Reflecting

Reflecting God-like Grace (Matt. 5:17-20, 38-48) Which law did Jesus come to fulfill? (Matt. 5:17) Mosaic law (The Decalogue (i.e. Ten Commandments), Pentateuch (5 scrolls) etc.)? The Talmud (72 volumes, 12 Jerusalem, 60 Babylonian)? The Mishnah (Scribal law, 63 subject, 800 page rule book)? What does it mean that Jesus came to fulfill the law? We read in Rom. 10:4, "For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth." The word “end" in this passage is taken from the Greek word teleo which means "The aim, goal, the ultimate or prophetic purpose. What purpose? To reconcile mankind to God by paying the penalty ascribed to fallen man under the law. Through acceptance of that sacrifice and faith in Him, we have the opportunity to be found righteous before God and are therefore able to stand in His holy presence. The right motivation The Scribes and Pharisees lived to satisfy the law in the hope of being viewed as righteous by God and men. Christian’s live to demonstrate their love for God by obeying His law (John 14:15) Turn the other cheek Does that mean that Christians are to be “wimps”, “patsies”, pacifists? We are told to be slow to anger, but not forbidden to become angry (Prov. 14:29, James 1:19) We are told do justice (Gen. 18:19, Prov. 21:3) We are told that there is a time for war (Ecc. 3:8) "Lex Talionis" (Law of Retribution) which is found in several places in Torah (Ex. 21:24, Lev. 24:20 & Deut. 19:21). This "eye for an eye" provision was given by God to the Jewish society as a limitation on punishment or vengeance. Not a license! Misapplication often equals escalation (e.g. modern day Israel) The term "slaps you on the right cheek" refers not to the painful blow delivered in an assault, but to the intentionally insulting backhanded slap, designed to "express the greatest possible contempt and extreme abuse." (Jerochim Jeremias) “Rights” has become the byword of our generation. We speak of human-rights, women's-rights, children's-rights, worker's-rights, gay-rights, victim's-rights, patient’s-rights, animal-rights, etc. "A willingness to forgo one’s personal rights, and to allow oneself to be insulted and imposed upon, is not incompatible with a firm stand for matters of principle and for the rights of others. Indeed the principle of just retribution is not so much abrogated here as bypassed, in favor of an attitude which refuses to insist on one’s rights, however legitimate. Jesus is not reforming the legal code, but demanding an attitude which sits loose to personal rights." - R.T. France: Matthew (Volume 1, Tyndale New Testament Commentaries) Tolerate insult/injury without resort to retaliation and trust in God (Matt. 5:38-42, Lev. 19:18, Prov. 20:22; 24:29, Isa. 50:6, Lam. 3:30, Rom. 12:17-21, 1 Thess. 5:15, 1 Pe. 2:23, 3:9, 2 Pe. 3:9, God is not slow, just patient, wanting all to repent) Going the extra mile

As a conquered and occupied people, Jews living under Roman rule could be conscripted without notice to perform any number of tasks. The most common circumstance saw a Roman soldier requiring a passing Hebrew to carry his heavy armor for a "Roman Mile" (1,000 paces). We are also told that Roman Law stipulated that except in an emergency no one would be required to go farther than a mile. Going the second mile will break the hostility cycle. By responding in a loving and calm way to hostility we can lower the temperature a few degrees. In Proverbs 15:1 we are told that "A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger." Don’t just give the “bare minimum”, give/serve enthusiastically and cheerfully. Don’t be resentful, be gracious. Give him your cloak also (Matt. 5:40) Put others first and be generous beyond expectations, materially (Matt. 5:40 & 42) and in service (Matt. 5:41, 1 Cor. 10:24) Jesus replaced the law with an attitude: Be willing to suffer loss to yourself rather than cause another to suffer." - Warren W. Wiersbe (1 Cor. 6:7) The word translated as cloak was the heavy, blanket-thick outer garment. It was much more expensive to purchase than a tunic, and only wealthy men owned more than one. When traveling, men often slept under their cloaks. It served as both tent and bedroll. So important to a man was the possession of his cloak that the law strictly forbade its being taken from him. The principle here is not primarily the avoidance of lawsuits, but a radically unselfish attitude to one’s rights and property." R.T. France What is called upon here is a truly radical change of heart toward one’s financial resources and possessions. They are to mean so little to us personally that to give them away to one who is in need does not represent so great a sacrifice that we would grieve over no longer having them. A free and unselfish attitude toward material possessions is indicative of a strong trust in God. Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you (Matt. 5:44) Did the saying about hating your enemy come from God’s law? (Matt 5:43, compare Ex. 23:4, Prov. 25:21, Luke 6:35, Rom. 12:20) Why should we love our enemy? To be sons of our Father in Heaven (Matt. 5: 9 & 45) To be set apart (Matt. 5:46-57) To be perfect/complete as Our Heavenly Father is perfect/complete (Matt. 5:48) Sun & rain, life sustaining gifts, made available for all (Matt. 5:45, see also John 3:16-17) Pray for those who persecute you. (Luke 23:34, Acts 7:60) Do your actions/reactions reflect God-like grace?