So my wife, Sarah, and I have been leading a discussion on Sunday mornings centered around the teachings of Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount. (Check out Randy Harris' book Living Jesus) Our understanding in the class is that Jesus meant the things he taught in this sermon and that by living those things not only will we become better disciples, but better humans.
We have had some great discussion up to this point and this past Sunday's discourse was no different. This week we centered on the passage in Matthew 5:38-42 which says "You have heard it said 'Eye for eye. Tooth for tooth.' But I tell you don't resist an evil person." Jesus goes on to give three examples that would have resonated with the Jewish listeners of the time. He says if someone insultingly slaps you across the right cheek give them the left as well. Or if someone is suing you for your outer cloak, give them the inner one too. Or if someone asks you to walk a mile with them (typical protocol was for people to carry the packs of the Roman soldiers for one mile), go two with them. If you do any type of research on these examples you'll find that Jesus is challenging us to another way. Not retaliating or seeking revenge, but also not being trampled on by those who are bullying us. These examples are almost playfully sarcastic in the way they are presented. For someone to slap you on the right cheek and then the left, you would have to turn your head in such a way where they look you in the eyes as you invite the next blow as if to say "Is that all you got?" To give someone you outer and inner cloaks would mean that you are standing naked before accusers...how do you respond that that?! And what if you went that extra mile, when the requirement is only one?
Shane Claiborne points out in Jesus for President that Jesus is always doing crazy stuff in the midst of conflict. In my Bible, I have two cross reference passages written to the side of this passage in the Sermon on the Mount. One is where Jesus is standing before Pilate hearing the claims of his accusers. Matthew 27:14 says "Jesus made no reply, not even to a single charge--to the great amazement of the governor." It's like Pilate was expecting Jesus to fight the charges, cause a disturbance, and try to get out of this mess....but Jesus doesn't do anything. Is he weak? Why won't he fight back?
The other passage comes a little earlier in the story when Jesus and his disciples are praying in the garden when the Jewish Mob comes to arrest him. There's a really weird thing that happens when all of this goes down. Peter, trying to protect Jesus, pulls out his sword and cuts off the ear of one of the servants. And Jesus applauds Peter for his diligence and zealousness for the Kingdom...........NOPE.
Jesus heals the ear of the man who has come to arrest him.
Not what you expect when you're reading through this story.
Now....back to the Sermon on the Mount. Jesus doesn't stop with these new ways of nonviolence, but he takes it one step further in Matthew 5:43-48 and says "You have heard it said, 'Love your neighbor, and hate your enemy.' But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you." This is the part where we might hear crickets in the background as the listeners think to themselves "Jesus has lost his mind." This line of thinking makes no sense, then or now. Jesus challenges the listeners by saying stuff like "If you only love people who love you back, what good is that?! Everyone can do that." Sheesh. I have to think that the crowd here is just stunned silent. (I say that because when we re-read this passage in our Bible class, there was really no response to be given.) This is one of those places in Scripture where Jesus is leaving very little wiggle room.
Don't seek revenge. Love your enemies.
That pretty much sums it up here.
But why do this? Why live this way? One of the ideas we keep coming back to in our class discussion is that Jesus wants us to be better representations of God and his mercy and grace (maybe that's why he concludes this section with "Be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.")
What good are we doing if we seek after revenge? What can come from us retaliating against someone who wrongs us or wishes to do us harm? What happens to our witness of Jesus Christ if we act out in anger (which he says is just as bad as murder) or lust (which he says is like adultery) or go back on the oaths we have made (which jades our integrity)? What would happen if we viewed people as people and less like objects to be used, abused, and controlled? How would our relationships change if we stopped trying to control people by seeking vengeance on them?
What would happen if we viewed every single person, no matter who they are or what they have done, as a child of God, created in His image, who is deeply cared for and loved by him?
What if we looked into people's eyes and saw Jesus?
Do we really believe in the saving power of Jesus Christ? Do we really believe he is in control? Or do we feel like we need to take matters into our own hands?
This concept has messed with me. It has challenged the very core of my being. It's hard to pray for those people who are our "enemies." (or those people who are hard, or even impossible, to love....) It's hard to not retaliate when someone challenges us in a way that demeans our humanity. Sometimes I catch myself being that person who is the controller and the insulter....giving the slaps instead of receiving. And it's in those moments that I need Jesus the most.
Who is your enemy? Who is the one insulting and demeaning you? Do those people deserved to be loved and cherished by God?
If not, then what difference are we making in this world.
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