SUMMARY OF MATTHEW 5:38-48
Jesus says that previously an eye for an eye was the rule, meaning if someone did you harm, you do them harm back. However, Jesus says the opposite. If someone does you harm, do not resist them. Give and lend to those who ask.
Jesus says to love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you. Love and greet everyone. God handles the evil.
BSF Study Questions Matthew Lesson 6, Day 5: Matthew 5:38-48
11) To not retaliate and to not resist. He teaches to respond in kindness, to love your enemies, and pray for those that persecute you.
12a) Most people want revenge and retaliation when they have been wronged. It can consume them.
b) Unsure. Unsure if I’m persecuted or if I have enemies.
13a) My goal is to strive to be like Jesus. Obviously, we can’t be perfect, but it’s a goal nevertheless. And goals are good things to have.
b) Galations 5:16 says to live by the Spirit and you won’t gratify the desires of a sinful nature. Ephesians 4:22-24 tells us to put on our new selves in Christ. Philippians 2:12-13 says that it is God who works in you for his purposes. The idea of “being perfect” is just to do good in your life and in others’. Use the power of Jesus to do so.
Conclusions BSF Study Questions Matthew Lesson 6, Day 5: Matthew 5:38-48
I had not remembered Jesus’s call to be perfect here. While I love shooting for goals, this is one we all will never reach. However, getting better every day is a good goal to have.
End Notes BSF Study Questions Matthew Lesson 6, Day 5: Matthew 5:38-48
You’ll find “an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth” here (Exodus 21:24). This command had been corrupted over time, which is why Jesus is clarifying it here. He says to let God be our defender when people insult us or do us wrong. Should you resist evil? Yes. However, the everyday slights and offenses shoulbe let go immediately and ignored. You just give it weight when you respond.
Jesus is using the slap here to mean insult. Obviously, if someone hits you, you defend yourself.
The cloak here is confusing. It’s referring to a Law that says that the outer cloak you were wearing could not be taken (Exodus 22:26; Deuteronomy 24:13).
Going the extra mile in Jesus’s time referred to the fact that Roman soldiers could command a Jew to carry their pack for one mile. This is where our saying comes from that now means to go above and beyond expectation. Read more HERE
Love Your Neighbor
Love your neighbor is an ancient Mosaic law (Leviticus 19:18). However, the teachers of the time were adding on to hate your enemies. The Bible never says this. Instead, Jesus says love your enemies who are our neighbors, too. Respond to your enemies in love, which is what God would do.
Christians are called to be better than others because of the power of the Holy Spirit. Our responses speak volumes about our relationship with God.
To be perfect, we need God’s righteouness (Romans 3:21-22) Keeping God’s laws makes up righteous.