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Dimension 5) Three Unfair Situations Christians Will Face

1) Punishment Without Crime

“You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if anyone would sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles.” (Matthew 5:38-41 ESV)

Jesus, more than anyone else in history, understands what it's like to suffer punishment for a crime He didn’t commit. He was whipped, beaten, and ultimately crucified, even though He lived the only perfect life in history. He did it so that we wouldn’t have to face that punishment ourselves. As Christians, we may face ridicule or even persecution for living out our faith and sharing God’s love. When this happens, we can take comfort in knowing that Jesus has already gone before us and understands our pain.

2) Giving Without Receiving

“Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you. “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.” (Matthew 5:42-45 ESV)

When you give to someone in need, you should do it without expecting anything in return. Jesus gave His life for us, fully knowing that many people would never love Him back. Since our inheritance is secure in heaven, we can be generous with our time, talent, and treasure, trusting that God will always meet our needs.

3) Care Without Gratitude

“For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” (Matthew 5:46-48 ESV)

As followers of Jesus, we’re called to love people who may never love us back. Maybe they come from a different background, have hurt us, or simply don’t understand us, but we’re still called to love them. Instead of showing kindness only to those we're close to, God invites us to reflect His heart by caring for those who are often overlooked or avoided.

Big Idea: Following Jesus often means facing unfair situations like being mistreated, giving without receiving, or loving without being loved in return. These moments give us the chance to reflect Jesus’ selfless love and demonstrate what it truly means to live for Him.

Let’s Think About This:

Question 1) How do you usually respond when someone treats you unfairly or unkindly? How does Jesus challenge this response in Matthew 5?

Question 2) Why do you think it’s so hard to give or love without expecting something in return? What helps you stay generous even when it feels one-sided?

Question 3) Without mentioning names, can you think of someone in your life who might be hard to love right now? What would it look like to love them the way Jesus describes?