This part Sunday the sermon covered the verses found in Matthew 5:38-48. What initially comes across to us often as Jesus being weak or in more colloquial term "milk-toast" is in reality a sign of defiance. Jesus says to "turn the other cheek" which is a way of saying don't strike me with the back of your hand the way you would strike a slave or an inferior, but strike me with your open hand the way you would strike an individual of equal status. I go into the more in the sermon, but the first several verses are all along this tenet. Jesus is not saying to roll over and die, he's saying stand up for yourself but not in an act of violence; rather in an act of meeting oppression or violence with love.
The quote by Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King comes to mind when reading these passages: We shall match your capacity to inflict suffering by our capacity to endure suffering. We will meet your physical force with soul force. Do to us what you will and we will still love you.... But be assured that we'll wear you down by our capacity to suffer, and one day we will win our freedom.
Truly, Dr. King was inspired by the words of Christ in the verses we contemplate here today.
The final point of the sermon had to do with the word "Teleios" which is translated here in verse 48 as "perfect". Teleios can also be translated as complete or mature. We are complete when we have attained that purpose or mission that we were intended for. We are mature when we have reached the final state that our beings are capable of attaining. Let us be complete, mature, perfect... in our capacity to serve our God and King.
Be a blessing to someone today!
Roy
Matthew 5:38-48 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
Concerning Retaliation
38 “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 an evildoer. But if anyone strikes you on the right cheek, turn the other also; 40 and if anyone wants to sue you and take your coat, give your cloak as well; 41 and if anyone forces you to go one mile, go also the second mile. 42 Give to everyone who begs from you, and do not refuse anyone who wants to borrow from you.
Love for Enemies
43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so 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. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47 And if you greet only your brothers and sisters,[a] what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? 48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
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