Matthew 5:38-42 (NKJV) 38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a...

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Matthew 5:38-42 (NKJV) 38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ 39 But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. 40 If anyone wants to sue you and take away your tunic, let him have your cloak also. 41 And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two. Give

Transcript of Matthew 5:38-42 (NKJV) 38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a...

Page 1: Matthew 5:38-42 (NKJV) 38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ 39 But I tell you not to resist an evil person.

Matthew 5:38-42 (NKJV)

38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ 39 But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. 40 If anyone wants to sue you and take away your tunic, let him have your cloak also. 41 And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two. 42 Give to him who asks you, and from him who wants to borrow from you do not turn away.

Page 2: Matthew 5:38-42 (NKJV) 38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ 39 But I tell you not to resist an evil person.

SERMON ON THE MOUNT: SECOND MILE SERVICE

Matthew 5:38-42

Page 3: Matthew 5:38-42 (NKJV) 38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ 39 But I tell you not to resist an evil person.

Second Mile Service

We continue our Sunday night series on Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount

We have looked at a variety of topics

Most all deal with the kind of people that Jesus wants us to be

Jesus has been dealing with the Old Law

Page 4: Matthew 5:38-42 (NKJV) 38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ 39 But I tell you not to resist an evil person.

Second Mile Service

There were certainly some things about the old law that needed to be addressed

This was largely in part because of the liberties that the Israelites had taken with this law and their misunderstandings of it

Jesus is also giving a stricter code of living

Page 5: Matthew 5:38-42 (NKJV) 38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ 39 But I tell you not to resist an evil person.

Second Mile Service

1. Looking Back (v. 38)

Jesus once again looks back to the old law

They were very familiar with the term “an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth”

Whatever was done to them, they could do in return to those that wronged them (Ex. 21:24; Lev. 24:20; Deut. 19:21)

Page 6: Matthew 5:38-42 (NKJV) 38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ 39 But I tell you not to resist an evil person.

Second Mile Service

1. Looking Back (v. 38)

This law wasn’t set forth to necessarily teach a vengeful attitude, but to be a deterrent to this type of crime against one’s neighbor

It also limited the “punitive action to the extent of the original injury or loss that precipitated it” (Coffman)

Page 7: Matthew 5:38-42 (NKJV) 38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ 39 But I tell you not to resist an evil person.

Second Mile Service

1. Looking Back (v. 38)

Nevertheless, it had certainly ingrained within the Israelites an attitude of revenge

If they were wronged, it was their right and duty (in their minds) to get back at anyone who wronged them

There is a similar mindset today

Page 8: Matthew 5:38-42 (NKJV) 38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ 39 But I tell you not to resist an evil person.

Second Mile Service

2. Turn the other cheek? (v. 39)

What Jesus gives as an alternative here is probably the least popular command found anywhere

It is probably the least followed and perhaps one of the most controversial

He begins by telling us not to resist an evil person

Page 9: Matthew 5:38-42 (NKJV) 38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ 39 But I tell you not to resist an evil person.

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2. Turn the other cheek? (v. 39)

To understand what He means by that we must look at how He explains it

He says that “whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also”

Does this mean that we cannot protect ourselves from a person physical attack?

Page 10: Matthew 5:38-42 (NKJV) 38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ 39 But I tell you not to resist an evil person.

Second Mile Service

2. Turn the other cheek? (v. 39)

Jesus seemed to give the apostles the right to defend themselves in Luke 22:36

So does Jesus contradict Himself?

A slap in the face would be more of the idea of an insult than it would be an actual physical attack

Page 11: Matthew 5:38-42 (NKJV) 38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ 39 But I tell you not to resist an evil person.

Second Mile Service

2. Turn the other cheek? (v. 39)

Just as when Jesus was struck and did nothing, we can endure an insult for the cause of Christ

It would be a better reaction to defeat the enemies of Christ than to retaliate with violence

Page 12: Matthew 5:38-42 (NKJV) 38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ 39 But I tell you not to resist an evil person.

Second Mile Service

2. Turn the other cheek? (v. 39)

The idea here is simply not to return evil for evil

Romans 12:17-21

God is He who exacts revenge, but we should not seek to return evil to those who do us wrong

Page 13: Matthew 5:38-42 (NKJV) 38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ 39 But I tell you not to resist an evil person.

Second Mile Service

3. Go the extra mile (v. 40-42)

Again, Jesus wants His disciples to stand out above the others

If anyone would go to court to take one’s coat (shirt-like undergarment), give him your cloak (outer garment) also

It’s being willing to be the better person

Page 14: Matthew 5:38-42 (NKJV) 38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ 39 But I tell you not to resist an evil person.

Second Mile Service

3. Go the extra mile (v. 40-42)

“And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two”

A Roman soldier could, by law, compel an Israelite to carry his load for a mile

The Jews hated this law and resented it, so this saying would not be popular

Page 15: Matthew 5:38-42 (NKJV) 38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ 39 But I tell you not to resist an evil person.

Second Mile Service

3. Go the extra mile (v. 40-42)

Think of the message this would send to the Roman soldier

Think of the message that it sends to anyone on whom this was practiced

This would be a great way to influence another for the cause of Christ

Page 16: Matthew 5:38-42 (NKJV) 38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ 39 But I tell you not to resist an evil person.

Second Mile Service

3. Go the extra mile (v. 40-42)

“Give to him who asks you, and from him who wants to borrow from you do not turn away”

This certainly gives us an opportunity to love our neighbor as ourselves (Matt. 22:39)

It also gives us an opportunity to minister to them (Matt. 25:34-46)