Skip to main content

88. An Eye for an Eye


Key Verse: This is what the Lord almighty says: "Administer true justice; show mercy and compassion to one another.
Zechariah 7:9

Here again, Jesus is finding another way to tell His listeners that it's all about grace. He is still referring to the law that they are all too familiar with, but helping them to see what His intent was when He gave it to Moses so many years ago. Even the original, "eye for an eye," was a command of grace, though that may seem hard for us to believe today. God's original call was for His people to practice self-control by limiting themselves and not giving in to the desire to vent full fury upon another. God was setting limits on His people. He especially called for restraint against the poor for whom He has a special ear.

Now, Jesus calls His disciples to not only exercise restraint, but practice grace, as He would one day extend to them through the cross. Don't just suffer, find a way to bless. Go the extra mile. Turn the other cheek. You're better than that! Don't let "THEM," define who you are. Don't respond like an animal, as your sinful, human nature would naturally call for. Behave as one created in the image of the creator, above the fray, to their shame and God's glory.

Even in our Old Testament readings, we see God's call for compassion. If you need to take another person's cloak in pledge for repayment, return it to him at night so that he won't get cold. Our human nature would respond to the poor man’s plight something like, "Well, that's his tough luck! He's just suffering the consequences of the fact that he hasn't paid me back yet so that I can return it to him permanently.” No, God calls for compassion and mercy to keep the indebted man from suffering cold while he sleeps.

In going the extra mile: it was common in Jesus' day for a Roman soldier to grab a non-Roman person, in this case a Jew, and demand that he carry the soldier's pack up to a mile for him. It was the Romans' way of reminding the common people of just who was boss. Jesus says, “Carry it two miles, with a good attitude, to let the soldier see grace and dignity.”

It is all about grace and attitude. It is about compelling others, through compassion, to Christ. Not because we have to, but because we want to because the love of Christ within us compels us to do so. It's a whole new way of living that is impossible without Him.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

211. The Sons of Thunder's Request

Matthew 20:20-28 , Mark 10:35-45 , Key verse: "Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all." Mark 10:43B-44 In our readings for yesterday, in which Jesus outlined what was about to happen to Him, for His disciples, the passage in Luke ends: "The disciples did not understand any of this. It's meaning was hidden from them, and they did not know what He was talking about." ( Luke 18:34 ) Now, we see just how truly clueless they were. Jesus had laid out a plan before them of pain and suffering and death and now James and John are focused on a promotion. The disconnect is so obvious. It's really not important to know whether James and john came up with this request on their own or if their mother put them up to it. The request was made and James and John thought that they could handle the responsibility that would come with it. What is that saying, "Fools rush in where angels fe...

204. Come Like a Child

Psalm 127 , Matthew 19:13-15 , Luke 18:15-17 , Mark 10:13-16 Key Verse: Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these." Matthew 19:14 The attitude of the disciples isn't much different than the attitude of many people, even Christians, today. Instead of seeing children as a blessing from the Lord, too many regard them as a burden to bear that gets in the way of our own selfish happiness. Family size is determined by what we think we can afford rather than openness to God's blessing, trusting God to provide. Satan hates children. Children represent innocence. The sooner he can corrupt and or damage a child, the happier he is. This is why Jesus warned in Matthew 18:6: "If anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck and to be drown in the depths of the sea." To corrupt or damage ...

174. Pleading for the Fig Tree

Proverbs 27:18 , Luke 13:6-9 Key Verse: He who tends a fig tree will eat its fruit, and he who looks after his master will be honored. Proverbs 27:18 We have here three main characters: a master, who acquired the tree in hopes of eventually enjoying its fruit, a servant, who looks to the tree to reflect his care and attention, and lastly, the tree itself. The master has the right to expect his investment to pay off. The servant, who has obviously put much effort into the tree, would also like to see fruit. The servant's interest is not only to show his own talent in gardening, but because he wants to please his master. Both the servant and the master are dependent upon the tree to do what it was designed to do. Their little parable is an interesting way for Jesus to finish off His exhortation to, "repent or perish."  God is the Master. He had a purpose for you before you were even born. ( Jeremiah 1:5 & Psalm 139:16 ) He planted you on this earth to ful...