Forgiveness
Notes
Transcript
Handout
Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloke also. And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain. Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away.
Introduction
Introduction
Have you ever been so angry with a person that you wanted to retaliate? it is very probable that everyone has been there at some point.
Listen to tom unwritten rules of our world:
If you hurt me I am going to hurt you even more.
If you steal from me I am going to steal from you.
If you take my promotion at work I am going to ruin your reputation.
If you gossip about me I am going to spread lies about you.
This list could go on and on. Many are used to carrying on day to day life with this kind of attitude. But no matter how much we have been offended, the true Disciple has been called to a higher standard of behavior. God has taken us our of the gutter of revenge. God has taken us our of the gutter of sin for a greater purpose - to set an example to those who are caught up in the plight of revenge. God has a much better way for His people to live. it is the way of forgiveness.
This law has been use and misused, excused and abused down through the centuries. Man has often used the law to treat others as he wished. But the life and example of Christ have given us the true interpretation of the law. He says that the Christian is not to render evil for evil; He is not to bear a grudge or seek revenge. He must go beyond and forgive. However, the Christian has the right to avoid and resist evil.
Dr. John R. Rice, a great evangelist now with the Lord, was asked to conduct a revival meeting at a Baptist church in Woodbine, Texas. Divisions and strife had broken the heart of the pastor until he had resigned and left. The county missionary, hoping to see the church revived and God’s work made prosperous, asked Dr. Rice to come and preach the revival services. He found the whole community divided. One or more deacons had had fist fights in the quarrel that had reached nearly every home. Many had taken a vow never to return to the little church.
Dr. Rice never did find out most of the details of the division. But with a burden in his soul, he preached against sin, urged God’s people to clean up their lives, and pleaded with them to make peace with their neighbors. Night after night he preached. Those who had been angry at others were now angry with him.
One morning, a woman in the community started to make a telephone call to tell Dr. Rice just what she thought of all his meddling in their affairs. But her nineteen year old son stopped her and said, “Mother, you are wrong! I have just been out in the woods to pray. I know Brother Rice is right. If we Christians do not get right with each other, we can never have a revival. I for one am going to try to get right.” His mother did not make the phone call.
In the next service, Dr. Rice called for a time of testimony. With tears streaming down her face, one woman rose to beg forgiveness of another woman with whom she had quarreled. The other woman swiftly rose and came to meet her. They put their arms around one another and wept in the aisle. Confessions came from all parts of the building. The deep moving of God was upon the people as they began to make restitution, ask forgiveness, and seek Christian fellowship again.
That afternoon the news went like wildfire. That night the little church building was crowded. People came to church who had not been there in months—some who had vowed they would never enter the building again. From the very beginning of the service the Holy Spirit was there. Dr. Rice preached the Gospel, and at the invitation men and women accepted Jesus as their Saviour with tears streaming down their faces. Dozens of people were saved, hundreds of Christians were revived, and people came from miles to fill that little church for the rest of the meeting that lasted four weeks!
Many today do as the scribes and Pharisees of Jesus’s day they take verses like
Eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot,
as justification for hurting others. They use verses like the to seek revenge instead of justice. But when you do not learn true forgiveness you just become full of bitterness and you carry that your whole life. As we look at our text this morning. Learn to forgive quickly.
The Law : Eye of an Eye
The Law : Eye of an Eye
Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth:
God’s purpose for this law was to show mercy and to limit vengeance. Before it, men were killed for minor offenses. For example, if a person was injured accidentally, a whole family or village was subject to be killed in retaliation. This law was a beginning of mercy in a merciless society. It limited retaliation to an injury. Several facts show the merciful aspect of the law.
The law was not a command that had it to be executed. It was a law that was allowed a person some justice if he wished. He did not insist upon it
Oh I was given to the courts to guide the judges in the execution of justice. It was not given to individuals to take vengeance on others.
The law could be satisfied with money or some ransom or payment deemed just. However no ransom was to be taken for a murderer. The murderer was to pay with his life.
Moreover ye shall take no satisfaction for the life of a murderer, which is guilty of death: but he shall be surely put to death.
The Law was given to control the irresponsible passions of men: to control evil and to limit And revenge. The law was given to restrain, as a inflict a more terrible vengeance than the crime deserved.
The Meaning : Do no Retaliate
The Meaning : Do no Retaliate
Christ says this: the law really means that a person is not to retaliate, but it means even more.
christ is saying “resist not evil,“ that is to say, do not seek evil for evil; do not bear a grudge or resend those who have mistreated you. Do not seek revenge or look for a chance to get even. But forgive; go out of your way to help those who do evil against you. Such an attitude is the only way to ever react. Is the only way to reach the kingdom of heaven.
From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
2. but Christ is not saying that we are never to resist evil. Christ himself resisted evil. He drove out the moneychangers out of the temple.
And they come to Jerusalem: and Jesus went into the temple, and began to cast out them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves;
and he insisted the punishment of the high priest.
And when he had thus spoken, one of the officers which stood by struck Jesus with the palm of his hand, saying, Answerest thou the high priest so? Jesus answered him, If I have spoken evil, bear witness of the evil: but if well, why smitest thou me?
Paul the apostle also resisted evil.
And when it was day, the magistrates sent the serjeants, saying, Let those men go.
The point is this: Jesus and Paul followed the new law, resist not evil. They observed the spirit of the new law, they were not enslaved by it. There are times when we should resist against evil.
The question is not to be a vindictive person. He is not to be known as a person who holds grudges. Among other reasons, revenge consumes you. It can eat a person up from the inside out.
it can consume a persons mind – beef the focus of all your thoughts. A person can be so consumed upon revenge that he does not think about anything else but retaliation.
It can consume a persons emotions – cause all kinds of emotional problems. A person can be so engrossed by revenge that he becomes:
self-centered, harbors how great of wrong has been done to him.
withdrawn
self pitying
destructive, strikes out at other persons and other things.
Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing.
The Ideal Behavior: Go Beyond
The Ideal Behavior: Go Beyond
But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloke also. And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain.
christ shared three very practical illustrations, teaching the Christian how to treat those who had wrong him.
1. endure physical injury. It is the right cheek that is slapped. this is something that is often overlooked. A person who is slapped with his right hand has to strike with the back of his hand in order to hit someone’s right cheek. Hitting someone with the back of the hand has been considered more of an insult than the palm of the hand. Throughout history it has been used as a symbol of a challenge to adore. It shows contempt and bitterness. Christ is clearly making his point: the believer is not to retaliate against the most horrible insult or bitter content Dash not even against threats of bodily harm.
turning the other cheek is difficult. It means a person does not challenge, avenge, retaliate, or enter into legal action against an attacker; he prepares for another slab and patiently waits for it. He lets it pass and endures it. He forgives and trust the matter to God. There is the knowledge that God will work all things out for the good of a person that lives and serves God.
Many people has had this slack. I slap in the face can you come by many different ways: insults, sarcasm, humor, threats, abuse, or physical attack. But submission is sometimes the way to overcome. The believer who endures Shane full treatment shall reap the eternal glory.
And unto him that smiteth thee on the one cheek offer also the other; and him that taketh away thy cloke forbid not to take thy coat also.
Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.
2. Endures property injury. The coat referred to in verse 40 was the tunic, the inner garment. The cloak was the long robe like outer garment. The Jewish law allowed a man’s tunic to be given as a pledge, the cloak could never be taken. The reason is that a man would have a number of tunics, but he might only have one cloak.
Christ point strikes to the heart of the matter. A Christian is not to be consumed with fighting over property. He is not to retaliate just because he has the right to retaliate. The believer is to forgive and forget about his property and rights. He is to live for God and for the salvation of others.
Agree with thine adversary quickly, whiles thou art in the way with him; lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison.
Go not forth hastily to strive,
Lest thou know not what to do in the end thereof,
When thy neighbour hath put thee to shame.
Think of your material possessions. Are any of them worth…
A physical fight?
an argument?
Hurt feelings?
loss of your testimony?
what will be the hardest material thing for you to give up? Why?
3 . Endure any forced burden. I Romans soldier code of force a citizen of a conquered country could be enlisted into forced service by the conquerors in anyway they deemed necessary. A citizen could be compelled to carry water, supplies, anything the Romans desired. Roman law stated that he soldier could only require a citizen to Carrie what he wished for 1 mile. Christ is saying that a believer is forced to go a mile, he should go twice as far. The believers primary concern is to the people and their burdens Dash reaching the unbelieving and their burdens in obedience to God.
go in the 2nd mile is difficult. It means a person does not become bitter and resentful, grumbling and complaining, self pitying and begrudged. It means a person forgives, serves, and offers more service. He said his mind and heart on reaching out to the offender by helping more and more. such actions will be more than likely to reach the offender for the kingdom of God. It will certainly help him see Christ.
The Great Christian Ethic: Give
The Great Christian Ethic: Give
Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away.
Christ point is clear: a Christian is to help those who have need, he is ready to jump in. Christ allows no excuse. The picture is simple: when someone ask, the Christian gives it does not turn away. However, the Bible does not say to give without Direction.
A good man sheweth favour, and lendeth:
He will guide his affairs with discretion.
giving is always to be done with direction. Two things should be looked at as we study this portion of scripture.
First, affect upon the receiver. Will encourage laziness?
Second, does the receiver have a real need. The believer must be realistic to know if they have the ability to give what the receiver wants, needs. Also you must determine if the person really needs what he is asking. But it is clear that we are to give and to trust God through giving. We should be aware that people do not come to the believer by accident. They are either aware of the believers compassion or they are brought there by God. When brought by God, they are brought both for growth of the believer and for the benefit of the needful.
The point is this, the believer is to live in readiness - readiness to give and to lend help. Even if the person has wronged you be ready to give help and forgiveness.
Conclusion
Conclusion
what rules do you live by? The rule that says revenge is your right or the role that chooses to forgive the person who has hurt you? Choose the way I forgiveness and go on with life it is much easier said than done. But thank God it is Gods way. And he will help you forgive.
