RESPONDING WITHOUT RETALIATING
Matthew 5:38-42

(Illus: Late one summer evening in Broken Bow, Nebraska , and a weary truck driver pulled his rig into an all-night truck stop…) We are living in a day where we like to celebrate our rights. As a nation, we have certainly taken this concept of rights and applied it everywhere. We talk about civil rights, women's rights, children's rights, worker's rights, victim's rights, defendant's rights, gay rights, prisoner's rights, and the list goes on and on. We want what we think is ours and we are willing to fight for it. When anyone threatens our rights or takes what we think belongs to us, we are inclined to retaliate. Retaliation has been the way of human beings since the beginning of time. We like the idea of an eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth. We think that this is justice. The only problem is that sooner or later the entire world will be blind and toothless. Here in the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus deals directly with the issue of rights. He reveals how we are to respond when we have been wronged. He gives us valuable insight into the selfish desires which drive us and cause us to be consumed with self-interest. In doing so, He reveals how we can avoid being blind and toothless ourselves. How do you respond to being wronged? All of us have been wronged, and all of us have wanted to get back at the one responsible. Has that attitude helped us? Did it really make us feel better? Could it be that this kind of thinking has actually hurt us? Is there a better way? Our text reveals that there is a better way than retaliation. There is a higher ground upon which we must walk as believers in Jesus Christ. It is the road of compassion. While the common maxim is to exact justice, the correct response is to show compassion. Let's examine the two choices we have when we are wronged.

I.          THE PRINCIPLE OF JUSTICE (V.38)

Jesus quoted directly from three Old Testament passages: Exodus 21:24; Leviticus 24:20; and Deuteronomy 19:21. There the principle of exact justice was put forth. The justice required in this law is that the punishment must fit the crime precisely. In Exodus it speaks of "eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burn for burn, wound for wound, stripe for stripe." Additionally, in Leviticus it speaks of "breach for breach." (to bruise or break).

            A.        Provided For Civil Justice

It should be noted that in each of these passages the context is one of civil justice. When someone was guilty of a crime, they would be brought to the civil authorities, tried, and punishment would be ordered. This was done for at least two reasons: to reduce crime and to assure fair punishment. But, as has been said, this was always done in the context of civil justice. The idea of personal retaliation was not in view. In fact, this law itself deals with our propensity to take matters into our own hands. Our desire to personally retaliate is checked by this law.

            B.         Protected Against Corrupted Justice

This law protected society by dealing with those who committed the crimes. It also protected justice by dealing fairly and exactly with criminal behavior and punishment. It also protected people by assuring that justice was fair and that people received no more or less than they deserved, whether they were victims or criminals. What happened to this law is what happened to most of the laws of God. It was perverted by the people to accommodate their own sinful desires. It was made into a law to allow for personal retaliation. It became the justification for inflicting wrong upon people in the name of justice. It simply fed the sinful, selfish human desires to get even.

II.         THE PURPOSE OF GOD (VV.39-42)

Jesus reveals to us that God has a higher purpose for our lives. He doesn't call us to retaliation, rather He calls us to a life of compassion. We can either assert our rights or we can live by a higher law. We can become a testimony to His mercy.

            A.        To Engage In Spiritual Warfare Against The Forces Of Evil

When it says do not resist him who is evil, it is not saying not to resist evil. We are, of course, to stand against evil. The Bible clearly teaches us that we are to speak the truth, to stand for the oppressed, to uphold righteousness, and to battle the devil. We are in a spiritual warfare. And the reason that we are in this warfare is precisely because we do stand for truth and righteousness and stand against evil. The forces of evil come against those who stand against evil. So we are clearly to engage in this spiritual warfare against the forces of evil.

But what Jesus is saying is that we are never to personally retaliate against other people. We are never to take matters into our own hands as if justice depended upon us. When we do that, we merely feed the selfish, sinful desires of our own human hearts. We sow the seeds of our own destruction when we assume the mantel of divine justice. Anger and hatred find fertile soil in our hearts in which to grow when we personally retaliate. It is to this root of retaliation that Jesus puts the axe.

            B.         To Show The Love Of God Through Our Lives

Jesus gives us the solution to a heart of retaliation. He instructs us to turn the other cheek, to give more than is required, to go the extra mile, to show mercy to the less fortunate.

To turn the other cheek when someone gives us an insulting slap is not what we really want to do. We want to strike back. We feel we have the right. When someone wrongs us, to be willing to give more than is required is not something we relish. We want to defend ourselves and be vindicated. When we feel we are being taken advantage of, being willing to go along with that and beyond is not our first impulse. But Jesus calls us to live by a higher law. He calls us to show mercy and compassion where mercy and compassion are not deserved.

What purpose does this serve? Why would Jesus call us to live by this higher law? He calls us to compassion in order to show the love of God through our lives. By doing so, we become a living testimony to His grace and mercy. This is what Jesus is after in our lives. He wants to conform us to His own image. He wants to develop our character to the point where we are not concerned to assert our own rights. He desires that we look at others through His eyes, eyes of compassion, which see people based on their needs.

(Illus: Is anyone brought closer to the Kingdom by your asserting your rights? Is anyone brought closer to the Kingdom by your retaliation?) I think the answer is obvious. We do not win people to Jesus by beating them up. We were not won that way. Neither do we become more like Christ by asserting our rights. He never did.

God has a purpose. His purpose is to show His grace through His people. His purpose is to touch people's hearts by His mercy. His purpose is to develop our character so that we are conformed to the nature of Jesus Christ. His purpose is to reveal His Kingdom on earth through His people.

Conclusion:       The choice is yours. The choice is either to take matters in your own hands or to be an agent of the Kingdom of God . You can assert your rights or you can reach out to others. You can retaliate or you can show compassion.

How do you respond to others? Has it caused you grief or been a blessing? Are you bitter or better? Are you struggling with anger, even hatred, or have you experienced compassion for others who are struggling? It really is a matter of perspective. If we could only see the pain of other people through the eyes of Jesus, we would respond in mercy and in love. Which way will you choose?