John Stott, in his magnificent commentary on the Sermon on the Mount, makes these remarks on 5:38-48:
“Our duty to individuals who wrong us is not retaliation, but the acceptance of injustice without revenge or redress.” (page 105)
Jesus then gives 4 example of what this looks like in practice.
“Each introduces a person (in the context a person who is in some sense ‘evil’) who seeks to do us an injury, one by hitting us in the face, another by prosecuting us at law, a third by commandeering our service, and a fourth by begging money from us.” (page 106)
All 4 of those example feel very contemporary, with the possible exception of the third (conscription). But, look at the cultural situation in which Jesus said this, and:
The third example “could be applied today to any form of service in which we find ourselves conscripts rather than volunteers.” (page 106)
In summary:
“In each of the four situations, Jesus said, our Christian duty is so completely to forbear revenge that we even allow the ‘evil’ person to double the injury.” (page 106)
Whet your appetite for more? Why not join us this coming Sunday morning in Kemsing church at 9.30am.
Add new comment