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Jesus in our eyes by stasiabv on DeviantArt

Jesus loves the word of God. He also knows legalism can be taken to the extreme.

I certainly have legal “rights” that I can insist on being fulfilled. Jesus also gives me the option to pursue love. His challenge to me is to pursue love and not “my rights”.

Jesus summarizes God’s Law up as 2 essential requirements. Love God and love everyone I encounter every day. Jesus demands that I focus on those two requirements. That is the essence of things in God’s world. That is His law.

Legalism isn’t going to get Me anywhere. End of story.

You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ 39 But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. 40 And if anyone would sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. 41 And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. 42 Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you. [1]

~Jesus (Matthew 5:38-42)

You may be familiar with the phrase “an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth”. This was a common principle in the ancient world, and it was meant to limit the extent of revenge and violence. It was a way of saying that if someone hurts you, you can only hurt them back in the same way and degree, not more. But Jesus goes beyond this principle and says that we should not even seek to hurt them back at all. Instead, he gives four examples of how we should respond to those who mistreat us:

  • If someone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. This means that we should not be ashamed or angry when someone insults us or tries to humiliate us. Rather, we should show them that we are not afraid or intimidated by their actions, and that we are willing to forgive them.
  • If someone sues you and takes your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. This means that we should not be attached to our possessions or our rights, but rather be generous and willing to share with those who are in need, even if they are our enemies.
  • If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. This means that we should not resent or resist those who have authority over us or who impose their will on us. Rather, we should serve them and exceed their expectations, showing them kindness and respect.
  • Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you. This means that we should not be stingy or selfish, but rather open-hearted and compassionate to those who are poor or in trouble, even if they are strangers or undeserving.

By giving these examples, Jesus is not laying down a set of rules or laws that we have to follow literally in every situation. He is rather giving us a new attitude and perspective that we should adopt in our relationships with others. He is inviting us to imitate his own example of love and mercy, which he demonstrated on the cross when he died for our sins and prayed for his enemies. He is calling us to be peacemakers and children of God, who reflect his image and character in the world.

[1] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Mt 5:38–42.