Resist Not The Evil Powers Series

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’.