What should I do when I am wronged? S31e69 Mt5:38

When evil comes, should I respond with "an eye for an eye?" Perhaps the justice system has a societal job, and I have a personal job. Perhaps I should give this some thought. 

If an "eye for an eye" is given personally, doesn't this leave everybody blind metaphorically?  Do not let evil overcome you by you becoming evil.

When you encounter evil against you: throw goodness at it

Leave room for wrath. Not yours, but God’s. Trust Him that He’s got this.

https://youtu.be/Pr7Mxc_-SRw

Transcript

What should I do when I am wronged? S31e69 Mt5:38

By Evil? The individual who responds with an eye for an eye, leaves HIMSELF blind. We’ll conclude: throw goodness at evil.

Mt 5: 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 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 andtake 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. 

Evil person slapping you, sueing you, taking from you, forcing you , beggingfrom you, borrowed from

Evil person who can be resisted, could be resisted, yet…

Response is crazy: not resisting; cheek turning to them, letting him have what he wants and more, going the extra mile, giving to beggar, and not refusing the borrower.

Evil person who can have a second cheek turned to them

         Who can, after or during the lawsuit for a tunic, be given cloak

         Who can, after forcing a mile with him, is given a second mile

GIVING a second cheek, giving a cloak, giving an extra mile with HIM, giving to an evil beggar, giving to an evil borrower.

Critical to the charge here is that this person is EVIL

         Their motivations are not good

         Identification of the evil person and evil motivations

         Nothing is hidden here: not: “Oh I got fooled and I am so surprised that this offending person was EVIL. “ I didn’t know!”

         Point here is EVERYBODY knows, the evil person is wrong

How do you personally handle an evil person? This is a different question than: How does society handle an evil person.

Distinction in responses must be made:

It is the job of government to punish evil. The role of Govenmental response to evil is mentioned here in our passage: 38 you have heard that it was said, an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. 

That is from Dt 19:19So you shall purge the evil from your midst. 20 And the rest shall hear and fear, and shall never again commit any such evil among you. 21 Your eye shall not pity. It shall be life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot.

Directed at society. Have a robust criminal justice system.

Let the punishment fit the crime, proportional punishment up to and including capital punishment

Societal punishment rather than personal vendetta

So, society can get this charge wrong in failing to punish, or failing to punish proportionally.

But this is not for individuals. Let the government do what it is charged to do. But what about ME?

Our passage today is what should I do when I am wronged.

         What should I do when wronged in a evil way by an evil person?

Acts 7:59–60 

59 And as they were stoning Stephen, he called out, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” 60 And falling to his knees he cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” ?I imagine that this forgiveness by Stephen, when being stoned was DIFFICULT

The charge of this passage is going to be difficult.

Romans 12:17–21 

17 Repay no one evil for evil but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. 18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. 19 Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” 20 To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Leave room for wrath of God and…. Leave room for the punishment of government.

Know Jesus is going to fix all injustice perfectly

Let God be God and do His job

Meantime: live this way: peaceably. Peaceably as much as possible, as far as it depends upon you.

Let God be the avenger, the repayor

Do right, feed the hungry enemy. Err on the side of goodness, not evil. Why? Good for you and:

This will be honorable IN THE SIGHT OF ALL

         People are going to see how you respond to EVIL

Our passage echos the sentiments of 1 Cor 6: Can it be that there is no one among you wise enough to settle a dispute between the brothers, 6 but brother goes to law against brother, and that before unbelievers? 7 To have lawsuits at all with one another is already a defeat for you. Why not rather suffer wrong? Why not rather be defrauded?

Be willing to be wronged.—injured unjustly

Be willing to be defrauded—taken from stolen from robbed

It is not that believers don’t love JUSTICE they do more than any

         This will be the arena where they are Willing to be a witness to the forbearance of Christ in an evil world.

The Evil person is already doing evil.  They are already “blind”

How should society respond: root out evil. Punish.

But how should an individual follower of Christ respond to injustice? Love justice. Love it so much that one leaves it to Jesus to figure out. 

Meantime: leave a witness as people watch you respond to being wronged.

What should I do when I am wronged? GIVE THIS SOME THO
UGHT.Don’t be overcome by evil. OVERCOME EVIL with Good.

Don’t let evil overcome you by YOU becoming evil

When you encounter evil against you: throw goodness at it

Leave room for wrath. Not yours, but God’s. Trust Him that He’s got this.