In this section Jesus concludes his examples of “blessed”
living in a society that does not acknowledge Him. He has shown His listeners (and us) that God
wants our hearts and our attitudes not just our outward behavior. He explains that while the Law of Moses was
given to reign in outward evil behavior, God desires more from us than just toeing the
line on a list of behavioral prohibitions.
Here we will look at living in an unrighteous society.
In vv. 38-42, He explains how to live with injustice in a
pagan justice system. In vv. 43-47, He
talks about living with unrighteous neighbors who misuse you. And in 6:1-4, He talks about our proper motivation
for living out these beatitudes before an evil watching world.
Jesus cites an Old Testament law from Exodus 21:24: “An eye
for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.”
This so-called law of retaliation set limits on jurisprudence so that
the punishment would not exceed the crime as it frequently did under the laws
of the ancient world where might was right.
Stealing a loaf of bread should not be punished with 20 years in
prison! Nor does this law set aside the
role of mercy even where one person sinned against another.
In Jesus’ day (as in ours), the Roman legal system was not
regulated by the ten commandments or Old Testament Law. So, many Jews felt it was their duty to
resist the government. It wasn’t a fair
system so why should they be bound to it?
But Jesus explained (as had the prophets before Him), that it was their
duty to seek the welfare of the nation in which they lived. Ezekiel, Daniel, Esther, Ezra, and Nehemiah
had all served the pagan governments under which they found themselves.
The Roman government was certainly no better than the
Babylonians, the Persians, the Greeks, or the Hasmoneans who had ruled Israel
for the past 600 years. But Jesus said
they were not to resist that government.
These verses (38-42) are not talking about your neighbors or home
invaders or evil people in general. It is okay to defend your home and your life against thieves and murderers. These verses
are talking about an evil government—evil in the sense that they do not necessarily
respect God’s laws of fairness and justice—just like today!
Such a government may physically abuse you. They may demand
your property unfairly. Or, they may demand that you labor for them. But you are to cooperate with them. Such a government may even have a corrupt
justice system that allows unrighteous rulings against you or unfair tax
liens. Still, you are to cooperate
fully.
What about verse 42?
In an evil government, there are people who will be taken advantage of
by the government. There have always
been people in need due to illness and accidents rather than to
wickedness. Such people Jesus' listeners were
willing to help but helping the victims of evil government officials has its
own inherent dangers. But, Jesus said to help such
people. In 1 Timothy, Paul lays out some
ground rules for helping needy people in the church. They are to be truly needy – not able-bodied
people who can work. In our country
today, there are so many government programs to help needy people, that some
people have learned to just subsist that way as well as on the mercy of
generous people. It takes some wisdom to
be able to sort out those who truly need help but if we believe they are needy
we are to help them.
In vv. 43-47, Jesus moves to the subject of living with
fellow citizens who abuse you. He quotes
the Old Testament law from Leviticus 19:16-18, “Love your neighbor” and adds
what was apparently a misunderstanding taught by the
Pharisees, “and hate your enemies.” They felt that they needed to
apply the law of justice (an eye for an eye) to people who hated them and hate
them back.
But, Jesus says we are to “love our enemies.” Again, notice who He is talking about. Perhaps the enemy might include occupying
Romans but, He is not really talking about enemy combatants. He is talking about “persecutors.” It is in the context of living in an
unrighteous neighborhood. He is talking
about evil neighbors and evil government representatives.
We are to love them.
This does not mean that we approve of their evil, but that we do not
return evil for evil. We are told to
pray for them – even when they are hurting us because of our faith. And we are not to ignore them but to be civil
toward them.
Notice that this behavior is the same as God has toward
us! God sends the sun and rain not just
to good people! God is merciful toward
us even when we sin against Him.
Finally, in 6:1-4, Jesus sums up this whole section of
explanation of the beatitudes with another bookend explanation of our
motivation for such behavior. In
5:13-16, Jesus said to let your light so shine before others that they may see
your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. But now in 6:1-4, He says to “practice your
righteousness” in secret. How do we
reconcile these passages?
Note that verse one is a warning about the motives of your
heart. It is being examined by God! Why are you doing these good works? The wrong reason: So, people can see you in a good light. The right reason: So, people will see God in
a good light. Another good reason: So,
God will see YOU in a good light and reward you. He sees everything.
Why do you let others see you praying, giving, or sharing? Is it to
make God look good? Or you? Hidden motives of the heart are crucial.
© 2018 Eric Thimell
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