Pulling Against God Part 3 Series

III. Renewing Our Minds About Revenge

We have been taught that we must defend ourselves at all cost. If someone hits you, you can hit them back in self defense. If someone borrows something from you, you have the right to expect them to return it to you. What we have been taught is that we have rights, the right to defend ourselves and the right to have possessions without them being taken from us. Now consider what Jesus said on this subject. Look at verses 38-42 of Matthew chapter five. “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I say to you, do not resist him who is evil; but whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if anyone wants to sue you, and take your shirt, let him have your coat also. And whoever shall force you to go one mile, go with him two. Give to him who asks of you, and do not turn away from him who wants to borrow from you.”

In verse 38, Jesus reminds them again of what they had been taught although God’s commands something different. They had been taught that an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. What this literally meant was that if someone knocked your tooth out you had the right to knock out one of theirs. The same applied to an eye or anything else that was taken from you. With this being taught, the people actively participated in getting revenge. Now take this one step further. Let’s say someone knocked your tooth out and in your moment of revenge you knocked out three of theirs, what would be the outcome? They now will have the right to knock out two more of your teeth. Can you see where this would end up? Before long neither of you would have any teeth. Jesus reminded them of what God told them in Lev. 19:18 which says “You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the sons of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself; I am the Lord.” Some of you sitting here today are probably thinking that I must be out of my mind, but this is not Rodney telling you this, it is God’s word. Paul says in Romans 12:17 “Never pay back evil for evil to anyone. Respect what is right in the sight of all men.” You must remember, we have been called to a higher calling and sometimes that means the choices that we make may not always be popular. Back in the sixties when Rev. Dr. Martin L. King led the non-violence protests, there were many who disagreed with his approach and actually fought against him. If you know your history, you will understand that had he not taken that approach we may not be where we are today as a nation. He did not give them a reason to continue in hate. He did not give them a reason to justify their hatred. What he showed them was love in the most difficult of circumstances. When Christians get revenge, it can be very troubling.

The next thing Jesus said “And if anyone wants to sue you, and take your shirt, let him have your coat also. And whoever shall force you to go one mile, go with him two. Give to him who asks of you, and do not turn away from him who wants to borrow from you.” These verses speak to our ability to be longsuffering. Jesus was again talking about our inward desire to fight back. It is within us to stand up for our rights. Let me ask you a question. Supposed the mailman walked by you carrying a very heavy mail bag and he told you, not asked, but told you to come and carry his bag for the next mile. What would you do? Supposed a soldier walked by you and told you to come and carry his pack for one mile, what would you do? I am assuming if you are like most, you would tell them what they could do with their request. When Jesus made the statement to go two miles with someone who forces you to go one, He was speaking very specifically to what the laws were of that time. Everyone was required, when told or asked, to carry the bags of the mailman or soldier for one mile. This was not a choice; this was a law that carried punishment if the person refused. We see this in action when Simon was called upon to carry the cross for Jesus when He was on His way to be crucified (Matthew 27:32). Jesus was speaking to the attitudes of Christians.