Article VII: The Rules of Retaliation. Matthew 5: Pastor Steve N. Wagers April

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Russell Allan Tyler
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1 1 Article VII: The Rules of Retaliation Matthew 5: Pastor Steve N. Wagers April The Regular Response that is Natural! A) The Purpose that the Law Served B) The Perversion that the Law Suffered 2. The Recommended Response that is Unnatural! A) An Insult they could Encounter B) An Injury they should Evade 3. The Righteous Response that is Supernatural! A) An Extreme Action B) An Excellent Attitude I think about a fellow that was sitting at a restaurant counter eating when this big bully walked over and for no reason at all chopped him across the neck and said, That s Judo from Japan. The fellow didn t say anything and continued eating. In a few minutes the bully walked back over and grabbed him and threw him across his shoulder and slammed him on the floor and said, That s Karate from Korea. The fellow didn t say anything and got up and left the restaurant. In a few minutes he walked back in and Wham! hit the big man across the head. As the bully lay unconscious on the floor, the fellow looked down at him, smiled, and said, That s a crowbar from Sears and Roebuck. I think of a mother who ran into the bedroom when she heard her 7-year old son screaming. She found his little 2-year-old sister pulling his hair. She gently released the little girl s grip and said to her son, She didn t mean it. She doesn t know that it hurts. He nodded his head and his mother left the room. As she started down the hall the little girl screamed at the top of her voice. She ran back into the room and asked her son what happened, to which he said, She knows now!

2 2 There is something about our human nature that wants to retaliate, and seek revenge, when we are done wrong. Our natural inclination is to fight back; not to get mad, but to get even. Many would love to live by the words of Alfred Hitchcock, Revenge is sweet, and non-fattening. Beginning in verse 20, Jesus began a new section regarding internal righteousness versus external righteousness. He shows that unless our righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, we are not living as citizens of a Heavenly country. The 1 st illustration dealt with reconciling relationships between brothers. The 2 nd illustration dealt with adultery. The 3 rd illustration dealt with murder. The 4 th illustration dealt with lying. This 5 th illustration deals with revenge. Augustine said, Good for good, evil for evil; that is natural. Evil for good, that is devilish. Good for evil, that is divine. As we continue studying the Constitution of Christianity, we come to Article VII which focuses on The Rules of Retaliation. (38) Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth. Jesus is referring to the Law and what was known as the Law of Retaliation or the Law of Proportionate Recompense. This was a law that was intended to be carried out by the courts as an act of public justice, rather than a personal vendetta. It is was a legal response provided by the law for one who had been done wrong. When it comes to retaliation, it is our natural response. When we are done wrong, we seek revenge and retaliation. The law declared, an eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth. That correlates with our human nature. That is the regular response according to the law. A) The PURPOSE that the Law SERVED

3 3 (38) An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.. Jesus again demonstrates His knowledge of the law as he uses exact quotations from 3 Old Testament passages. (Exodus 21:24) 24 Eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot. (Leviticus 24:20) 20 Breach for breach, eye for eye, tooth for tooth: as he hath caused a blemish in a man, so shall it be done to him again. (Deuteronomy 19:21) 21 And thine eye shall not pity; but life shall go for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot. The law demanded that the punishment of a crime was to precisely fit the crime. There was an equal compensation for loss. A person who was victimized by another was required by law to compensate the one injured with something appropriate to balance the loss. If one caused another to lose an eye, an eye could be required. If one caused another to lose a hand, a hand could be required. If one took a life, a life was required. If one stole from another, they would have to make compensation for what was stolen. This was not an uncommon law in the ancient world. The earliest reference to this law comes from the Code of Hammurabi who reigned in Babylon from 2285 to 2242 b.c. This law obliged the offender to suffer the same injury he had inflicted upon another person. The Code of Hammurabi stated: If a man has caused the loss of a gentleman s eye, his eye one shall cause to be lost. If he has shattered a gentleman s limb, one shall shatter his limb. If the victim chose to be merciful, he did not have to insist on equal compensation. The only exception was murder. If one took a life, a life had to be taken.

4 4 However, if murder wasn t the crime, the victim could ask for a some form of monetary compensation, or some other satisfaction that seemed fair. It was their choice, but the law provided equal recompense for the victim if so desired; an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, a hand for a hand, a foot for a foot. If the victim requested it, the law provided it. Do you see the purpose that the law served? The law served the purpose of not only deterring further crime, but also preventing private citizens from carrying out their own personal vendettas. It took punishment out of the hands of the victims, and placed it into authority of the courts. Think what our world would be like, were it not for the judicial system, and everyone took the law into their own hands to carry out personal vendettas. Before long, there wouldn t be many of us left. Thank God for the laws of the land, and the legal system to protect us, and to take these matters out of our hands. B) The PERVERSION that the Law SUFFERED As with the other laws Jesus had previously discussed regarding murder, adultery/divorce, and lying, the law of retaliation had been sorely perverted by the scribes and Pharisees. R. Kent Hughes comments, It seems that the Jews had made this law a ground for authorizing private resentments, and all the excesses committed by a vindictive spirit. Revenge was often carried to the utmost extremity, and more evil returned than what had been received. (1) The Pharisees had turned what was intended to be a public matter of recompense into a private matter of revenge. What God had given to prevent personal revenge was being used to carry out their own personal vendettas. Simply put, they had taken the law into their own hands. Human vengeance is never satisfied with justice. We want a pound of flesh for an ounce of offense. If someone cuts us off in traffic, we seek the death penalty. That is one reason why God restricts vengeance to Himself.

5 5 (Romans 12:19) 19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. All too often, we act just like the Pharisees by seeking revenge and retaliation, rather than giving the matter to God and letting Him handle it. Do you know what we re doing when, like the Pharisees, we seek revenge? We are ROBBING God! Vengeance belongs to Him. He will repay. I came across a poem that an obvious revengeful person had written: Last night I had a revelation Somehow I have to make you pay It's all about manipulation And what it takes to get my way. I don't believe in soft solutions No one makes a fool of me Without receiving retribution No one hurts me and goes free. Is not that our attitude when we are done wrong? No one hurts us and goes free. Just like the Pharisees, that is the regular response that is natural. I think of a man who was told by his doctor that he had rabies, and he took out a piece of paper and started writing on it. The doctor said, oh my, he s making up his will. And he said, What are you doing, making up your will? The man said, No, I m just writing down every person I m going to bite. I can t speak for you, but in all honesty, my human nature wouldn t mind to take a hunk out of a few people. That is the regular response that is natural. Jesus moves beyond the righteousness of the scribe and Pharisees to offer the recommended response that is unnatural.

6 6 A) An INSULT they could ENCOUNTER Jesus, in a very up-front, realistic style, prepares them for an insult that they could encounter. (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. The event Jesus prepares them for is being slapped or smitten on the cheek. A slap on the cheek was considered a most degrading insult. It s important to note that Jesus mentions being smitten on the right cheek, which would suggest a back-handed slap, because most people are right-handed. According to rabbinic law, to hit someone with the back of the hand was twice as insulting as hitting him with the flat of the hand. The back of the hand meant calculated contempt, withering disdain. It meant that you were scorned as inconsequential, a nothing, a nobody. Being slapped with the back of the hand was worse than being spat upon. The very fact that Jesus mentions it proves that it could very likely happen. In fact, it s almost as if He is saying that we shouldn t be surprised when it happens. Now, can you imagine your reaction if, of all people, a scribe or a self-righteous Pharisees turned his hand over and jack-slapped you silly? What would you do? Look at what Jesus says we re to do. B) An INJURY they should EVADE Jesus says when we encounter the insulting blows of another, such as being back-handed on the right cheek. (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. The law said Take it to court. The scribes and Pharisees said, We ll take care of it ourselves. Jesus says, Resist not evil, but if someone backhands you on

7 7 the right cheek, turn your face and let him smack you with an open hand on the left cheek. Notice the phrase, resist not evil. Of course, we know that Jesus is not saying that we should not speak up against evil, or stand against sin. Adam Clarke explains it, Do not repel one outrage by another. Simply put, Jesus is saying that regardless of the insult we may encounter, we should seek to evade any further injury by retaliating. When Jesus spoke of being slapped on the right cheek, he was describing an insult that comes because of one's faith. It was an insult for which a Jew could seek legal satisfaction according to the Law of Proportionate Recompense. In other words, the offended party could legally seek damages. But Jesus says, Do not do it! If you are dishonored as a heretic, you should not go to law about it; rather you should show yourselves to be truly my disciples by the way in which you bear the hatred and the insult, overcome the evil, forgive the injustice. Let s make it practical. In all likelihood, we may never be literally back-handed, or as we would say up home, Jack-slapped, on the across the face. But, time and time again, we may be insulted, offended, hurt, wronged maliciously, and ridiculed. Again, the scribes and Pharisees seek revenge and retaliation. But, the true followers of Christ whose righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees will not take matter into their own hands, nor will they turn to the Justice system; they will turn to the Jesus System. Think about our petty ways of revenge. If your spouse is messy, you leave things messy in return. If your friend is late, you will be late next time yourself. If you stiffed with a bill, you will leave tab for them that would cause Bill Gates to hiccup. In effect Jesus asks us, in turning the other cheek, to make the other person and his or her well-being the center of our focus. We think of them and adjust our actions according to what we think will point them to Christ.

8 8 I think about a young lady named Janine who was a dental student. One day, a man ran into her car and drove away. Her damaged car resulted in a immense financial burden on her student income, and to add insult to injury, the motorist drove off without an apology, or any attempt to make it right. She was stuck with it herself. Ten years later, Janine, the former student is now a very accomplished dentist. Guess who walked into her dental office one day? It was the man who had wrecked her car 10 years earlier. He did not recognize her; but she recognized him. She told him it wouldn t hurt; she lied. He came in for a filling; he got a new set of dentures. If someone does us wrong, we want to give them a piece of our mind. I wouldn t advise that. There are some that don t have a lot to spare; and, furthermore, by doing that, peace of mind is exactly what you will give up. Any scribe or Pharisee can fight back, but it takes a true follower of Christ to walk away. When you fight back you re a Pharisee who has become just like the Pharisee that insulted you. Give that Pharisee to the Lord Jesus. He can do more with them than you can. Sir Francis Bacon said it well, Revenge is a kind of wild justice; which the more man s nature runs to, the more ought law to weed it out certainly, in taking revenge a man is but even with his enemy; but in passing over it, he is superior, for it is a prince s part to pardon. I quoted Augustine at the beginning of the message, but it bears repeating; Good for good, evil for evil; that is natural. Evil for good, that is devilish. Good for evil, that is divine. The regular reponse that is natural is according to the law. The recommended response that is unnatural is according to longsuffering. But, the righteous response that is supernatural is according to love.

9 9 A) An EXTREME ACTION (40-42) And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloke also. And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain. Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away. Jesus, the Master Illustrator, paints a picture of 3 scenarios to demonstrate the extremity of love s actions. 1) (40) And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloke also. The coat Jesus spoke of was the tunic worn by Jewish men underneath their cloke. The cloke was often used as a blanket at night. It served to protect from the cold and the rain. Again, this was a matter that might often be referred back to the court system. Under the law, the courts could never demand that the cloke be taken as payment in a lawsuit. Exodus 22: clearly states that if the cloke was borrowed, it had to be returned to its own at night. Jesus says that if someone sued you, in an effort to hurt you, and demanded your coat as a payment, give him your cloke, or blanket, also. 2) (41) And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain. As you know, at the time of Christ, Israel had been under the heavy oppression of Roman rule for hundreds of years. Believe it or not, there was a Roman law that stated if a Roman soldier asked a Jew to carry his equipment, the Jew was required, by law, to carry it at least ONE mile. It was another way in which the Romans sought to insult and degrade the Jews. Jesus gets radically extreme by saying If a soldier asked you to carry his equipment one mile, carry it TWO miles. 3) (42) Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away.

10 10 The one who asketh thee is the one who has done you wrong. That sheds even more light on Jesus s extreme action to, not only not turn him away, but give him what he seeks, and honor his request. Alexander Maclaren wisely said, If turning the cheek would make the assaulter more angry, or if yielding the cloak would make the legal robber more greedy, or going the second mile would but make the press gang more severe and exacting, resistance becomes a form of love and duty for the sake of the wrongdoer. (2) It s been well said that, We re never more like Jesus than when we give. Do you get the idea that Jesus words are in total, and complete contrast to everything natural? If so, then you ve gotten the idea. B) An EXCELLENT ATTITUDE Keep in mind the purpose of the 6 illustrations Jesus gives, beginning in verse 20. The entire premise of these illustrations, reconciled relationships, murder, adultery, divorce, lying and revenge, is to demonstrate the kind of righteousness that exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees. Simply put, the purpose of these illustrations is to draw a sharp contrast between the life of a Pharisee, and the life of a true Christian. Why? It is because a true Christian follows the true Christ. What did Jesus do when he was lied on, betrayed, cruelly smitten, unjustly accused, condemned and crucified? (1 Peter 2: 21-23) 21 For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: 22 Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: 23 Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously. When someone jumps on us we want to jump on them. When someone says something bad about us we want to say something bad about them. When someone hurts us we want to hurt them. When someone does us wrong, we

11 11 want to do them wrong. When someone takes us to court, we want to take them to the cleaners. You might say, Preacher, I could never respond as Jesus said to respond. If you re a Pharisee, you re probably right; you couldn t respond this way. But, if your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, and you are dead to self, full of God, and led by the Holy Spirit; you can, and you will respond as Jesus said to respond. You won t act or react like a Pharisee, but you will act and react like a Christian. In my opinion, two of the greatest preachers that ever lived were Charles Spurgeon and Joseph Parker. They pastored in the same city London and at the same time. Spurgeon was at the Metropolitan Tabernacle just across the Thames River and Park was at City Temple in the heart of London. On one occasion, in his sermon, Parker made reference to the poor condition of the children that were admitted to Spurgeon s orphanage. When his comments got back to Spurgeon it was said that Parker had spoken of the poor condition of the children in Spurgeon s orphanage, not that they came to the orphanage in poor condition. You know how things get twisted in Baptist churches? The next Sunday, Spurgeon blasted Parker from his pulpit. Both men s sermons were carried in the newspaper and the attack became the talk of the town. Londoner s flocked to Parker s church the next Sunday to hear Parker response to what Spurgeon had said about him. To the surprise of everyone, Parker said, I understand Dr. Spurgeon is not in his pulpit today, and this is the Sunday they take an offering for the orphanage. I suggest we take a love offering here for the orphanage. They had to empty the offering plates three times. Later that week, there was a knock on the door of Parker s study. When he opened the door there stood Spurgeon. Spurgeon asked for Parker s forgiveness and said, You know, Parker, you have practiced grace on me. You have given me not what I deserved; you have given me what I needed. Listen to this sobering statement by Oswald Chambers, "If the unmerited mercy of God to me is not re-shown to others, my justification is annulled, the grace of God is a mere painted flower, and I am a play actor." (3)

12 12 I don t know about you, but I don t want to be a play-acting Pharisee. I want people to see Jesus in me. I can t, but He can. I won t, but He will. Let Him execute the rules of retaliation. He can do a far better job than we can. Endnotes 1) Preaching the Word: Matthew, R. Kent Hughes. Word Search ) Expositions of Holy Scripture, Alexander Maclaren. 3) Devotions for the Deeper Life, Oswald Chambers, pg. 26.

A Word Concerning Confrontation # 10. Matthew 5: 38-42

A Word Concerning Confrontation # 10 Matthew 5: 38-42 As we continue our study in the Sermon on the Mount, we come to a passage that we all have heard a portion of quoted many times in our lives: An eye