Vows, revenge, and enemies! – Matthew 5:33-48
Vows, revenge, and enemies! – Matthew 5:33-48
By Pastor Lee Hemen
March 24, 2019
Foul language, disrespect, arrogance and revengeful attitudes have become a societal norm. So much so you have those who actually think that you can dictate through laws how to make people act respectful toward one another. The Washington State Legislature is considering a law that would enforce rules against bullying in schools. Believe me it will not stop the perceived problem they are trying to solve. Laws are a Band-Aid approach to a deeper problem.
Remember Jesus was trying to get his audience to realize that it isn’t what comes out of a person that matters as much as what is inside a person. Jesus taught that “The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks. (Luke 6:45 NIV)” That which is “stored up” inside of us is what truly shows the world what we believe when it comes flowing out of us. This is why Jesus now addresses the issues of vows, revenge, and how one treats their enemies…
READ: Matthew5:33-48
For some the old adage “A promise made is a promise kept” still means something while for others it is simply something you say in order to get people to feel good about you. Words mean things. My Dad would teach us that “A man is only as good as his word” and when you make an oath or promise it means something to those you make it to and you keep it. Jesus taught that…
I. Our words should be our bond! (Vv. 33-37)
“Again, you have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘Do not break your oath, but keep the oaths you have made to the Lord.’ But I tell you, do not swear at all: either by heaven, for it is God’s throne; or by the earth, for it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King. And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black. Simply let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.”
1. Jesus continues with their distorted view of how they taught the Law: “Again, you have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘Do not break your oath, but keep the oaths you have made to the Lord.’” To make an oath meant that you were willing to abide by what you promised to do, however, by Jesus’ time people actually thought that if they did not use God’s name or anything pertaining to him, like the temple, they could get away with breaking their vows. Jesus is relating that nothing could be further from the truth. While the Pharisees were quick to make a vow they were just as quick to ignore them if it no longer suited them and they would deliberately use certain wording so they could not be held accountable when they broke their promises! If it sounds like a lawyer it should because the means of using the right phrase to escape liability was an art form for them! God detested it then just as he does now! They would say things like “By Jerusalem the holy city” or “as heaven is my witness” knowing all along that they were already thinking of how they could break their oath because they had not actually been bound by using God’s real name! It’s kind of like when people use “Jimmie Crickets” or “gosh darn” instead of Jesus’ or God’s name when they swear. Don’t they realize that God looks at the intent? Jesus was not fooled by their turning of a phrase and tells the crowd, “But I tell you, do not swear at all: either by heaven, for it is God’s throne; or by the earth, for it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King. And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black.” Words matter and when you make a promise you should keep it because of who you are and whom you represent: The Lord! This is why Jesus tells them to keep it simple and to not try to fool anyone: “Simply let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.” As believers our words should be our bond!
EXAMPLE: “Don’t make a promise you can’t keep” my father once told me. He was correct because a person is only as good as their word. In our day we have forgotten just how important our words can be. Teenagers have learned that a few snarky words posted online can destroy one’s reputation. Far too often we hear politicians using words to escape taking a stand on issues or to be held accountable. I have even seen and heard this in Christian churches where folks are nice to one’s face but use hurtful words when describing the person to others. “Bless their hearts.” Jesus boldly taught that as his disciples our words should be our bond!
Revenge has become something to be admired in movies, video games, books, and TV but in real life it can get you jail time. The latest mass shootings are a form of revenge perpetrated by their attacker on people they seek to do harm against in order to justify their distorted worldview. In a further discussion on favorite sayings concerning the notion of revenge we find Jesus teaching that…
II. Personal payback should be replaced by compassion! (Vv. 38-42)
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.”
1. We think we’ve got it bad when our Internet goes down or our cell connection drops and we want someone to be responsible for it! Recently millennials were asked what they thought was the worst thing that could happen to them and most said not getting any “likes” on a personal post! We say that bullying has no place in our society yet we have fostered it by allowing bullies to not suffer the consequences of their actions. Instead of allowing for payback Jesus teaches us something quite radical. He again reminds his listeners, “You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’” Jesus was referring to several Old Testament passages: “Show no pity: life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot. (Deuteronomy 19:21 NIV)” They were called the lex talionis, the law of retaliation. This law was given to protect the innocent and to make sure retaliation did not occur beyond the offense. The Pharisees used this as a means to extract vengeance on those that disagreed with them or those they disliked for whatever reason. Jesus however dramatically changes this by relating, “But I tell you, do not resist an evil person.” He could not be serious, could he? Jesus’ disciples had to be different than the rest of the world. Pay back or vengeance was not to be a part of their lives. God’s children are to be changed and practice his righteousness, compassion, and humility. So Jesus continues by telling his astonished listeners, “If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.” What Jesus is asking his followers to do was humanly impossible for them to do without the presence of Jesus in their lives. Any Roman soldier could enlist anyone to carry his pack for a certain distance and now Jesus is telling them that they should actually carry it even further without being asked!? Yes and even farther! Jesus also wanted them to not lend money or anything else to one another but instead give freely from their heart! Personal payback should be replaced by compassion!
EXAMPLE: There is a famous scene from the movie Princes Bride where Spanish pirate Inigo Montoya longs to find the mysterious six-fingered man who scarred his face and murdered his father. He has spent his entire life training to be a master swordsman, endlessly rehearsing the words he will speak to the murderer when he finds him. Montoya’s moment arrives when he encounters the sadistic Count Rugen, the six-fingered man. Over and over, he says the words: “Hello! My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die!” He kills his nemesis but realizes he can’t have his father back by doing so; Jesus teaches us that personal payback should be replaced by compassion!
I find it astonishing that it seems easier for some folks to go around the world than across the street to be neighborly. In the continuation of Jesus’ discussion concerning oaths he faces head on his society’s idea of who constituted their “neighbor” just who they should consider being friendly with or doing something for. Interestingly we do the very same thing. We discover Jesus teaching us that…
III. Our adversary should become our prayer concern! (Vv. 43-48)
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”
1. The Pharisees had taught contrary to what God commanded to hate their enemies so Jesus reminds his disciples, “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’” They had either forgotten or deliberately neglected what God had actually told them: “Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against one of your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD. (Leviticus 19:18 NIV)” Instead of getting angry, wanting retribution, or hating their enemies God desired something extraordinary: “But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven.” His disciples were to be like him! If they were to be the children of God they needed to act like his children but this was impossible without Jesus in their lives! It was totally inconceivable for the Pharisees to care about anyone else but their own but God was not like them. He loves everyone even when they do not love him! In fact “He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.” So Jesus begins to ask them a series of questions to make them think about whom they really followed, their ungodly teachers or would they listen to him? “If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that?” The Pharisees could not even think they were to be kind to tax-collectors or their enemies! Yet Jesus relates that even the unbelieving pagans could be kind and compassionate to their enemies unlike the Pharisees! Jesus’ followers were to be different than the Pharisees! They were to be better and in fact they were to “Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” Of course it was impossible until they gave their faith and trust to Jesus but when that happens, Jesus is tacitly teaching us that our adversary should become our prayer concern!
EXAMPLE: When was the last time you prayed for your enemy? Not the coined phrase whereby we try to escape the requirement of compassion and pray, “Lord, you have your will with them” but rather where you earnestly and deliberately pray for those who seek to do you harm. When was the last time you went out of your way to help someone you dislike? Have you ever given someone money without ever expecting anything in return? We all want recognition for the help we give or the money we lend but Jesus says we should not. In fact Jesus related that our adversary should become our prayer concern!
Conclusion:
Our words should be our bond! Personal payback should be replaced by compassion! Our adversary should become our prayer concern!
---
This article is copyrighted © 2019 by Lee Hemen and is the sole property of Lee Hemen, and may not be used unless you quote the entire article and have my permission.
By Pastor Lee Hemen
March 24, 2019
Foul language, disrespect, arrogance and revengeful attitudes have become a societal norm. So much so you have those who actually think that you can dictate through laws how to make people act respectful toward one another. The Washington State Legislature is considering a law that would enforce rules against bullying in schools. Believe me it will not stop the perceived problem they are trying to solve. Laws are a Band-Aid approach to a deeper problem.
Remember Jesus was trying to get his audience to realize that it isn’t what comes out of a person that matters as much as what is inside a person. Jesus taught that “The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks. (Luke 6:45 NIV)” That which is “stored up” inside of us is what truly shows the world what we believe when it comes flowing out of us. This is why Jesus now addresses the issues of vows, revenge, and how one treats their enemies…
READ: Matthew5:33-48
For some the old adage “A promise made is a promise kept” still means something while for others it is simply something you say in order to get people to feel good about you. Words mean things. My Dad would teach us that “A man is only as good as his word” and when you make an oath or promise it means something to those you make it to and you keep it. Jesus taught that…
I. Our words should be our bond! (Vv. 33-37)
“Again, you have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘Do not break your oath, but keep the oaths you have made to the Lord.’ But I tell you, do not swear at all: either by heaven, for it is God’s throne; or by the earth, for it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King. And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black. Simply let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.”
1. Jesus continues with their distorted view of how they taught the Law: “Again, you have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘Do not break your oath, but keep the oaths you have made to the Lord.’” To make an oath meant that you were willing to abide by what you promised to do, however, by Jesus’ time people actually thought that if they did not use God’s name or anything pertaining to him, like the temple, they could get away with breaking their vows. Jesus is relating that nothing could be further from the truth. While the Pharisees were quick to make a vow they were just as quick to ignore them if it no longer suited them and they would deliberately use certain wording so they could not be held accountable when they broke their promises! If it sounds like a lawyer it should because the means of using the right phrase to escape liability was an art form for them! God detested it then just as he does now! They would say things like “By Jerusalem the holy city” or “as heaven is my witness” knowing all along that they were already thinking of how they could break their oath because they had not actually been bound by using God’s real name! It’s kind of like when people use “Jimmie Crickets” or “gosh darn” instead of Jesus’ or God’s name when they swear. Don’t they realize that God looks at the intent? Jesus was not fooled by their turning of a phrase and tells the crowd, “But I tell you, do not swear at all: either by heaven, for it is God’s throne; or by the earth, for it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King. And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black.” Words matter and when you make a promise you should keep it because of who you are and whom you represent: The Lord! This is why Jesus tells them to keep it simple and to not try to fool anyone: “Simply let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.” As believers our words should be our bond!
EXAMPLE: “Don’t make a promise you can’t keep” my father once told me. He was correct because a person is only as good as their word. In our day we have forgotten just how important our words can be. Teenagers have learned that a few snarky words posted online can destroy one’s reputation. Far too often we hear politicians using words to escape taking a stand on issues or to be held accountable. I have even seen and heard this in Christian churches where folks are nice to one’s face but use hurtful words when describing the person to others. “Bless their hearts.” Jesus boldly taught that as his disciples our words should be our bond!
Revenge has become something to be admired in movies, video games, books, and TV but in real life it can get you jail time. The latest mass shootings are a form of revenge perpetrated by their attacker on people they seek to do harm against in order to justify their distorted worldview. In a further discussion on favorite sayings concerning the notion of revenge we find Jesus teaching that…
II. Personal payback should be replaced by compassion! (Vv. 38-42)
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.”
1. We think we’ve got it bad when our Internet goes down or our cell connection drops and we want someone to be responsible for it! Recently millennials were asked what they thought was the worst thing that could happen to them and most said not getting any “likes” on a personal post! We say that bullying has no place in our society yet we have fostered it by allowing bullies to not suffer the consequences of their actions. Instead of allowing for payback Jesus teaches us something quite radical. He again reminds his listeners, “You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’” Jesus was referring to several Old Testament passages: “Show no pity: life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot. (Deuteronomy 19:21 NIV)” They were called the lex talionis, the law of retaliation. This law was given to protect the innocent and to make sure retaliation did not occur beyond the offense. The Pharisees used this as a means to extract vengeance on those that disagreed with them or those they disliked for whatever reason. Jesus however dramatically changes this by relating, “But I tell you, do not resist an evil person.” He could not be serious, could he? Jesus’ disciples had to be different than the rest of the world. Pay back or vengeance was not to be a part of their lives. God’s children are to be changed and practice his righteousness, compassion, and humility. So Jesus continues by telling his astonished listeners, “If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.” What Jesus is asking his followers to do was humanly impossible for them to do without the presence of Jesus in their lives. Any Roman soldier could enlist anyone to carry his pack for a certain distance and now Jesus is telling them that they should actually carry it even further without being asked!? Yes and even farther! Jesus also wanted them to not lend money or anything else to one another but instead give freely from their heart! Personal payback should be replaced by compassion!
EXAMPLE: There is a famous scene from the movie Princes Bride where Spanish pirate Inigo Montoya longs to find the mysterious six-fingered man who scarred his face and murdered his father. He has spent his entire life training to be a master swordsman, endlessly rehearsing the words he will speak to the murderer when he finds him. Montoya’s moment arrives when he encounters the sadistic Count Rugen, the six-fingered man. Over and over, he says the words: “Hello! My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die!” He kills his nemesis but realizes he can’t have his father back by doing so; Jesus teaches us that personal payback should be replaced by compassion!
I find it astonishing that it seems easier for some folks to go around the world than across the street to be neighborly. In the continuation of Jesus’ discussion concerning oaths he faces head on his society’s idea of who constituted their “neighbor” just who they should consider being friendly with or doing something for. Interestingly we do the very same thing. We discover Jesus teaching us that…
III. Our adversary should become our prayer concern! (Vv. 43-48)
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”
1. The Pharisees had taught contrary to what God commanded to hate their enemies so Jesus reminds his disciples, “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’” They had either forgotten or deliberately neglected what God had actually told them: “Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against one of your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD. (Leviticus 19:18 NIV)” Instead of getting angry, wanting retribution, or hating their enemies God desired something extraordinary: “But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven.” His disciples were to be like him! If they were to be the children of God they needed to act like his children but this was impossible without Jesus in their lives! It was totally inconceivable for the Pharisees to care about anyone else but their own but God was not like them. He loves everyone even when they do not love him! In fact “He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.” So Jesus begins to ask them a series of questions to make them think about whom they really followed, their ungodly teachers or would they listen to him? “If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that?” The Pharisees could not even think they were to be kind to tax-collectors or their enemies! Yet Jesus relates that even the unbelieving pagans could be kind and compassionate to their enemies unlike the Pharisees! Jesus’ followers were to be different than the Pharisees! They were to be better and in fact they were to “Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” Of course it was impossible until they gave their faith and trust to Jesus but when that happens, Jesus is tacitly teaching us that our adversary should become our prayer concern!
EXAMPLE: When was the last time you prayed for your enemy? Not the coined phrase whereby we try to escape the requirement of compassion and pray, “Lord, you have your will with them” but rather where you earnestly and deliberately pray for those who seek to do you harm. When was the last time you went out of your way to help someone you dislike? Have you ever given someone money without ever expecting anything in return? We all want recognition for the help we give or the money we lend but Jesus says we should not. In fact Jesus related that our adversary should become our prayer concern!
Conclusion:
Our words should be our bond! Personal payback should be replaced by compassion! Our adversary should become our prayer concern!
---
This article is copyrighted © 2019 by Lee Hemen and is the sole property of Lee Hemen, and may not be used unless you quote the entire article and have my permission.
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