TURN YOUR OTHER CHEEK

How many of you have ever wanted revenge?

What are some ways that people get revenge?

What is the number one way that we like to get revenge?

Jesus quotes Leviticus 24:19-20 19 If anyone injures his neighbor, whatever he has done must be done to him: 20 fracture for fracture, eye for eye, tooth for tooth. As he has injured the other, so he is to be injured. This is a law of God. God tells us that a man is accountable for his crime; eye for eye

Is Jesus changing the law of God?

Why or why not?

Here are a few OT scriptures which Jesus based His statements on to again refute the Pharisees-

Proverbs 20:22 22 Do not say, "I'll pay you back for this wrong!" Leviticus 19:18 18 "`Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against one of your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD.

Can you think of a classic OT example where someone did not get revenge?

What law does God place in the hearts of Christians, in contrast to the law of the government?

What happens to a doormat?

Why is a Christian thought of as a doormat at times?

Sometimes it is very hard to get "stepped on" and keep quiet. Think of three reasons why we don't like to get "stepped on".

Ephesians 4:31-32 31Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. To say "I forgive you", and to mean it are two different things. People can be very stubborn, and hold grudges for years. It is very hard to actually forgive someone and not remain angry.

When we have feelings of anger and bitterness, how should we deal with them?

Matthew 5:39 Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. Who is an evil person? Is it the devil?

James 4:7 7 Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

Is verse 39 talking only about physical matters, or about spiritual temptations as well?

God tells us to resist the devil, and flee from temptations. Therefore he is not condoning us to flirt with temptations, or to allow the devil to tempt us. Here Jesus is talking about when we are wronged when it comes to earthly matters.

What does God tell us our law is once again?

Are we helpless?

God does give us a plan of attack, so to speak when we are being attacked ourselves. All three examples in Matthew are intended only for the spiritual interest of the disciple and never for a moment for those who inflict injustice upon him, never to abet them or to encourage them in their baseness. Let's look at some Scriptures, so that we know what to do.
Psalm 50:15 15 And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.
Proverbs 20:22 22 Do not say, "I'll pay you back for this wrong!" Wait for the LORD, and he will deliver you.
What is the first thing to do?

God also tells us what we are to do in the meantime.
1 Thessalonians 5:15 15 Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else.
Romans 12:20-21 20 On the contrary: "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head." 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

What else does God tell us to do?

1 Peter 2:21-23 21 Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. 22 "He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth." 23 When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly.

Christ is more than a rolemodel. What did his example do for us? Why would retaliation be especially tempting for Jesus?

How are we to respond?

The first day

Billy Believer was always taught by his mother to never hit another child. One day Bobby Badboy got mad at Billy and punched him in the stomach. Billy did not punch him back. The next day the other boys called Billy a chicken and a sissy, because he wouldn't fight back. They started hitting Billy all the time, and Billy just let them do so.

Did Billy do the right thing on the first day?

The second day?

What could Billy do to remedy his problem?

Did Billy sin at any point?

Your neighbor is a member at St. Paul's. He has been coming over at 1:00 every night and stealing pumpkins from your pumpkin patch. He doesn't have the greatest job, and can barely afford to eat. It doesn't bother you too much what he is doing. So you tell the whole neighborhood what your neighbor is doing, but let him go on taking your pumpkins.

Did you use your left Cheek?

Does "using your left cheek" apply to believers or only evil persons?

How could you have reacted in a better manner?

Would it be ok to let him keep stealing your pumpkins?

Your company has been doing business with the local printing company for years. You find out in the past week that they have been consistently overcharging you thousands of dollars. You decide to take them to court, but aren't sure that you should.Group # 3

Is it ok for a Christian to sue someone?

Why or why not?

1 Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. 4 For he is God's servant to do you good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for nothing. He is God's servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer.

How is this different from turning the other cheek?

Is it possible to sue someone and still obey the eighth commandment?

Luther: The Gospel does not bring new laws concerning the civil state, but commands that we obey present laws, whether they have been framed by heathen or by others, and that in this obedience we should exercise love. pg. 655 - Eighth Commandment is given first of all that every one shall help his neighbor to secure his rights, and not allow them to be hindered or twisted, but shall promote and strictly maintain them, no matter whether he be judge or witness, and let it pertain to whatsoever it will. We ought never to deprive any one of his honor or good name unless it be first taken away from him publicly. False witness, then, is everything which cannot be properly proved.

Must a person suffer all sorts of things from everyone , without defending himself at all? Has he no right to plead a case before a court? It all these things were forbidden, a strange situation would develop. it would be necessary to put up with everybody's whim and insolence. Personal safety and private property would be impossible, and finally the social order would collapse. Christ is addressing His sermon only to Christians and seeking to teach them the kind of people they should be, in contrast to the carnal ideas of the flesh which wants to find its own dominion, honor, and advantage in the Gospel, and an escape from all suffering. A Christian has to be a secular person of some sort. As a father, or lord, or prince you are a different person, and your are obliged to protect your servant. He has an obligation to his office to defend, guard, and protect those under him. It is your duty to be the protector of your inferiors. What kind of crazy mother would it be who would refuse to defend and save her child from a wolf. It is permissable for you to use orderly procedure in demanding and obtaining your rights, but be careful not to have a vindictive heart. It is proper for a judge to punish and execute, and yet he is forbidden to have any hatred or vindictiveness in his heart. Thus you are not forbidden to go to court and lodge a complaint against injustice or violence, just so long as you do not have a false heart. A Christian should not resist any evil; but within the limits of his office, a secular person should oppose every evil. A christian should not sue anyone, but should surrender both his coat and his cloak when they are taken away from him; but a secular person should go to court if he can to protect and defend himself against some violence or outrage. Although the government may refuse to protect him or may itself become guilty of violence, he is not obliged to keep quiet on that account as though he had to sanction such procedure. He should be willing to lend and give to everyone who asks him. Yet if he knows that this is a scoundrel, he is not obliged to give it to him. Give to "the one who begs from us", the one who really needs it. Therefore it is important to be careful here what sort of person. 2 Thess. 3:6-13 he commands Christians to keep away from those who live in idleness. Do work in quietness, if anyone son't work, not eat.

Any questions? Email Pastor Pankow at bslc@birch.net.