Matthew 5:38 (KJV) Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth:
Exodus 21:24-25; Leviticus 24:20. That was the rule for the society, for the nation. It was a principle of perfect justice.
Matthew 5:39-41 (KJV) But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.
And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloke also.
And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain.
In these verses are Christ’s disciples. He is speaking of a principle that should reign in the spiritual kingdom He sets up in His people’s hearts. It has nothing whatever to do with how a nation governs itself. Governments must resist evil. The principle here concerns the relationship of Christ’s individual disciples to those who wrong them, not to the state’s relationship to individuals, or to other states. Those in Christ’s kingdom are to show forth the qualities of vs 3-12.
The desire for revenge is deeply rooted in man’s sinful nature. Some people kill others for some insult or slight injury. One purpose of the law of Moses was to prevent such a thing and promote perfect justice. Jesus goes further and reveals the attitude His people should show in the face of injury and injustice. They are not to demand their rights, or think of self, but consider how to do good to those who injure them.
God’s people must resist Satan and resist sin in the church. But here Jesus is speaking of evil persons who wrong them as individuals. This surely does not mean that Christians should not protect their families and help others who are in danger from evil men. But they are not to fight those who would do them some injury or injustice, or seek vengeance on them. Those in God’s kingdom are not to meet violence with violence, or force with force.
Jesus Himself pointed out the sins of the Jews and resisted the evil they did to God’s house. But He did not resist those who spit in His face and beat His back and crucified Him (though He could have called angels to His aid. Followers of Christ should follow Him in their attitude to personal injuries. This passage of Scripture has nothing to do with passive resistance to achieve political purposes.
Matthew 5:42 (KJV) Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away.
The principle is the same as that in the above verse – reject self and represent God’s spiritual kingdom which is one of grace, mercy, love and kindness. Disciples of Christ must think of others and their needs as He did. But should we give to a person who begs for money to buy intoxicating drink or drugs? Or to a crook who makes his living deceiving others? Surely our giving should not cause harm, or actually promote idleness, begging, or evil. The Lord Jesus wants us to be compassionate but not stupid. When people are in real need, we should help if we can. We may not be able to give what such people ask or all they ask, but we can give something.
Matthew 5:43-45 (KJV) Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.
But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.
Love is at the heart of God’s spiritual kingdom. The King is the embodiment of love and His rule is love and everyone in God’s kingdom must obey this rule. They are to aim at perfection of love. Love is the fulfilling of all God’s law.
The Old Testament nowhere said the Jews should hate their enemy, but that was the traditional teaching of the religious leaders in Israel. We cannot become God’s children by practicing the principle of love, but if we are God’s children, we show that we are such by practicing it (v 45). God loved His enemies and He does good to them.
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