the worldly and and and what is Christian. There is no secular and sacred with God. It's all sacred.

It's all sacred. When you go to work in your bosses take.

I remember showing up on job sites at a constructed like six years in a joke like I need to move all the stuff over here first thing in the morning like you to be you know the other peons around here you know. Can't wait for him to hire new guy to do this stuff and we get frustrated by some request, the boss is out there. They ask you know it you know what God says we just a minute you're here, you're so bound up with them you're still serving, not serving, then your serving me Kristin.

Did you need understand every moment of our life. We have a chance to serve Christ serve Christ on Monday and serve the world on Sunday and serve the world. On Monday you serve Christ every day of the week.

What short liberation that gives us are not in submission to the frustrating request of my boss or difficulties in a marriage or parents or children. Like if I get to serve Jesus and all of that is exactly what he is telling us here go the extra mile stop fighting for your right and start giving up your rights to begin to minister grace into those situations, you know what the people said in Matthew 25 in heaven, they said, when did we.

When did we see you in prison visit you when did we see you thirsty and give you drink.

When did we see you hungry and feed you when we see you naked and clothe when we do any that Jesus says as much as you got it to the least of these. Why you are serving on earth. Other people when you were doing these things you thought it just had a horizontal consequence in heaven.

Friend, God Record of every single thing that went on. He says now your rewards ready.

There's some Christians who are so earthly minded. They have lost sight of the heavenly purpose. We need to leave here today so motivated by heavenly mission heavenly purpose.

We say I get to go out here and when I go to Walmart and I see somebody walking in him and hold the doors if Jesus were walking and you want in front of me at the gas station for go ahead: that's like Jesus just pulled in front of you ever get to Walmart is one minute, but I need to stop bus only, but there's like one lane open and there's always people come for you, go to the 20 item life. Check out in your thinking you got more than 20 items I got to know they got like it that hamper full of stuff and it's like you know just one to. I've been in some situations like in Jesus is your best. If you presume like you don't hear but right now I'm mad.

We serve Christ and all that limited the last thing will be done. Verse 42, he says give them that, as the it from him that would bar of the turn on the way. What Jesus is saying here is we need to be those who are not possessive and greedy but we need to be generous people when when something comes along and says hey I really have a need we need to be those who seek to fill that need know now I would like to say this, also, that this in no way speaks about enabling lazy people.

If somebody doesn't work at their lazy all-male you know you have a job well you know when videogames must master this last game elicited.

I don't want to get on the rabbit trail of grown men playing video games that needs to be put away, but I don't want to be self-righteous because I don't struggle with that but I just want to say men that I should be a very last resort. That should not be a high priority in your life effort. So there's a time to put away childish things.

That's one of them and all the I don't need to prevent this. Otherwise, like so but that everything needs to be moderated but here we have the Bible teaches. If a man doesn't work. It says in second Thessalonians 310 even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither city if a man comes today.

I can you give me some food on hunger any money and if they're unwilling to work. You know it's good to see you say you might need to miss a couple mils warm starving know you your work, you will get hungry enough to work this I can give you fish better rather teach you how to fish really give you a job you know and I remember I helped the guy one time got them some food is homeless and I took him down to place on the dollar and I was going to put them up in hotel and I said I got all this lineup is that the market I get you to go down here is that there is a hiring sign down literally next to the place at Burger King. I suggested I'm going there and see if we can help get you employed. I sit and then you could make enough money to live here get you some food. He looked at me and said I don't want any of that stuff. He said I'm not going to work. He said I worked for 10 years and he got mad and got on the car and walked off and I say well then give me my weed on this and sometimes giving is taking. But what I'm talking about with this is not the panhandler, the person is trying to do cute talking about the person who says men on really phone about situation really in a difficult and enlisted some people fall into that in our country to get in the tough pinch segment you have 20 bucks needs gas money. I'm working on trying to I need someone to get back and forth work you know what you need so you know what you have it on you be able to give that to them in your heart. They say he'll pay you back give them the ability to do that. I think that's nothing wrong with that but in your heart say in your mind. If they come to me in a week and they say you know what I don't have that money you need to be willing to give that to them. They come back later. Hey, I just really struggled. Can I get you next week say listen friend I was in your situation I would want somebody be gracious with me to. That's what mute means to love others as yourself to treat them like I would want somebody to treat me and keep that and let me know if your urine need in the future, but I would like to, you know help you in any way cannulae can't be a bank account here but want to be a blessing to us and I think also some comes lungs as hey my mower broke down. You just got your new motor last year and in there like a eunuch and can you mow my yard can can can I borrow your motive to know you're just thinking you know I just got the blade sharpened. I just got that mower been saving up for that thing and you just like in a preacher preached on this new idea. Go ahead, mow, and then in their of their loan, and next thing you know they hit the gravel with the blades in such a struggle like what you can do is even say all the smoke for you clean this whole thing up and I don't see him all your heart like laser God, but inside your heart, friends, what we need to have is a spirit that says if I have the ability to help somebody in need. Let's stop being so white knuckle during our possessions they are willing to release that to God in his service, because ultimately it all belongs to God. Amen. So in conclusion I Fern I tooth for tooth.

That's not something were against that something were for, because that brings right justice to a society doesn't allow over punishment allows the punishment to equal the crime. That's what jurisprudence and justice should be and in Jesus didn't do away with the law. He explained in our pride is attacked, we should be those who respond with turning the other cheek in her heart that we don't we don't get caught up in arguments and fights and quick comebacks because we cannot clothe herself with humility. We don't get caught up with with arguments if if somebody if we wrong. Somebody don't just pay them back. The pain that more make sure they're taken care of and then when somebody asked you to do something that you're frustrated by the patient and go the extra mile media request. Be generous and for us to do all of this, we need to apply Romans chapter 14 verse 18 we have that verse let's all read this together for whether we live, we live unto the Lord, and whether we die, we die into the Lord whether we live or die. We are the Lord's. That's how we live. We leave here today say God, my life belongs to you. My life belongs to.

Let's all stand this morning.

The authors open today. Maybe if God spoke in your heart you need to come and take a moment and spend in prayer.

Maybe there's something in your heart you so you know what God's word spoke to my heart today and I just want to respond to you, God, and maybe you need to come and spend a moment in prayer at the altar, I'd invite you to do that do business with God's day you have somebody on your heart that you just need to come and pray for Janine, with their name up to the Lord. They need prayer. Maybe there some struggles and health struggle want you come in turn that over to the Lord God be with these situations, but I would also like – this may be your here today and you're bound up with questions about what happened to me after I die stand before God and God's, and why should know that you're never sure what you just what you know today friend you can know that for God and he said why should know that you are not sure what you would say today we have men and women that are down from the side room, you're off the sanctuary and show you from the Bible how you can know your life serenely and have common bring you to one of these dear folks that would love to talk with you have questions about salvation, to get to heaven in the other underrated Dave is less imitation working hours, not only in these minutes, but also as we amen