Matthew 5:31-32, 38-48. Lesson# 6
Blessed Are the Peacemakers
- Introduction: This story was relevant to me, you would probably do better with a story of your own.
Note: I read a story from Thomas and Cynthia Hale who were medical missionaries to Nepal for twenty-five years. In reading their accounts of dealing with the practical difficulties of running a missionary hospital, Dr. Hale recounted a story of how the Communists in the 1970’s tried to destroy the work of the hospital. As each encounter with the communists was narrated I tried to put myself in Dr. Hale’s place: giving up my entire professional career for a foreign society, working and living in harsh conditions and working long hours and then having young, naive students destroy it all in the name of ideology.
I realized that I would have lost my temper. I then read how with patience, fairness, and gentleness the crisis was averted and the hospital was able to continue its ministry to the sick and hurting of that society. As I read a Scripture was brought to mind: The anger of man, does not accomplish the righteousness of God (James 1:20). Let us see how Jesus would amplify this statement of foregoing anger in two ways:
Note: We have noted that Jesus is showing us how to exceed the righteousness of the religion of His day. He employed a consistent pattern that we observed last week. Jesus quoted the Law then gave His amplification or fulfillment of that Law often followed with additional helps. We saw that Jesus showed us three times how to “exceed” the Law so as to be under the reign of Jesus Christ. So let us look at three more examples of this.
- No Divorce. Matthew 5:31-32.
>>>> Have someone read Matthew 5:32-32
Q Do you see the pattern? Do you see the first three parts?
An = Jesus quoted the divorce law in Deuteronomy 24:1, 3. He then said, But I say unto you,
and finally, Jesus radicalized or “fulfilled” the law.
Q How did Jesus “fulfill” or go to the very intent of the Law about divorce?
An = Jesus wants no divorce among his followers. You had to keep the commitment you made in your wedding vows. Moses said you had to give the divorced woman a certificate, obviously, to protect and give her some legitimization. Jesus was going even further, the best legitimization for a woman to have in marriage was for the marriage not to be dissolved. The only exception was if she committed adultery. If that was done, she obviously wanted the marriage to be dissolved.
Q Does this teaching make us uneasy? Why?
An = Let them explain their misgivings. Do not comment, but add, Jesus’ teaching does have some advantages: 1) We have a society filled with children whose fathers have left them vulnerable, confused and in some cases financially disadvantaged. 2) Taking good care of your wife and children is one the best ways to live your life. It not only gives security to the woman but empowers the man by demanding that he is a man of integrity and compassion who takes care of those he is committed to. The roles and therefore the blessings work in reverse. This law applies to woman as well. Jesus only addressed men because only men in that society could initiate divorce. 3) It is healthy for people to keep their vows, their promises. Getting divorced, except for marital unfaithfulness is breaking one’s word.
III. Overcoming Evil with Good. Matthew 5:38-42.
>>>> Have someone read Matthew 5:38.
Q What does this law mean?
An = This is the famous Lex Talionis (found three times in the Old Testament, Exodus 21:24, Leviticus 24:20, Deuteronomy 19:20 and in other ancient Near Eastern Law codes). The legal community has long seen this law teaching two things: that misconduct should be punished, but the punishment should fit the crime.
Q Is the Old Testament Law only into “justice” or does it also demand “mercy”?
An = To answer this let us take a quick look back at the Law in Exodus. Turn to Exodus 23.
>>>>> Have someone read Exodus 23:4, 5, and 9. The commandment here is to extend mercy to even those who do like you or you do not like them.
Note: Jesus wanted to “fulfil” or “exceed” this standard and watch how He did it.
> >>>> Read Matthew 5:39-42.
Q Do these sound impossible or impractical applications?
An = Encourage them to really tell the truth here. These seem to be impractical. Do not resist an evil person? If you do not stop bullies they just get bolder and worse.
Q What four practical examples of how not to resist evil are given in these verses?
An = After they have listed the four go back and deal with each one. Let’s look at the first three: 1) If someone strikes you on the right check offer him the other. This speaks of being insulted. Do not return insult with insult, let them take another shot says Jesus. 2) If someone wants to take something of yours that is rightfully yours let them have it. In Israel one was forbidden to take a poor man’s cloak. If someone tried to sue for your cloak you would easily beat them in court. Jesus says let them take everything until you are naked. 3) Roman soldiers often made peasants in an occupied country carry their baggage. Jesus says go the extra mile. If someone forces you to go a mile, then go two.
Q What do these three situations have in common?
An = In all three cases following these ideas could leave us vulnerable and compromise our dignity. How can we live if we are constantly insulted and the insults are not true or at least only partially true? How can we have some of our dignity taken away and not press our advantage to get it back? How can someone take advantage of us and we not resent it? This sounds impossible to do.
Q What if someone has insulted us, or taken advantage of us and we insult back, get bitter or angrily resent their taking advantage of us? Are we free?
An = Of course, we are not free, and of course, we do not witness for our Lord. We are no different than the world. What makes us Christians is not that we give money to a church or good causes, or go to church and have superior, biblical theology. What makes us Christians is that we love Jesus Christ. We do anything He tells us to do. Now it gets worse…
>>>> Let me re-read Matthew 5:42.
4) Q How many of us know of people who have relatives who would sponge off anyone, endlessly, until nothing remained because they were so lazy.
An = There are times when giving to some people is wrong and harmful, and in other texts Jesus taught this. Jesus did not always do what people asked of Him or give them what they asked because giving it to them would have hurt them. The emphasis here is not to be passive-aggressive. He is saying do not merely tolerate people who are abusive, but go on the offensive. Aggressively try to aid them. Do not be a passive victim, but be an aggressive giver. In all four cases you resist evil not with bitterness, resentment or reprisal but you resist evil with positive action.
1) If someone insults you, you chose to let them take another shot. Then you are in control.
2) If someone tries to take your dignity, do not worry about them coming after even a more private and necessary area of your life. It might deepen your dignity to not always spend your time trying to defend it.
3) If someone misuses your hospitality or kindness aggressively give them more than they asked for or what they really need.
4) No not be paranoid of the takers in this life.
Q Will God protect us, will we survive?
Q Is there a God in Heaven who wishes to bless us with His commandments? Are these blessings or are they sure-fire ways to be miserable until we get to heaven?
- Being like the Father. Matthew 5:43-48.
>>>> Have someone read Matthew 5:43.
Note: The Law tells us to love our neighbors and hate those who are threats to our well- being. This sounds fair and correct. But as you might expect Jesus Christ wanted more…
>>>> Have someone read Matthew 5:44.
Note: It is one thing not to take revenge against enemies but to pray for them seems to be asking for too much.
Q Is this practical?
An = I have been trying this one. It is! I have to pray pretty hard sometimes, but it is amazing. If you do it, you get a gift. Let me show how Jesus describes the gift.
>>>> Read Matthew 5:45-48.
Q What is the gift? What was Jesus holding out as a motivation in these verses?
An = In 5:45, we can be sons of the Father. We can be like Him. In 5:46-47 we can be different from the world. We can be more than knee-jerk reactionaries; we can be aggressive choosers, folks that are different. Finally, in 5:48 we can be “perfect” like our heavenly father is “perfect”.
Q What does it mean to be perfect?
An = The word has the meaning of being complete or coming to fulfillment. “teleos” in Greek means moving towards a goal. We are to be purposeful people and complete people like the personhood of Almighty God.
Q Will God take care of us if we do not resist evil? Can we survive?
An = >> read to them the following verses from Psalm 56:8-13. If we do not resist evil, what will happen to us? This might be answered when we look at the one who told us to do these things: Jesus Christ. What happened to Jesus who lived out in His life doing what He is asking of us. Q Will we survive emotionally or psychologically if we risk being made naked by certain people?
An = The answer is really dependent on whether there is a God. Will He really be there? Do I really believe in God.
Q If we do believe how do we get the courage to follow what He asks of us? How do we get motivated to even try obeying these commands?
An = We are motivated in many ways. One thought has helped me. How deep is my love for Jesus, and how does that motivate me to please Him? In essence, do I want to be like Him?
Note: Some of us can be very, very short tempered. When we are threatened or verbally attacked, we often get angry, aggressive, verbally abusive, etc. Jesus’ words stand in such contrast to our actions.
>>>> Let me read to you Matthew 5:5.
Note: Reading what He said helps us understand that Jesus’ words take great restraint, great discipline, great courage, and great faith to follow. It becomes apparent that “humility” is a power-virtue. Dr. Hale was meek and he succeeded in bringing good doctoral care to his part of the earth. He was not weak, not a loser, but one who was disciplined, focused and moving towards his goal to love the people of Nepal.