Bible Study – Distinct (5) – Distinct in My Reactions – February 21, 2016

This is lesson five (5) in our series entitled “Distinct: Living above the Norm.”

Our focus scripture is Matthew 5:33-42.

Practice grace and integrity when others make demands of you.

How do Christians respond to demands? Demands often bring out our true nature. As salt and light how should Christians respond?

The “Do” and the “Do Not” list of the Jewish religious leaders had grown to 613. There were 248 positives – Do This and 365 negatives – Don’t Do This.

JESUS chose two to elaborate on “Oaths” and “Retaliation” is our focus scripture.

Let’s read Matthew 5:33-37:

Tell the Truth

33 "Again, you have heard that it was said to our ancestors, You must not break your oath, but you must keep your oaths to the Lord. 

Oaths had become complicated in JESUS’ day.

Not breaking an oath has its roots in Leviticus 19:12:

12 You must not swear falsely by My name, profaning the name of your God; I am the Lord.

An oath takes the form of a covenant made in the presence of GOD.

Numbers 30:2:

2 When a man makes a vow to the Lord or swears an oath to put himself under an obligation, he must not break his word; he must do whatever he has promised.

The Jewish religious leaders had defined a “binding oath” as an oath made in the name of GOD. An oath referring to heaven, earth, Jerusalem, or one’s head was less binding since there was no direct reference to GOD. It is much like when, as a child, we promised something but we crossed our fingers. That meant the promise could be broken without feeling guilty.

So what is JESUS’ message? As Christians, we need to live such that we do not have to take an oath. Our word should be our bond. I recall the time when deals were made with a handshake. Honesty was a way of life and a person’s honest reputation was part of his or her nature.

Today, swindlers often use the name of CHRIST to give them legitimacy.

JESUS addressed the solution in these next verses.

34 But I tell you, don't take an oath at all: either by heaven, because it is God's throne; 

35 or by the earth, because it is His footstool; or by Jerusalem, because it is the city of the great King. 

36 Neither should you swear by your head, because you cannot make a single hair white or black. 

37 But let your word 'yes' be 'yes,' and your 'no' be 'no.' Anything more than this is from the evil one.

As a Christians, if we are living a life in obedience to GOD we only need to respond with a “Yes” or “No.” Truth should be our mantra because we represent truth, CHRIST.

Let’s read Matthew 5:38-39:

Go the Second Mile

38 "You have heard that it was said, An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. 

In legal terms this is called ‘lex taloinis’ which is Latin referring to the law of equivalent retaliation. The law set limits on retaliation. It was intended for the retaliation not to exceed the infraction committed.

39 But I tell you, don't resist an evildoer. On the contrary, if anyone slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. 

Again, JESUS was not telling Christians to be passive but to be deliberate when dealing with an evildoer.

If a person slaps you on the right cheek indicates the person slapping another person on the right cheek is striking him or her with the back of their right hand. The slap in not intended to fight but to insult. When Christians are insulted, they need to be careful how they respond.  They need to remember who they represent. Often, we give a slap to the face of GOD and HE is slow to anger, so should we.

This in no way means that Christians cannot defend themselves but they are to discern the gravity of the situation. Walking away is always an option. But if your life is threatened, then take the appropriate action.

Let’s read Matthew 5:40-42:

40 As for the one who wants to sue you and take away your shirt, let him have your coat as well. 

A shirt was the garment worn against the skin. If a person wants to sue you for your shirt, go the extra step and give the person who sues you your coat or the outer garment. But if you give your coat to the person suing you, he or she would have to bring your coat to you by sundown for you to use as a cover to you warm through the night. Then the next morning, you would give the coat back to the person who sued you.

Here we have to be careful. Christians are not to roll over and play dead when someone has an issue with them. Christians are to take a stand but with the understanding that GOD works in the best interest of HIS children. GOD knows all the real facts regarding issues. As we read in Romans 12:19:

19 Friends, do not avenge yourselves; instead, leave room for His wrath. For it is written: Vengeance belongs to Me; I will repay, says the Lord.

This comes from Deuteronomy 32:35:

35 Vengeance belongs to Me; I will repay. In time their foot will slip, for their day of disaster is near, and their doom is coming quickly."

The Apostle Paul wrote in Romans 8:28:

28 We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God: those who are called according to His purpose. 

GOD is in all things working to bring about the best result when Christians are following HIM. Some things are the result of our own doing and we have to suffer the consequences but HE is working to bring about the best result. GOD is active in the lives of Christians but HE never overrides their right to choose. But HE can place stumbling blocks along the way for those of us living in the flesh and not in the Spirit. But that is part of the process of sanctification. We learn. Hopefully, we learn not to repeat the same, not so bright things, we do as we walk with HIM.

41 And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two. 

This applied to those who have been conquered or under the rule of another nation. Soldiers of a conquering army could demand that a person of the conquered country to carry their packs for a mile. JESUS’ message is for Christians to serve others with the right attitude. In doing so, it opens the opportunity for Christians to share the Gospel with those they assist. Use forced opportunities to share the Gospel of CHRIST to others.

42 Give to the one who asks you, and don't turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.

JESUS was referring to helping those in need. The word “asks” can mean “begs” and is translated as such in some Bibles. It also applies to a person in distress or in dire need.

“The great early Christian theologian Augustine (died A.D.430) commented on this by writing “the text says ‘give to everyone that asks,’ not ‘give everything to him that asks.” (Advanced Bible Study, page 127, winter 2015-2016, LifeWay, Nashville, TN)

A judgment must be made. Christians need the Spiritual Gift of discernment. If they do not have the gift of discernment, they need to seek the advice of those who do have discernment. There are those who prey upon others to extract money from them for various reasons. Often, these con-artists are supporting some addiction. But JESUS did not put exclusions into HIS message. 

Again, Christians must be led by the Spirit. Sometimes, Christians need to put requests to prayer. Christians can pray when being asked or use the need for prayer to give them time to consider the request. But then there are times when a Christian responds. If you make a mistake, it becomes a learning experience. Then ask the LORD to help you to be more discerning.

JESUS focused HIS message on the Christian’s heart toward those in dire need. The Christian with the right relationship with GOD knows that nothing he or she has belongs to him or her but belongs to GOD. Christians are stewards of their material means. The bottom line is love.

What is our attitude toward giving of our resources to others in need? Do we tend to want to hang onto the things we have? When giving, judgment is needed.  But there are times the Holy Spirit prompts and we are to give as HE leads us. Our trust is that GOD will provide for all of our needs as we obediently serve HIM.

Christians are to give without expecting to be paid back.

JESUS said it best in Matthew 7:7-12:

7 “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 

8 For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. 

9 “Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 

10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? 

11 If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! 

12 So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.

This is the attitude of GOD toward us as HIS children because HE loves us. 

Yet, in HIS wisdom HE will not give us something that will harm us, likewise we need GOD’S wisdom when meeting the needs of others. Seek wisdom and wisdom comes from having the right relationship with GOD through CHRIST.

JESUS has given Christians a lot to consider in their walk as Christians. It is impossible to live the Christian life, as CHRIST has revealed in the “Sermon on the Mount” in our own strength. It is only by having an intimate, loving, personal, relationship with GOD through CHRIST and the leadership of the indwelling Holy Spirit can we obediently walk in the Spirit. But what a journey it is! Blessings!!!