Leveticus 19:1-2,17-18; Matthew 5:38-48
Just a few soundbites from the gospel on sunday:
"you have heard that it was said an eye for an eye and tooth for tooth but I say resist no evil"
"someone strikes you on the cheek turn and offer them the other"
"someone takes you to court over your tunic, give them your cloak"
"someone presses you to go 1 mile then go with them two"
"you have heard it was said love your neighbor hate your enemies but I say love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you so that you might be children of your heavenly Father who let's the sun shine on good and wicked and rain fall on just and unjust"
"be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect"
So what's the deal. Doesn't sound fair does it.
Someone hits on your cheek give them the other; go the extra mile; they want the shirt off your back then give them your cloak and stand naked before them; to your enemies give your love and prayers.
What about restitution? What about compensation for injury and hurt? What about redeeming our honor? What about getting even or getting back? Where is the fairness?
Here is the deal! Jesus does not come to teach us how to play fair! Jesus comes to show us how to be like God!
Be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect! Be holy for I am the lord your God is holy!
God is not about getting even or getting back He is always from all eternity the one who gives!
Even Jesus stands naked giving everything as he is stripped before the crowd as he is crucified. When people want to make themselves his enemies he prays for them: Father forgive them they know not what they do.
Give! Godlike! Is this not how we encounter true life: glory of God is man alive!
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