The Sermon on the Mount is full of Old Testament references, because in its essence, Jesus is revealing the higher law he brings that can only be achieved through the abiding of the Holy Spirit and love we find in him. These are hard lessons, and we can only imagine the shock they brought to those who heard them that day. Following the Law of Moses was hard enough, but this new Way—the Way of Christ—was impossible. That’s the point. Righteousness could not be found in the Law. True right living can only be accomplished by the power Christ provides through his Spirit.
A case in point.
After touching on some of the Ten Commandments and areas related to marriage, Jesus mentions another law, found in several places in the Torah.
“You have heard that it was said, An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.”
Matthew 5:38 CSB
This law was given through Moses to deal with direct acts of evil. In Exodus 21:24, this measure of punishment is given if two men are fighting and a pregnant woman or her baby is injured in the scuffle. It’s also enacted in Leviticus 24:19, in the case of the murder of man or animal. Then, finally, in Deuteronomy 19:21, it can be used in the case of a malicious witness—a person who gives false testimony for the purpose of injuring his fellow man.
In all these cases, the desire is to purge from Israel anyone who purposefully does evil. God’s desire for his people was that they remain set apart from the nations, pure and holy. If evil is allowed to go without punishment, then the people are affected, as yeast infiltrates the entire batch of dough.
This is the law the people knew. Evil must be punished.
Living in the world but not of it.
Fast-forward from the time of Moses to that of the earthly ministry of Christ, Israel was not the same. Not only had they failed as a people to uphold the Ten Commandments, but they had failed to purge the land given them of the pagan peoples within their borders. They had gone so far as to adopt pagan ways and turned their backs on God, leading to years of exile and occupation.
The Promised Land in the First Century was now occupied by Rome. They were surrounded by a wide-variety of nationalities and religions. The Jews were the minority—a remnant.
That’s when Jesus arrives on the scene and offers what seems to be an impossible alternative way of handling evil. Because of Roman occupation, Jews weren’t allowed to exert corporal punishment on their enemies. Jesus tells them they don’t have to. He has a better way.
But I tell you, don’t resist an evildoer. On the contrary, if anyone slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. As for the one who wants to sue you and take away your shirt, let him have your coat as well. And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two. Give to the one who asks you, and don’t turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.
Matthew 5:39-42
Now surrounded by evildoers, Jesus gives a higher law—turn the other cheek, give your coat as well, walk the extra mile, and freely lend. While this is easily done for those we love and share a bond with, how can we do this with our enemy? Won’t they just run all over us?
The fourth season of The Chosen TV series illustrates this point in vivid color. Jesus and his disciples are walking toward Jerusalem when they come upon some Roman soldiers. Because of their status as the occupying army, the military could force any common person to carry their load for the length of one mile. In this scene, they thrust upon Jesus and the disciples their gear for the required journey. Though the disciples are not happy, Jesus encourages them to do as they are told. They walk to the next mile marker where soldiers expect to take back their belongings and the disciples begin to willingly hand them over. Jesus stops them and declares: “We’ll go the extra mile.”
Stunned, the soldiers accept the offering. This is not the “required tithe” but the “extra offering,” given in love because of Christ. It makes an impact and hinders evil from having the last say in the matter.
That’s living in the world, but not of it. That’s living by the law of love and not the letter of the law. That’s what stops evil in its tracks.
Impossible becomes possible.
Those disciples would never have thought to do that on their own. Thankfully, they had the Master showing them the better (and harder) way. We can’t do this on our own either. Jesus knows that and thus the purpose for leaving his Spirit is to help us navigate life through this evil world.
Evil is not going away anytime soon, but it can be slowed, hindered, stunned, and stopped momentarily by surprising acts of love. Giving more than is expected or required and not hitting back points to someone in us who is not us. Christ shines when we love in the face of evil. We can only obey the “higher law” in Christ. We need Jesus. He comes and makes the way possible.
When your natural man cries out for revenge, let the supernatural man take over. A day of vengeance is coming, but it’s not for us to enact, but for God. In the meantime, we show a better way—the Way of Christ.
Grace and Peace
If you missed the last Learning from the Past post, click HERE, or start the series from the BEGINNING. Also, see a post on this passage from the Lessons from the Mountainside series, Number 16.
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