Mission Hills Church
Jesus may be the most frustrating man to have ever lived because he consistently challenged people to take their lives to the next level. Getting comfortable meeting the minimum standards is never an option for those who choose to follow Jesus. As part of his famous “Sermon on the Mount” message, Jesus upped the expectations on serious, real life issues like anger, lust, marriage, and promise-keeping, causing even the most religious people of his day to sit up and exclaim, “He said what?!”
Matthew 5:38-39 NIV
1 // The first thing to understand is that the concept here is proportionate retribution = punishment must fit the crime.
2 // The second thing to understand is that this “eye for eye, tooth for tooth” business was instruction to the courts, not to individuals = this was instruction to the courts on how to make just rulings.
Jesus doesn’t think that “justice” is a high enough ideal.
HONOR // Matthew 5:39b
This is about someone insulting you or humiliating you publicly.-- So what Jesus is saying here is “if someone insults you publicly, don’t seek justice in the courts…in fact, give them another opening to do it again.”
Matthew 5:40 NIV
LAWSUIT //Matthew 5:40
Just give them the shirt…but beyond that, give them your coat as well, even though they have no legal right to take it.-- Why would Jesus ask us to volunteer what is unreasonable to request?
Matthew 5:41 NIV
CONSCRIPTION //Matthew 5:41
Under Roman law, a Roman soldier could force any non-Roman person in their territory to help carry supplies for up to one mile. If one mile is unjust, voluntarily going two miles makes no sense at all. -- Why would Jesus ask us to serve our enemies more than they require?
Matthew 5:42 NIV
SACRIFICIAL GIVING //Matthew 5:42
This is about unfailing generosity. But not generosity that we initiate. This is about generosity that is requested.-- Why would Jesus to direct us to an unfailing generosity?
Jesus Wants:
1 // Us to be vulnerable.
2 // Us to give more than is required.
3 // Us to serve our enemies.
4 // Us to practice unfailing generosity.
They’re all about sacrifice!
Because seeking justice will never really change things. Seeking justice for ourselves might hold the line for a while, but it will not transform our relationships.
Sacrifice is the secret sauce of transformation.
Sacrifice is not a guarantee of transformation, but it is a pre-requisite for it.