Standing Christ's Ground: Matthew 5:38-48 - Seventh Sunday after Pentecost

[Jesus said to the disciples:] ³⁸“You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ ³⁹But I say to you, Do not resist an evildoer. But if anyone strikes you on the right cheek, turn the other also; ⁴⁰and if anyone wants to sue you and take your coat, give your cloak as well; ⁴¹and if anyone forces you to go one mile, go also the second mile. ⁴²Give to everyone who begs from you, and do not refuse anyone who wants to borrow from you.
  ⁴³“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ ⁴⁴But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, ⁴⁵so that you may be children of your Father in heaven; for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous. ⁴⁶For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? ⁴⁷And if you greet only your brothers and sisters, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? ⁴⁸Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” (NRSV)

Diner by Jeremy Keith.  Creative commons image on flickr

On Valentine’s Day, my grandmother celebrated her 88^th birthday. 

I always think about her when I’m eating out—and the server hands me the check.  Grandma is very generous with tips—even when the service isn’t “top notch.”  And she always hands the tip directly to the server—and the reason why is because she had an aunt who would steal tips.  The aunt would always say, “if they want to make more money, they should get a better job…”

I realize my grandmother and her aunt lived through the Great Depression—and these tough economic times still can’t compare to life back then.  That being said, my grandmother is a very generous person—as are many who’ve lived through the Depression.  She’s not a rich woman, but you’d never know it by her generosity.

But in today’s Gospel, Jesus is teaching a most irrational form of generosity.

§  “If someone strikes you on the right cheek, give them the other…”

§  “If someone wants to sue you and take your coat, give them your cloak as well…”

§  “If someone forces you to go one mile, go also the second mile…”

§  “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you!”

Now if you’re living a comfortable, middle class lifestyle in 21^st century America, obeying Jesus’ teachings will indeed make life more livable for you and everyone else. 

But what if life isn’t so cushy?

Bear in mind that nearly one-third of all people were slaves in Jesus’ world.  A vast majority of persons lived in extreme poverty, including those who had steady employment.  Roman culture celebrated the dominance of the strong over the weak.

So imagine, then, what it must have been like to hear Jesus say these things

§  If you didn’t know when you were going to eat your next meal…

§  If you were a slave and your owner treated his farm machinery and his livestock with more care than you…

§  If you were a being physically or emotionally abused…

Jesus’ teachings weren’t just absurd; they were a threat to your survival.

How can you be generous to others when YOU are in need?  If you’ve worked hard and been a good person, why should someone take what’s rightfully yours and there be no response?  If somebody poses a threat to you, do you not have the RIGHT and also the DUTY to defend yourself, by whatever means necessary?

To make matters worse, it sounds as though Jesus is playing right into the hands of the abuser.  I can just hear one of them saying, “Yeah, I’m wrong; but YOU should turn the other cheek.”

So how on earth can you “be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect,” when you’re face-to-face with evil?

It goes without saying that Jesus’ teachings are humanly impossible to fulfill.  But Jesus will personally do everything he says.  Humankind will nail Jesus to the cross, and he will forgive.  God will take that evil it into victory by raising Jesus from the dead.  Realize, then, that Jesus will accomplish his victory by enabling you to do these very same things.

This begins by loving your enemies and praying for those who persecute you—because God loves them as God loves you.  As you pray, Jesus will help you to be merciful to them, just as he was.  Christian love seeks the redemption of the enemy—and not their destruction.  Christ’s love has the power to break even the most hardened hearts and change even the most evil persons.  Look at the Apostle Paul. 

But know also, that when you cry out, God hears.  It matters to God that you have your daily bread. Jesus will still give you what you need to be the person God created you to be.  The slaves and destitute people Jesus taught were being given the power to enact God’s mercy with their otherwise measly power and resources.  Just imagine, then, what Christ can do in you. 

You can make life more livable—and your life can become more livable, through simple acts of forgiveness, patience, and generosity.  Jesus will break you of bad habits and lifestyles that bring safety, comfort, and convenience at your neighbor’s expense.  Jesus will use you to transform scrooges into saints.  And—Jesus will liberate you from people who are keeping your life from shining with the light of Christ. 

God’s kingdom doesn’t come by standing YOUR ground, but standing CHRIST’S ground. 

In this world, strength will fail.  Power will corrupt.  And “an eye for an eye” will make everybody blind.  But Generosity heals.  Grace transforms.  Light banishes darkness.  Love drives out hate.  Jesus creates new life out of death.  Stand Christ’s ground—and he will be the peace, security, and purpose we all need.