Selection from the Sermon on the Mount (Matt 5:38-42)

In the early chapters of Matthew, Jesus goes to a mountainside to teach the crowds which had gathered to hear HIm. After pronouncing the revolutionary Beautitudes, or "beautiful attitudes", Jesus then proceeds to invert the priorities and modes of thinking of the day, presenting the astonished people with a new moral code to live by, and for His disciples to emulate.

In Matthew 5: 38, Jesus quotes the teaching of the Pentateuch and its straightforward model of justice which accepted an "eye for an eye" (Exodus 21:24, Lev 24:20, Deut 19:21). According to this system of moral justice, the victim was entitled to inflict equal pain or loss to his oppressor or enemy. Retaliation, and swiftly so, was key and emphasised under this Law.

Jesus makes it clear though when He says, "But," indicating a contrasting thought or departure from the preceding statement. "But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes on the right cheek, turn to him the other also...If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles." (Matthew 5: 40-41) It's interesting to note that Jesus uses the same opening phrase "But I tell you" the same way He does throughout the Sermon on the Mount (e.g. Matt 518, 22, 26, 28, 32, 34, 39, 44, 6:2b, 5b) and uses that phrase to distinguish His teaching and His prophetic voice from other rabbinical teachings and prophecies. The rabbinical law system was designed to accumulate interpretative teachings and readings of the Scripture, and it became difficult to completely understand the contrived and complicated intellectualism of the rabbinical scholars. When Jesus says, "I tell you the truth", He underscores His personal message and the weight of His name on the teaching. In other words, Jesus delights personally if you heed His personal teachings, which call for submission to God even in circumstances of violence, suffering or oppression, and even surrendering one's rights.



The IBLP (Institute of Basic Life Principles) run by Dr. Bill Gothard stresses this principle of basic living, 'surrendering our rights' and releasing them into God's hands. (http://iblp.org/iblp/) In Matthew 5:40-41, Jesus uses the analogy of Roman law's oppressive force upon the Jews to illustrate this very point. According to Roman law under Caesar, any Roman soldier had the power to take hold of a Jew and force him to carry his heavy standard-issue backpack and supplies, up to a distance of a mile before he was free to go about his business - this was customary Roman law. Jesus taught that if one of His disciples were to be faced with this kind of injustice and oppression, they were to be cheerful, and even offer to 'go the second mile.' That's where we get the phrase from today, typicalising cheerful service and going beyond the 'call of duty' - another phrase we trace to Christ's teachings. Similarly, when one was slapped - a sign of grave physical insult and disrespect, Christ's followers were to hold in their rage, and even offer the other side for chastisement and humiliation.

What kind of people did Christ expect to follow Him - long-suffering, patient, supernaturally-gifted and tolerant believers who find it easy to get along with others? No, Christ's followers were like me and you - intolerant, impatient, selfish, proud, busy, cosmpolitan, quick-tempered, sensitive and petty men and women. Peter, in particular was known for his rage and quick-tempered, retaliatory ways, going so far as to slice off a Roman soldier's ear when in a fit. Likewise, Paul, otherwise known as Saul was legendary for his enmity and hatred of heretic followers of the 'Way'. In that sense then, we are all to learn waht it means to adopt this revolutionary 'turning of cheek' and self-sacrifice. At the heart of Christ's teaching was humility and meekness, which entitled you to 'inherit the earth'. Be as meek as lambs.




Application:
Can you surrender your rights today? What things in your life do you have particular problems letting go of? Your pride, ego, position, money, or power? Do you think God is calling you to revolutionarily let go of the precious things? If you put the King on His throne in your heart, will He have full ownership of all your property, resources and time? Your face, reputation and profile are not your own, neither is your time. Christ bought it all with His blood - it belongs to Him, leased out to you and me.