#matt 5

[loloperrington]

Words kill

so choose what you say to yourself and others wisely

[mrsjohnson2013]

Change me.

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also.And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well.If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles.Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you."

Matt. 5:38-42

This is Jesus saying to me, "Guess what, Kayleigh? Those people who hurt you? I've called you to something higher and greater. And though you can't control what they do to you, you're still accountable for what you do to them. This world will tell you that it's okay to take back from them what they've taken from you, but I say to love them anyway. Love them as I have loved you. This is the standard I have set for you as my daughter."

Let me just say, I'm awful at doing this. Time to work on it.

[comochurchofchrist]

Retaliation & Loving your Enemies

"You have heard that it was said, 'An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.' 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. And if anyone would sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you. "You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect." (Matt. 5:38-48)

Jesus says some of the most profound words of scripture in this passage. While we sometimes have a hard time being nice to the ones we love and treating everyone else fairly, Jesus teaches the radical. Don't just live like everyone else around you, expecting life and how you're treated to be "fair." Instead, tip the scales in the favor of your enemies. Go the extra mile. Lend to anyone who asks. Freely give. 

Radical.

Some say this is unrealistic. We could never live up to that standard. Jesus doesn't really mean it. Or does he? 

For some of us, just getting back to "an eye for an eye" is an accomplishment. We tend to overreact and do more than just "get even." But Jesus calls us to be better than that, way better. Don't settle for living a "fair" life in relationship to strangers and enemies. Go further. Learn to be treated unfairly, to go the extra mile at times. Let us take Jesus at His word, and try to live up to what a high and powerful word it truly is.