Monday: Overcoming Evil with Good
When we consider the teaching of Jesus, it is worthwhile to keep in mind the people He was talking to and the circumstances in which they lived. Jesus had begun to attract large crowds of people from the regions where He had ministered (see Matt. 4:25, Matt. 5:1). Most were common people, living under the imperial rule of the Roman Empire, but some were the Jewish rulers and religious leaders. The existence of the common people was difficult. They had few choices for their own lives, burdened by heavy taxation and weighed down by religious tradition.
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In teaching these people, Jesus was obviously concerned with offering them a way to live well, to live with dignity and courage, whatever their circumstances. One example of this is found in Matthew 5:38-48. In the English language, these instructions—“turn the other cheek”, “give them the shirt off your back”, and “go the extra mile”—are so well known as to be clichés. But this familiarity belies the radical actions and attitudes that Jesus is teaching here.
The scenarios Jesus described were common experiences for many of His listeners. They were often violently assaulted by their “superiors” or masters. They were often indebted and lost their property to the landlords and lenders. They were often pressed into labor by the occupying Roman soldiers. Jesus taught the people to respond with integrity, to treat the oppressors better than they deserved, and, by so doing, to resist the loss of their humanity. While these oppressors tried to exert their power, the people always had the freedom to choose how they would respond and, by resisting nonviolently and responding generously, they exposed the evil of the oppression and injustice that was being done.
Compare Matthew 5:38-48 with Romans 12:20-21. How are we to live out these radical principles in our lives?
| Jesus summarized all of “the law and the prophets”—all of the sacred writings we often describe as the Old Testament—in a simple principle that has come to be known as the Golden Rule: “So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you” (Matt. 7:12, NIV). In what ways, right now, can you make an effort to do what He commands us here, regardless of the cost? |
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One of the characteristics of the Kingdom of Heaven is summed up in the discussion Jesus had with Pilate:
The ideas of not defending by attacking, overcoming evil with good, turning the other cheek, going the second mile, and loving your enemies, all characterise the Kingdom of Heaven. It is important in this context to understand that the kingdom that Jesus is talking about here is not the future, post second advent kingdom but the kingdom of the community of believers committed to following him now.
Christianity does not make any sense if we preach a verbal Gospel but don't follow the principles of the Kingdom of Heaven. it makes us hypocrites. And it is worth remembering that Jesus' most scathing condemnation was for hypocrisy.
If we get that one right, then speaking the Gospel makes sense to our listeners.
The second mile is only made possible by being obedient to the first mile.
Think about it. Imagine a boy working at his trade. A Roman soldier comes by, calls to him, and demands that he carry his backpack for one mile down the road. Now, this command interrupts the boy's whole day and takes him away from his work. But he has no choice. However, this boy is a second miler. They approach the one-mile marker and instead of putting down the pack, spitting on the ground, and marching back home, he volunteers to go an extra mile with the soldier. Along the way, he pleasantly inquires about life in Rome. The soldier is baffled because he has never seen anything like this. Roman soldier, away from home, lonely doing the government bidding suddenly finds someone who is showing compassion and care.Roman soldier finds out what prompted him to carry the burden extra mile. As he learns about Christianity, he knows this teaching is not anything like he had heard from his childhood. A seed has been planted. A spark begins to flicker in the heart of this soldier. His thoughts are truly Christianity and the teaching cannot be from this world. .
Perhaps, such an experience earlier with a second-mile follower of Christ prompted this Roman soldier to say, “Truly this was the Son of God,” (Matthew 27:54).
How are you changing the life by walking the extra mile?
Adding to what has been outlined in today's lesson, Ellicott's Commentary on Matt 5:39 does very well to responsibly unpack the practical application of the intent of the passages being studied as follows:
What could good be considered for someone who's done evil things? Should we give the thief what he just robbed? Of course not. "Paying evil with good" mostly refers to inner feelings, to the emotion's response to evil. Anger and hate, for example, can be worst feelings than whatever injustice a person can go through. It is necessary to stand up for justice, but with the "heart hidden in love", not hate!
"What could good be considered for someone who's done evil things? Should we give the thief what he just robbed? Of course not."
We are not to give the thief ONLY what he has just robbed, but also what he forgot in his haste to steal. This "upside down" kingdom of God is hard for us to comprehend because it is so disparate from what the world teaches.
If we give the thief what he deserves (i.e., nothing), then we will get what we deserve... death (Romans 6:23) for "with the measure you use, it will be measured to you" (Mark 4:24).
"...for "with the measure you use, it will be measured to you" (Mark 4:24)."
And at the same time, while man looks on the outward appearance, God looks on the heart (1 Sam 16:7). Why does God do this? What is God looking for?
I would propose that God is looking at the motive that underpins our actions - are our actions underpinned by self-seeking or by self-renouncing love.
What is self-renouncing love?
Paul seems to suggest it is seeking another's best interests (eg Phil 2:3,4).
So what is in the best interests of the thief? That depends on the thief. If they stole because they were starving and that was their only way of staying alive, then the loving thing would be to give them what they need.
But if the thief stole, say to support a drug habit, would giving them more than they stole be in their best interests? Would enabling and reinforcing their stealing by failing to apply appropriate consequences be in their genuine best interests?
The upside-down kingdom of God can be hard to understand at first - but not impossible. God/Jesus has displayed across scripture that He wants us to grow in our understanding of the ways of His kingdom.
Jesus never did a background check on those He helped. Nor did He imply that we should give our tunic AND our cloak only after checking whether they had a closet full of clothes at home (Matthew 5:40).
Instead, He said "Freely you have received; freely give." (Matthew 10:8).
Hi Sieg.
If by doing a background check you are referring to the point I made regarding Spirit-inspired discernment of a person's underpinning situation/motive, then I am not so sure that Jesus did not 'background check'.
Matt 9:4 and Luke 9:47 are two specific examples where it is reported that Jesus knew what people were thinking in their heart/mind. That is, Jesus knew where they were coming from and what their underpinning motivation was and what they were trying to achieve. And I would propose that the implication for the Bible writers stating such is that this knowledge guided/tailored his actions in the specific situation. I would submit that this was common practice for Jesus rather than two isolated incidents.
2 Tim 2:15 cautions that scripture be handled correctly. This also implies employment of discernment: Spirit-inspired discernment.
Could it be that the development of Spirit-inspired discernment is a key element of christian character development to maturity?
Turning the other cheek.
Is offering my left cheek inviting a left handed slap?
Does it mean if attacked by thugs I should do nothing to protect myself?
Does it mean an abused wife should remain in the home and face it?
Does it mean where people are massacred I should stay instead of fleeing?
Should we accept insult,injury and refuse to protect or defend ourselves?
Jesus did not reterally turn the other cheek to be smitten when he was struck by one of the officers of the high priest,he objected it.
Jesus is not asking for passivity but surrender to the right of personal revenge.
There is a difference between confronting evil and seeking personal revenge.
It is possible to confront evil with a desire for the redemption of its perpetrators even when opposing their actions.
Do not revenge but if you have power to protect yourself and your property do it.
Resist nonviolently,respond generously, disarm the aggressor without using aggression and thus expose the evil of oppression.
In Jesus time, slapping the right cheek was done with the right hand, with a backhand slap (on the right cheek). This carry force to even break teeth and jaw if done well. This type of slapping was an insult, a degrading and extremely shameful. Keep in mind the “shame and honor” code at that time (and even now in many societies around the world). It was done from a master to a slave, or any higher and superior cast to a lesser. Remember also that at that time, the left hand was used to do only unclean or disgusting tasks. Slapping with the left hand contradicted the slapper in his/her purpose to shame the slapped.
Slapping with the right hand to the left cheek was consider to be done among EQUAL people, but not as shame but as honor... like some old Italians men still do to show their honor and respect to the “slapped”.
Jesus said: “if someone slap you on the right cheek, offer the other [left] cheek also”? Think about it.