The Sermon on the Mount: A 21-Day Guide to the Greatest Sermon Ever PreachedНамуна

The Heart of the Law, Part 3

As a reminder, every command in the Law and all the wisdom from the Prophets was intended to teach us how to love God with our whole selves and to love others as we love ourselves. Throughout this movement of the Sermon of the Mount, Jesus has been raising the bar for faithfulness to God and getting to the heart of obeying Him fully. Today, we’re looking at the final two “You’ve heard it said” statements. Let’s jump in.

“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 anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also. And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well. If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles. Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.” Matthew 5:38-42 NIV

In the Old Testament, as God was guiding the nation of Israel to set up a system of justice to appropriately punish wrongdoings, He told them, “But if there is serious injury, you are to take life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burn for burn, wound for wound, bruise for bruise” (Exodus 21:23-25 NIV).

Here, God was setting a standard for His people that naturally followed the same logic as the command to “love your neighbor as yourself,” but from the opposite direction. If you do harm to your neighbor, then justice would be that same harm being done to you. Because justice, in its basic understanding, is about giving people what they deserve. But, if we are to understand this directive from God correctly, we have to view it within the larger context.

1. This command was meant to be carried out by those within the judicial system, not individuals.
2. This command was given to limit the amount of punishment that could be assigned to a person, to prevent an escalation of violence.
3. This command was never intended to remove the option of mercy and grace being offered to the guilty party.

Why does this context matter? Because in Jesus’ day, individuals were using this specific command from God as an excuse to do wrong to the people who had wronged them—but that was never what God had in mind. So, Jesus does again what He’s been doing all throughout this part of His sermon.

He raises the bar and He gets to the heart.

He tells them, “Do not resist an evil person.” Based on everything else Jesus says and does, we can be confident that He is not telling us to passively lie down so that evil people can do whatever they want. Instead, He’s telling us to not resist evil through evil methods, because that just puts more evil into the world. Instead, we overcome darkness with the light of sacrificial love.

So, if someone slaps you, insults you, or takes advantage of you, don’t slap back, clap back, or respond in kind. We turn the other cheek, we hold our tongue, and we respond in love. Why? Because when we humbly take the high road and refuse to stoop to their level, we highlight their wrongness in a way they cannot ignore.

If someone tries to take what rightfully belongs to you, instead of clinging more tightly, open your hands and offer them even more than what they’re asking for. Why? Because the best response to human greed is the overwhelming generosity that flows from open hands.

If someone uses their authority to force you into service, go above and beyond what they ask. Why? Because doing so demonstrates your authority to decide for yourself. They’ll be forced to recognize how you used your authority to serve and how they used theirs to dominate.

So, when someone asks you for something, or wants to borrow from you, give them what they ask and then some—because this is exactly what our Heavenly Father does for us. He gives us more than we ask for and He loves us deeper than we can imagine. It is His generous and self-giving love that changes our hearts. And it is our reflection of this love that pierces the hearts of others.

“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 children 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 own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect. Matthew 5:43-48

Throughout the Jewish Scriptures, the command to “love your neighbor” shows up over and over again, which led to many people asking, “Who is my neighbor?” Often, this question was motivated far less by a desire to do what God asks and far more by a desire to do the bare minimum. However, throughout the Jewish Scriptures, God is working to open the eyes of His people to see all people as their neighbor.

In fact, just a few paragraphs after the command to “love your neighbor as yourself” first shows up in the Book of Leviticus, we read, “When a foreigner resides among you in your land, do not mistreat them. The foreigner residing among you must be treated as your native-born. Love them as yourself, for you were foreigners in Egypt. I am the Lord your God” (Leviticus 19:33-34 NIV).

Can you see it? The heart of God has always been for all people. In fact, if we rewind in the Bible to the beginning of Abraham’s story, God tells him that “all peoples on earth will be blessed through you” (Genesis 12:3 NIV).

Jesus raises the bar to the place it was always meant to be. And He gets to the heart of what the entire Bible is pointing to: for the people blessed by God to bring God’s blessing to the world, to love the unlovable, to give grace to the graceless, and to show mercy to the merciless.

This is what faithfulness to God really looks like.

What did Jesus say?

When others do wrong to you, resist the urge to get even; instead, choose to do good to them. That is how we push back the darkness and advance God’s kingdom.

Show love by the way you sacrifice yourself for the good of others—your neighbors, your enemies, strangers, and friends. Because they’re all a part of God’s world and invited into God’s kingdom.

What did Jesus do?

When others wronged Him, Jesus loved them. This is perhaps most clearly displayed in the words He spoke while hanging on the cross:

“... Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do. …” Luke 23:34 ESV

These people had just sentenced Jesus to death. They whipped Him. They screamed insults at Him. They mocked Him. They made Him carry His own cross upon His flayed and bloody back. They hammered nails into His hands and feet. And what does Jesus say? “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”

But He went even further than that, because it was through His sacrifice on the cross that all people can be forgiven of their sins and made right with God. It was through His self-giving love that He made a way for the enemies of God to enter His family.

How can I apply that to my life today?

The God we serve is merciful beyond what we can imagine. As representatives of Him, we should carry His mercy with us wherever we go—standing ready to forgive and make peace.

Take a moment to examine yourself. Are there places in your heart where you’re holding a grudge against someone? Are you trying—even now—to get back at them and make them feel the pain that you felt?

Take a moment to consider the mercy that Jesus extended to his enemies and to you. As a response to this generous mercy, think about how you can extend mercy to those who you see as your enemy.

Pray this prayer:

Father God, thank You for Your abundant mercy. Thank You for the sacrifice of Your son that covers my many sins. Father, I’ve been hurt and wronged. I know that You see it, You’re sad that I’m hurting, and that You will bring justice. Help me to surrender my need for revenge or justice to Your hands. You, the ultimate judge, will deal rightly with them. God, I know that the person who hurt me is probably also in pain. Please heal them and help them find peace in You. Please give me the opportunity to show them mercy in a way that shows Your love to them. I love You. In Jesus’ name, amen.