Matthew 5:38-42

DAY 37

Date: 2-2-25

Passage Title:

Eye for Eye

* Everything with an asterisk and is italicized and purple is my own added words and thoughts and are not part of the actual verse or quote. 

Pray

Read scripture: Matthew 5:38-42

(NIV 1984) You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ 39 But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. 40 And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. 41 If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. 42 Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.

Q: Does anyone here believe in turning the other cheek?

Would you actually do it?

Why would you do it?

INDUCTIVE BIBLE STUDY METHOD

Observation. Interpretation. Application.

Simply stated, it works by asking yourself three questions as you study read and God’s Word:

1. What does it say? (Observation) Or – what does it NOT say?
2. What does it mean? (Interpretation) Or – what does it NOT mean?
3. How does this apply to me? (Application)

Let’s go thru today’s passage using the Inductive Method:

Observation – What does it say?

Our book says, on page 69, that the law provides for – at a maximum – an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth. “Punishment to fit the crime, right? But Jesus says, “Do not resist an evil person.” So, this verse says that 

1. Evil people do exist.
2. Do not resist them. 

Interpretation – What does it mean?

The world teaches vengeance, revenge, getting even with people who hurt us. An eye for an eye. This is “OPPOSITE WORLD.” The world of man, in many ways, is the OPPOSITE of the World of God, or as Matthew calls it, the Kingdom of Heaven. 

OPPOSITE WORLD, the fallen world of man, is diametrically opposed to Jesus’ teaching to love our enemies. The worlds philosophy of “looking out for number one,” is diametrically opposed to God’s philosophy of not considering ourselves too highly, but considering others more important than ourselves.

Philippians 2:3-5 says, “3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. 4 Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.

5 Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: (NIV 1984) 

When we hear, “Do not resist and evil person,” in our worldly human nature, self-preservation kicks in and we feel a natural inclination to protect and defend ourselves, even at – sometimes – a cost to others. 

Jesus says this is not the way of God. Jesus says in Matthew 16:24-27,  “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. 25 For whoever wants to save their life (self-preservation – Opposite Workd thinking) will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it (Kingdom World thinking).

 25 For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it. 26 What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? 27 For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what they have done.” (NIV)

And Jesus again says the same thing in Mark 8:34-38, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. 35 For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it. 36 What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? 37 Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? 38 If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his Father’s glory with the holy angels.” (NIV) 

And again in Luke 14:27, He says, “whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.” (NIV) 

So, what does follow me mean? 

Surely it means more than just simply walking behind Jesus all around Galilee. No. It means to learn from Him. To imitate Him. To do as He does. To “Follow His Lead in Word and Deed.”

If we admit  and acknowledge  that God is God, and we are not, then we must, even it it is hard, acknowledge that He know things that we do not know. He has a higher and richer and deeper understanding of how life truly works. And getting even with others may feel good momentarily, but it DOES NOT WORK.

This is the meaning of Psalm 37:3a

Trust in the Lord, and do good.

Surely it means more than just simply walking behind Jesus all around Galilee. No. It means to learn from Him. To imitate Him. To do as He does. To “Follow His Lead in Word and Deed.”

If we admit  and acknowledge  that God is God and we are not, then we must, even if it is hard, acknowledge that He know things that we do not know. He has a higher and richer and deeper understanding of how life truly works. And getting even with others may feel good momentarily, but it DOES NOT WORK.

This is the meaning of Psalm 37:3a

Trust in the Lord, and do good.

OVERVIEW of PASSAGE

Christian character is different than the world’s character. In many ways, it is opposite. I call it Opposite World.

To follow Christ is to be very different from the world.

We are to:

1. DIE to ourselves
2. Live for God
3. And for our neighbor. 

Our passage today is difficult, but can, I think, be best understood and interpreted by Luke 10:27 and Romans 12.

Luke 10:27

(NIV) “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”

Romans 12:1-21

(NIV 1984) 1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God–this is your spiritual act of worship. 2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is–his good, pleasing and perfect will.

3 For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you.

4 Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5 so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. 6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man’s gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. 7 If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; 8 if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.

Love

9 Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.10 Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. 11 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. 12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. 13 Share with God’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.

14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. 16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.

17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody.18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 19 Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. 20 On the contrary:

“If your enemy is hungry, feed him;

if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.

In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.”

21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

The MAIN POINT

 We don’t do things our way. We do things God’s way, keeping an eternal perspective in everything. 
This life this earth will soon pass away, but the person who does the will of God will live forever.

Who will you bring to heaven with you?

APPLICATION

God has mercy on us. Shouldn’t we have mercy on others? 

God forgave us. Shouldn’t we forgive others?

God has shown us INCREDIBLE grace. Shouldn’t we do the same?

This is the essence of Christlikeness. 

Grace and Mercy and Forgiveness are key.

Matthew 6:12 has a hard teaching on forgiveness:
12 Forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.

And in Matthew 6:14 comes a very hard teaching;
14 For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.

Read Romans 12.

Study Romans 12.

Memorize Romans 12.

Mediate and Pray over each verse.

Ask God to show you how this should look in your life, how you can live it out. 
If you live a Romans 12 life, you will live your life to the Glory of God!

RELAVANT VERSES

EXO 21:23-24 
But if there is serious injury, you are to take life for life, 24 eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, 25 burn for burn, wound for wound, bruise for bruise.

Lev 24:19-20
(NIV) 19 Anyone who injures their neighbor is to be injured in the same manner: 20 fracture for fracture, eye for eye, tooth for tooth. The one who has inflicted the injury must suffer the same injury.

Deut 19:21
(NIV) 21 Show no pity: life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot.

Romans 12:14-21
(NIV) 14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. 16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited. 17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. 18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 19 Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. 20 On the contrary:

“If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.
In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.”
21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

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Notes:

* Everything with an asterisk is my own added words and thoughts and are not part of the actual verse or quote.