CHRISTIANS ARE ABNORMAL IN HOW THEY RELATE TO ENEMIES AND ABUSE Matthew 5:38-48 April 15, 2012
Before I address our topic for this morning, I want to confess that what the Bible says is not always easy to do and I have on occasion struggled in this very area myself. Several years ago a person very close to me was injured by another. The law was contacted and because of a lack of evidence, in spite of a confession, the person who committed the offense was never charged and because of the situation, few ever learned of what he had done.
My confession is that at that time, I wanted to kill the person who hurt the one I cared about. I had the means. I had the opportunity, and in the eyes of many, I had the justification. As a matter of fact, I firmly believe that it was nothing more than the grace of God reminding me that if I acted the way I wanted to that my wife would have to go on without a husband to help her, and Drew would grow up without a father; that kept me from acting on my desire.
My confession having been made, I would like to address this morning the subject of Trayvon Martin and how God expects His children to respond.
Most of you are familiar with the situation. On February 26, George Zimmerman, the light-skinned, neighborhood watch commander, killed a 17yo black, unarmed youth. George Zimmerman was questioned by police. The state’s attorney decided not to press charges, and Zimmerman was released.
Since that time there have been numerous protests in Sanford and around the country. Several civil-rights leaders have come to our area and drawn additional attention to the situation. The Sanford police chief, who is a good man, has temporarily stepped down from his post. Some, like the seniors living in the assisted-living facility, Bram Towers, have been forced to remain in their building while protesters walked through their parking lot and damaged their cars, while nothing was done to the offenders.
A special prosecutor has been appointed and George Zimmerman has now been arrested and charged.
Now, none of us know exactly what took place that day. Hopefully, in the upcoming trial we will learn more details and the truth will come out. Growing up in this area and spending much of my early years in Sanford, I have strong feelings about what is going on. The media has done a great deal to stir the flames and we all have pasts, experiences, and rearing to deal with; so I am sure that most of you have an opinion as well.
As we walk through this though, we must realize that what we are dealing with here is not a skin problem. It is a sin problem. Bitterness, resentment, prejudice and all of that are all different faucets of the same thing. Sin.
That being said, the question before us is, “Were the Martins right in their complaints?” I am not asking what I would do in that situation. I am not asking what you would do if that happened to your child. I am asking, “What would Jesus have us do in that situation?”
- Matthew 5:38-48
The majority of you are familiar with this passage. It has been misquoted, and misused since almost the day Jesus said it, 2000 years ago.
I. GOD BELIEVES IN JUSTICE
– Exodus 21:23-25
Some have used the passage in Matthew to say that God doesn’t support capital punishment. That somehow the laws, and God’s plan has changed since He originally gave them.
- Matthew 5:17-20
II. GOD GAVE THE STATE TO EXACT THAT JUSTICE
- Romans 13:4-5
The original law was given for the state to carry out. There was not to be favoritism with rich folks getting one justice and the poor getting another. There was to be justice and the state was to carry out that justice so there could be law and order and a safe society.
III. THERE IS TO BE NO PERSONAL VENGEANCE
- The punishment is not to exceed the crime.
- The punishment is to be administered by the state.
> But I say to you …
The Pharisees taught that if someone hurt you that you could go and hurt them.
IV. JESUS TAUGHT THAT CHRISTIANS REACT TO OFFENSE DIFFERENTLY THAN THE WORLD
1. We are to love others.
Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, with all thy soul, and with all thy might.
> By this may all men know that you are My disciples, if you have love one for another.
2. We are to overlook an offense –
Turn the other cheek … This was not a case of not defending yourself, as some have incorrectly taught. Jesus doesn’t say that we are to allow ourselves to be victims of anyone who might want to hurt us.
> Luke 22:36 Then He said to them, “But now, whoever has a money-bag should take it, and also a traveling bag. And whoever doesn’t have a sword should sell his robe and buy one.
This was the case of a person giving a backhand as a blow of insult. Even in the East today, a backhand to the cheek is considered an insult.
Some people walk around with a chip on their shoulder, looking for ways they are slighted, or over looked. They look for reasons to be offended or upset.
- Romans 12:17-21
3. We are to go beyond what the law says is OK.
- Matthew 5:40-41
There are those today who are getting out of their mortgages. I heard a man on a call-in radio show a while back. He wanted to knw if he could get of his mortgage, because he said the appraisor overstated the value of the porperty he was buying. The man knew it at the time. He was happy it was being over appraised because he needed some extra money to cover some depts; but now he wanted to get out of it, even though he was making the same amount of money and could afford the payments; just because the house wasn't worth as much and he thought he could. His word meant nothing.
Just because you might legally be able to do something, doesn't make it right.
4. We are to help others
- Matthew 5:42
Not saying that you should support the thief, or the lazy
> 2 Thessalonians 3:10 In fact, when we were with you, this is what we commanded you: “If anyone isn’t willing to work, he should not eat.”
Years ago I borrowed a book from a friend, to use in a Bible study she was teaching. Severakl years later I realized I still had the book and apoligized. She said she wasn't worried about it, because she always prays and asks God to send the books where they need to go. How very different from when I borrowed a book from the treasurer at the seminary I attended. Before loaning me the book, he opened the cover and wrote on it, "Thou Shalt Not Steal". One was concerned about helping others, and the other was concerned abouot his stuff. We are to help others.
5. We are to pray for those who hurt us
- Matthew 5:43-44
Russia, motorcycle stolen.
6. We are to desire the law be carried out
> John 18:22-23
> Acts 16:37
V. OUR RESPONSE
I do not know the motivation behind the parents’ actions, so I can not say if what they are doing pleases God, but I can say that we have a responsibility to:
1. Examine ourselves – The Bible tells us to …
2. Want justice –
3. Pray
Mother in Memphis who lost her son to a drunk driver. She forgave the man who did it. Prayed for him. Led him to the Lord and later became an adpoted mom to him.
