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Don't pay people back for wrongs done, urged Jesus. Rather, cooperate with them, he said.
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What really makes you dirty?
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You know the saying: Eye for eye and tooth for tooth.
But I say, Do not fight a malevolent man. Rather, if he slaps your right cheek, offer him the other cheek as well.
If anyone sues you and takes away your coat, give him your cloak also.
And if anyone requires you to carry his load for a mile, go two miles with him.
Give to him who asks you. If someone wants to borrow from you, do not turn him away.
Jesus is talking about the common opinion that "payback is fair play."
The do not fight saying is traditionally rendered,
"Do not resist the evil one [or, evil]." The use of the Greek word for evil should not be taken to mean that Jesus is only -- other than indirectly -- talking about the devil. He means that if some poor, sin-sick soul -- not much different from yourself -- does you an injury, let it go! After all, are you not, by the grace of God, on your way to a wonderful future? Why worry? Why complain? Revenge is for the short-sighted, not for you, who (it is to be hoped) now can see a long way off.
Turn the other cheek is one of those truisims that is heard so often that it tends to ring hollow. We generally take it to mean that we should refrain from reacting angrily to a provocation. We should "blow it off," to use a current idiom. Yet, as we see above, this saying is teamed with others: if someone wants your coat, give him your shirt, too. Jesus was speaking in the days when a poor man had few clothes. Today, Jesus might say, "If you are sued, hand over you car, too!" If someone demands that you carry a load for him a mile (something that soldiers could require of citizens), take that load an extra mile!
In my view, Jesus was not in these verses using rhetorical exaggeration, though nominal Christians tend to view his teachings that way. We know very well (don't we?) that the advice he gives tells us exactly what he would have done. And that was the attitude and behavior he wanted from his real disciples. Not only was he urging you to be lowly, but to be tough. You can take it! And if you can't, God will send you help (as he sent a strongman to carry the cross-beam for the badly beaten Jesus who had been staggering under the weight). You have nothing to worry about! You have such wonderful things in store that you can well afford to not only yield to an unjust person, but to do for him or her twice as much as expected.
Hammurabi's eye-for-eye code may yield a rough form of social justice -- or rather, social order -- in our fallen world, but that code does not meet God's true standard, which is all about divine love. His followers are to take abuse, without lashing back (easier said than not done!). Cooperate with the abuser. Don't worry, the promises of the beatitudes are real.
Jesus' graphic examples are meant to guide us into a new perspective. Forget the old human way: eye for eye, tooth for tooth. Rather than resentment followed by payback, take the humble path. This doesn't mean you should bow down spiritually to your antagonists. You are to worship only God. Recall that in JN when a guard struck Jesus for answering the high priest as an equal, Jesus had a sharp word for that guard. He submitted his body to the cross, he submitted to his enemies (us), but he did not worship the authorities by groveling before them or throwing himself on their mercy.
Jesus really showed how far one can go in order to love one's enemies. So if that is so, why would -- as at least one commentator says -- his urging followers to go home in a loin cloth, if necessary, be exaggeration? He meant that, once you are under God's protection via the Son, there is no reason to fear going home in a loin cloth. On the cross, Jesus gave much more than his loin cloth.
Many of us Christians have a very hard time becoming that radical. I accept that much depends on God's leading. Perhaps he will lead you to shed much of your baggage in stages. The baggage being the cares of this life and bodily desires. Yet consider Paul. He dropped everything immediately to permit his whole being to be committed to Jesus. Paul was a man, though a Spirit-filled one. He did not walk around with a shiny yellow ring around his head. In other words, he is living proof that it is possible to truly surrender all and go all-out, flat-out for Jesus Christ.
Obviously, Jesus was not promoting a fearful, craven attitude toward the violent. Once a person is born again, he obtains the peace that passes understanding. Consider Stephen's blessed assurance as death rained down from above. Jesus was able to face his destiny because God had given him a Spirit of courage, not of fear. Similarly, we should not fear those who would, and do, harm us. Yes, if we must face an enemy with only our human means, fear may very well prevail. Either we fight because we fear to be seen as cowardly, or we don't fight and are ashamed of our cowardice. But, with Jesus, our manhood is bolstered by God, and well able to accept personal humiliation.
I realize that all that sounds scary. I myself can see the wonder of that vision and yet I daily fall back into behaviors that result from the grip of bodily desires. Those bodily desires (= "the flesh") are sneaky, and easily manipulated by unclean forces. That is, these desires influence the mind so that you are told "little stories" ( "little lies," "little foxes") that satanically smooth-talk you into doing what is bad for you.
As for verse 42, one commentator remarks that the admonition to give to those who ask "does not commit Jesus' disciples to giving endless sums of money to everyone who seeks it." No, but then again we should be not only wise as serpents, but pure as doves. Though that advice is in the context of persecutions, it surely applies to the Christian life in general. Be open-handed, not stingy.
Stinginess is born of fear. The carnal self wants to assure its comfort. Or, perhaps there is a fear of humiliation. The carnal self resents being pressed to give obeisance to another by paying "tribute." Motive is important here, as always. One should not give out of a spirit of fear but out of a spirit of generosity and friendliness. A born-again person should grab his wrist and stifle any donation that is coerced. Resist fear. But, if the carnal self is the real source of lack of generosity, then the born-again person might think twice about his stinginess.
We may reflect on how many times we have run across very generous poor people who have large families to support. Have not they learned something about being a friend of God?
In any case, when we consider the incredible gifts we receive -- eternal life, salvation, the Comforter -- how can we turn around and be cheap with an importunate neighbor? Even if he is hustling you, having pegged you as a "soft touch" or "easy mark," why worry? Yes, use wisdom. But no need to worry. You own the universe, don't you know?
This is a tricky subject in modern America, of course. But I wonder how many of us, for the sake of our spiritual development, could do well by "fasting" from monetary gain. As a radio preacher I once heard put it, "You are BETTER OFF without that new car. You are BETTER OFF when you lack choices on what luxuries to choose from." A closer walk with Jesus may well mean abstaining from luxuries, even some we take for granted.
I understand this is an unpopular point of view in the era of the material "prosperity gospel." But then, whoever said that many would be chosen. Isn't the appropriate saying, "The first shall be last, and the last shall be first"? Try substituting the word "least" for "last" and you also get a fundamental Christian truth.
Once we have been born again, we have received the Spirit of wisdom and love, and so we will know intuitively how to handle requests for money. From Jesus' perspective, the question is, Why worry? God will meet all your needs. You can afford to share, even as the poor widow gave all she had to God -- knowing that she must rely on him.
Now being friendly to others does not suggest that we may be reckless in the disposition of God's blessings to us. The Spirit will indicate whether we should share or not, though we must be ready to listen to God rather than to self.
Turn the other cheek is one of those truisims that is heard so often that it tends to ring hollow. We generally take it to mean that we should refrain from reacting angrily to a provocation. We should "blow it off," to use a current idiom. Yet, as we see above, this saying is teamed with others: if someone wants your coat, give him your shirt, too. Jesus was speaking in the days when a poor man had few clothes. Today, Jesus might say, "If you are sued, hand over you car, too!" If someone demands that you carry a load for him a mile (something that soldiers could require of citizens), take that load an extra mile!
In my view, Jesus was not in these verses using rhetorical exaggeration, though nominal Christians tend to view his teachings that way. We know very well (don't we?) that the advice he gives tells us exactly what he would have done. And that was the attitude and behavior he wanted from his real disciples. Not only was he urging you to be lowly, but to be tough. You can take it! And if you can't, God will send you help (as he sent a strongman to carry the cross-beam for the badly beaten Jesus who had been staggering under the weight). You have nothing to worry about! You have such wonderful things in store that you can well afford to not only yield to an unjust person, but to do for him or her twice as much as expected.
Hammurabi's eye-for-eye code may yield a rough form of social justice -- or rather, social order -- in our fallen world, but that code does not meet God's true standard, which is all about divine love. His followers are to take abuse, without lashing back (easier said than not done!). Cooperate with the abuser. Don't worry, the promises of the beatitudes are real.
Jesus' graphic examples are meant to guide us into a new perspective. Forget the old human way: eye for eye, tooth for tooth. Rather than resentment followed by payback, take the humble path. This doesn't mean you should bow down spiritually to your antagonists. You are to worship only God. Recall that in JN when a guard struck Jesus for answering the high priest as an equal, Jesus had a sharp word for that guard. He submitted his body to the cross, he submitted to his enemies (us), but he did not worship the authorities by groveling before them or throwing himself on their mercy.
Jesus really showed how far one can go in order to love one's enemies. So if that is so, why would -- as at least one commentator says -- his urging followers to go home in a loin cloth, if necessary, be exaggeration? He meant that, once you are under God's protection via the Son, there is no reason to fear going home in a loin cloth. On the cross, Jesus gave much more than his loin cloth.
Many of us Christians have a very hard time becoming that radical. I accept that much depends on God's leading. Perhaps he will lead you to shed much of your baggage in stages. The baggage being the cares of this life and bodily desires. Yet consider Paul. He dropped everything immediately to permit his whole being to be committed to Jesus. Paul was a man, though a Spirit-filled one. He did not walk around with a shiny yellow ring around his head. In other words, he is living proof that it is possible to truly surrender all and go all-out, flat-out for Jesus Christ.
Obviously, Jesus was not promoting a fearful, craven attitude toward the violent. Once a person is born again, he obtains the peace that passes understanding. Consider Stephen's blessed assurance as death rained down from above. Jesus was able to face his destiny because God had given him a Spirit of courage, not of fear. Similarly, we should not fear those who would, and do, harm us. Yes, if we must face an enemy with only our human means, fear may very well prevail. Either we fight because we fear to be seen as cowardly, or we don't fight and are ashamed of our cowardice. But, with Jesus, our manhood is bolstered by God, and well able to accept personal humiliation.
I realize that all that sounds scary. I myself can see the wonder of that vision and yet I daily fall back into behaviors that result from the grip of bodily desires. Those bodily desires (= "the flesh") are sneaky, and easily manipulated by unclean forces. That is, these desires influence the mind so that you are told "little stories" ( "little lies," "little foxes") that satanically smooth-talk you into doing what is bad for you.
As for verse 42, one commentator remarks that the admonition to give to those who ask "does not commit Jesus' disciples to giving endless sums of money to everyone who seeks it." No, but then again we should be not only wise as serpents, but pure as doves. Though that advice is in the context of persecutions, it surely applies to the Christian life in general. Be open-handed, not stingy.
Stinginess is born of fear. The carnal self wants to assure its comfort. Or, perhaps there is a fear of humiliation. The carnal self resents being pressed to give obeisance to another by paying "tribute." Motive is important here, as always. One should not give out of a spirit of fear but out of a spirit of generosity and friendliness. A born-again person should grab his wrist and stifle any donation that is coerced. Resist fear. But, if the carnal self is the real source of lack of generosity, then the born-again person might think twice about his stinginess.
We may reflect on how many times we have run across very generous poor people who have large families to support. Have not they learned something about being a friend of God?
In any case, when we consider the incredible gifts we receive -- eternal life, salvation, the Comforter -- how can we turn around and be cheap with an importunate neighbor? Even if he is hustling you, having pegged you as a "soft touch" or "easy mark," why worry? Yes, use wisdom. But no need to worry. You own the universe, don't you know?
This is a tricky subject in modern America, of course. But I wonder how many of us, for the sake of our spiritual development, could do well by "fasting" from monetary gain. As a radio preacher I once heard put it, "You are BETTER OFF without that new car. You are BETTER OFF when you lack choices on what luxuries to choose from." A closer walk with Jesus may well mean abstaining from luxuries, even some we take for granted.
I understand this is an unpopular point of view in the era of the material "prosperity gospel." But then, whoever said that many would be chosen. Isn't the appropriate saying, "The first shall be last, and the last shall be first"? Try substituting the word "least" for "last" and you also get a fundamental Christian truth.
Once we have been born again, we have received the Spirit of wisdom and love, and so we will know intuitively how to handle requests for money. From Jesus' perspective, the question is, Why worry? God will meet all your needs. You can afford to share, even as the poor widow gave all she had to God -- knowing that she must rely on him.
Now being friendly to others does not suggest that we may be reckless in the disposition of God's blessings to us. The Spirit will indicate whether we should share or not, though we must be ready to listen to God rather than to self.
NEXT PAGE:
What really makes you dirty?
https://secretpath191.blogspot.com/2020/11/what-really-makes-you-dirty.html
Great stuff post that on Facebook a lot of people will read this . Very helpful right now!
ReplyDeleteYou post it for me. I can't.
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