Sermon Matthew 5: 38-48 Be Perfect

Rev. Jeffrey T. Howard

Pitts Creek and Beaver Dam Churches

Sermon Matthew 5: 38-48 Be Perfect

February 23, 2014

For several weeks now we have been with Jesus on the side of a hill near Capernaum on the bank of the Sea of Galilee. Jesus is seated near the top of the hill. Around him are his disciples. The poor fisherman and farmers of the community have gathered to listen in. So far we have heard some surprising things about a new kingdom of heaven that is coming. As the advance guard of this coming kingdom Jesus wants us to publicly, and nonviolently obey the laws of God. To do this Jesus has given us some practical advice which helps us to obey the law. Today we will continue listening to Jesus' teaching, but first let's pray.

Lord, as I begin this new day, give me understanding, that I may observe your law of love. Lead me in the path of righteousness and teach me to delight in your way. Turn my heart to your word and help me forsake selfish gain. Confirm your promise in my heart and lead me to eternal life with Christ my Lord. Amen.¹

Matthew 5: 38 “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 anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also. 40 And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well. 41 If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles. 42 Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.

As was Jesus' customary teaching style he started by reminding everyone of the traditional law that all knew. “Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.” To understand this we have to get beyond eyes and teeth. This laws deals with the principle of proportionality. For example, someone crashes into your car causing $1500 in damages. Your car was legally parked and you have no fault. The person who damaged your car is required to pay $1500 no more and no less. The judgment must equal the damage. This is proportionality, an eye for an eye.

The purpose behind this principle is to prevent our anger from getting out of hand. Suppose someone hits us. Our reaction, out of anger, is to hit back and hurl an insult. The other person then hits again, hurls his own insult, and takes out his knife. And you are in a viscous cycle that leads to violence and death. But the law demands proportionality, not retribution leading to an ongoing feud.

So how would all this work in the context of the Roman occupation? According to Jesus the people were not engaging in a proportionate response. Rather, they were resisting. Resisting evil can take many forms. There is passive resistance where you do nothing and suffer the consequence. For example, a Roman soldier tells you to carry his pack for a mile, which Roman law says he can do. A passive resister would refuse to carry the pack and be thrown in jail. The other possibility is active resistance. You could take the soldier's pack and throw it in the river. Then you will find yourself in a fight with that soldier, a fight you will probably lose.

Jesus doesn't want anything to do with resistance. He argues for proportionality. But how would this work? Jesus' concern is with a proportional response based on love. God loves us with infinite love. What's our proportionate response? It is to love God will all our heart, soul and mind. And if we want to be loved, then what should we do? We should love our neighbor as we love ourselves. So a proportionate response to evil is to smother it with love.

When a Roman soldier wants you to carry his pack, don't resist. Rather make a proportionate response of love. Gladly offer to help, pick up his pack and carry it for not one but two miles. Image how happy that will make the Roman soldier. And image how receptive he will be when you talk to him about your God for two miles. So, according to Jesus, the way to deal with evil is not to resist it, but to overwhelm it with love. Jesus put it this way.

Matthew 5:43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 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. 46 If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47 And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? 48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

The traditional law, not in our Bible but in rabbinic teaching, is to love our neighbors but hate our enemies. But the God we follow doesn't hate our enemies. Have you noticed that God sends sunlight and rain to the fields of people we can't stand. This upsets us so much that we pray to God that he will hate them as much as we do. But God doesn't hate our enemies. He loves them.

There is a wonderful story from the author Victor Hugo in his book Les Miserables. This book has been turned into movies and a Broadway musical. In it there is a character named Jean Valjean. Valjean had just been released from prison and needed a place to stay. A pastor allowed him to stay in a room in the manse. That night Valjean decided to leave the manse and on his way out stole silver candlestick holders used by the church. These were very expensive. In the early morning hours Valjean was arrested and lied to the police saying that the pastor of the church had given him the candlestick holders. So the police took him back to the manse to ask the pastor if this was true. When they returned to the manse they reported to the pastor that Valjean had been caught. And they asked the pastor if he had given the candlestick holders to him. The pastor had to decided what to do.

The pastor must have hated Valjean for what he did. And he must have prayed that God would punished Valjean for his evil conduct. But the pastor was a disciple of Jesus Christ. He new that God loves everyone, even sinners. He knew that Jesus wants us to love our neighbor as we loves ourselves, and has told us to love our enemies. So he lied to the police and told them that he had given the candlestick holders to Valjean. And he allowed Valjean to keep them in order to start a new life.

All of this is called grace. Grace means we love those who do not deserve to be loved. The love we receive from God is certainly undeserved. We have done nothing to merit it. But our gracious God loves us anyway. And we are called to gracious love, loving those who don't deserve to be loved at all.

Valjean took the love he received from that pastor and turned it into love for other. He was given new life and used it to bring the transforming power of God's love to others. How could we do any less? We have been so blessed by God's love here in this church. Our mission is to love our families and friends and even our enemies as much as God loves us. So what are we to do? If someone needs something or demands something, give it to them, and go the extra mile publicly displaying God's love to the world.

Let's pray. Lord Jesus, we have heard your teaching this day. We will not to resist evil and hate our enemies. We pledge to do as you do, loving our enemies with such extravagant love that your grace is on display to our world. Amen.

1Kimberly Long, Feasting On the Word Worship Companion (Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press, 2013), 73.