AMC, 12.10.2025
Text: Mathew 5:38-48
Theme: Resist Not
Greetings: The Lord is good and His love endures forever!
Introduction
Plato likened the soul of a man to a charioteer whose task was to drive two horses. One is reason another is passion. Life is a conflict between these two. There is an inner tension between the good and the evil, Spiritual and carnal. All are living with this split personality. A desire for hidden things and a desire for purer life.
Mathew ends the Sermon on the Mount by saying that Jesus taught them with an authority (Mk.1:22, Mt.7:28-29). It is a legal term. The Greek “exousia” for authority means - “the power to add and the power to take away at will”.
The Law of Moses was unique, authoritative, holy and sacred to the Jews. No one was ventured enough to speak against or alter the teachings of the Law of Moses. (Deuteronomy 4:2,12:32, 30:6, Rev.22:18). Jesus cited an earlier proposition of the law of the Moses which were theses and he made an authoritative counter proposition, or antithesis. It could be done by a person who is either Mad or God. Mathew records the bold declaration of Jesus “all authority has given unto me (Matthew 28:18, He taught with authority – Mark 1:27, He judged with authority – John 5:27).
Jesus spoke six antithesis on the Sermon on the Mount, Known as surpassing standards of Life, or New Life Values. Jesus taught a new look on the sins. Man will be judged not only by deeds but by his desires and wishes, the thoughts.
The first antithesis was ‘Anger is equivalent to Murder’ (5:21-26). The second and third anti-theses are ‘A Lust is equivalent to an Adultery, Divorce leads to Adultery and destroys the institution of family’ (5:27-32). The fourth antithesis was‘Forswearing and truthfulness’ (5:33-37). The fifth antithesis was ‘Retaliation and submissiveness’ (5:38-42). The sixth anti-thesis was Hate and love (5.43-47).
1. Be Patient : Do not resist an evil person, Turn to them the other cheek, Hand over your coat as well, Go with them two miles, Give to the one who asks you. 2. Be Positive: Love your enemies. 3.Be perfect as your father in heaven is perfect.
1. Be Patient
Do not resist an evil person, Turn to them the other cheek, Hand over your coat as well, Go with them two miles, Give to the one who asks you.
The fifth antithesis was ‘Retaliation and submissiveness’ (5:38-42). Jesus said we should patiently bear insults and offences, and not resist an evil person who insults us this way. Instead, we trust God to defend us. Jesus Himself was insulted and spoken against (as a glutton, a drunkard, an illegitimate child, a blasphemer, a madman, and so forth) we see how He lived. Peter says he didn’t retaliate but was patiently suffering for the justice of God. (1 Peter 1:22-23).
Jesus advised us to Leave our cloaks. Throw away your so called honours, positions , powers if people snatch from you wickedly. Be submissive to the Lord. Jesus advocates the type of follower who is willing to give even more than asked from those in need. Christian non-violence and cooperation with the sword-bearing state.
Jesus refers to the Lex talionis means a law of tit for tat (“eye for an eye”), which was very much existed among the Jews and even among the gentiles. According to the passages of Exodus 21:23-25, Leviticus 24:19-20, and Deuteronomy 19:21. This is not savage (violent or ferocious) law but a law of mercy.
Otherwise the tribes would have killed each other just for a loss of one teeth of their community person. So this retaliation was not to be done on individual capacity but at a Jury level. Judge will try the case and pronounce the punishment (Deuteronomy 19:18).
The punishment was never in the form of physical punishment but in the form of compensation of money: For injury, for pain, for healing, for loss of time, for indignity suffered.
These were the rules laid in Lex Talionis. So no more vengeance but compassion and abundant mercy (Leviticus 19:18, Proverbs 25:21, 24:29, Lamentations 3:30) to the man who committed this act.
Jesus said to his followers at no account you retaliate or resent but be patient and suffer.
Patience (hupomone) is a virtue of endurance in suffering, a steadfastness in faith and hope, and a demonstration of God's character of long-suffering kindness. Patience is an attribute of God, Jesus as being "slow to anger" and "rich in kindness" (Exodus 34:6). Patience is a part the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23). Hupomone often means constancy and endurance in trials and suffering, which strengthens faith and character (Romans 5:3-4; James 1:2-4).
Cambridge dictionary defines patience as ‘Having the ability to suffer without complaining or becoming annoyed, or to continue doing something despite difficulties’.
Webster:p defines patience as ‘bearing pains or trials calmly or without complaint’.
According to Dictionary dotcom patience is ‘Bearing provocation, annoyance, misfortune, delay, hardship, pain, etc., with fortitude and calm and without complaint, anger, or the like.’ Able to stay calm and not get angry, especially when there is a difficulty.
2 Be Positive
The sixth anti-thesis: Hate and love (5.43-47). Matthew 5:44: “Love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you.”
Jesus spoke to the ongoing conflict between a high quality of living and the conventional interpretation of law and living under the Law. Jesus has established the groundwork for His followers to adopt His new beliefs and dwell on the planet. He reinterprets divorce, adultery, murder, and oaths taken in the name of the temple and God. Jesus now gives counsel on how to handle anger and vengeance.
Jesus agreed that we will have enemies. Jesus recognised the reality of human animosity and hostility; he even witnessed his friends become enemies and traitors as a result of betrayal and denials. He was the first human being to teach his disciples to love their enemies as themselves, and demonstrated this lesson on the cross.
Jesus was the first to show the gift of forgiveness without harbouring resentment or bitter sentiments toward his foes, although many political figures and spiritual teachers later adopted this practice. In Luke 23:34 we read that Jesus was praying for his enemies to be forgiven.
Greeks used four words for love: Storge, Eros, philia, and agape. Storge is found among family members, Eros found among between a husband and a wife, philia found among the closest, nearest, and truest friends.
Agape love to the person no matter what that person does, no matter how he treats us, no matter if he insults, no matter if he injures, no matter if he grieves us. We will never allow any bitterness against him in our hearts but will regard him with that unconquerable benevolence and goodwill which will seek nothing but his highest good. Agape is the power to love those whom we hate, don’t like and who may not like us.
One of my enemies hired contract killers to eradicate me, another enemy went to the sorcerer to put me on the stretcher through accident, and another enemy wanted to kill our entire family through contract killers. These all are not those against gospel work but all are in the churches where I served, a few are my colleagues for pointing out the scandal. I didn’t retaliate only left t the Lord.
This is the hardest doctrine Jesus taught on the earth. It’s impractical, very unrealistic. I found it very hard to practice it for the last 40 years in my ministry and for the last 45 years in my Christian life.
I find it very difficult to be perfect in forgiveness. In fact, I forgive my enemies who are in other faiths than my enemies in church and ministry. I love my enemies who serve in other organisations than my enemies in Methodist Church. I never seen any of my enemies who had shown this love to me who are called to be born again believers and minsters.
3. Be perfect (Matthew 5:48)
Be perfect in beatitudes found in Matthew 5:3-11. Be perfect salt and light to the earth and to the world as taught in Matthew 5:13-16. Be perfect in keeping and fulfilling the law of Moses with the interpretation of Jesus Christ as found in Matthew 5:17-19. Be perfect and exceed the righteousness of the Scribes and Pharisees as found in Matthew 5:20. Be perfect in not getting angry, not scolding others, not going to the court of Law without reasons, Be perfect in giving to the Lord as found in Matthew 5:21-26. Be perfect bachelor and spinster in your life, be perfect in marital relationship As found in Matthew 5:27-31. Be perfect in your words, and statements as found in Matthew 5:33-37. Be perfect in not retaliate, but endure and loving your enemies as found in Matthew 5:38-47.
All generations continued to find value in this teaching and practice. True human respect grew in society and worldwide communities as a result of the application of this sermon on the mount. Regardless of their religious beliefs, many people who have appreciated Jesus' teachings have received recognition for their positive contributions to society. Mahatma Gandhi forgave his enemy who shot him. MG Ramachandran forgave his enemy who shot him and attempted to kill. The first one was the father of the nation of India, the second one was the former Chief Minister of Tamilnadu.
These are possible only when yield to the Lord and are filled with the fullness of Christ and the fullness of Holy Spirit. The indwelling of the trinity can change our lives. We can kill the bitterness only through our prayers. We have to forgive and forget on daily basis completely relay on God.
Without forgiving, How can we praise Him, how can we preach the Gospel. These things and prayers can’t go together. Jesus meant personal relationship with one another is more important. God calls for perfection in functional activities (v.48). There is no spiritual or secular in all these values. Right is right in all religions wicked is wicked in all religions in the values advocated by Jesus Christ.
Conclusion
I don’t know where are you? What is your position in all these antitheses? If you are touched by the Holy Spirit commit yourself to the LORD. Take the first step towards perfection, to love God and to love your neighbours and love your enemies. May the good Lord bless you? Amen.
