Skip to main content

88. An Eye for an Eye


Exodus 21:22-25, 22:21-27, Deuteronomy 24:10-13, Proverbs 19:11, Zechariah 7:9-10 Matthew 5:38-42
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.

Hymn: Depths of Mercy
 Love Your Enemies

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

October 27 Save the Glaze for the Bunny

Like a coating of glaze over earthenware are fervent lips of an evil heart. A malicious man disguises himself with his lips. But in his heart, he harbors deceit. Though his speech is charming, do not believe him, for seven abominations fill his heart. His malice may be concealed by deception, but his wickedness will be exposed in the assembly. If a man digs a pit, he will fall into it. If a man rolls a stone, it will roll back on him. ~Proverbs 26:23-28 For there are many rebellious people, mere talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision group. They must be silenced, because they are ruining whole households by teaching things they ought not teach—and that for the sake of dishonest gain. Even one of their own prophets has said, “Cretans are always liars, evil brutes, lazy gluttons.” This testimony is true. Therefore, rebuke them sharply, so that they will be sound in the faith and will pay no attention to Jewish myths or to the commands of those who reject the truth. T...
Post a Comment
Read more

July 16 Thick Skinned Love

Whoever covers over an offence promotes love, but whoever repeats the matter separates close friends. ~Proverbs 17:9 If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over. ~Matthew 18:15  The end of all things is near. Therefore, be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray. Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. ~1 Peter 4:7-8  Being offended seems to be the battle cry of the day. Instead of freedom of speech, everyone has the right not to be offended. If one is offended, then one has the right to exact vengeance on the offender because, of course, the offender KNEW that he or she was being offensive and just didn’t care. Is that how you see much of society behaving today?  There seems to be all of this offending and finger pointing that just keeps growing and growing. Nothing is being resolved, just more blame that grows louder a...
Post a Comment
Read more

January 24 You’ll See, He Remembers

The wise inherit honor, but fools He holds up to shame. ~Proverbs 3:35 “Tell the righteous it will be well with them, for they will enjoy the fruit of their deeds.” ~Isaiah 3:10 “God is not unjust; He will not forget your work and the love you have shown Him as you have helped His people and continue to help them. We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, in order to make your hope sure. We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised.” ~Hebrews 6:10-12 “The sins of some men are obvious, reaching the place of judgment ahead of them. The sins of others trail behind them. In the same way, good deeds are obvious, and even those that are not cannot be hidden.” ~1 Timothy 5:24-25 “But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken. For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.” ~Matthew 12:36-3...
Post a Comment
Read more