Sermon
When You Are Done Wrong...How Should You React? 
-or-
How To Get Even With Your Enemy
February 13-14, 1999
Pastor Donald Sheley

Join with me in your Bible as we go back to that portion of scripture that we've been in now for a number of months; the Sermon on the Mount. And we've arrived in chapter 5 verse 38. And this is what Jesus says, "You have heard that it was said, 'an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.' "But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. "If anyone wants to sue you and take away your tunic, let him have your cloak also. "And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two. "Give to him who asks you, and from him who wants to borrow from you do not turn away. 

Now you will remember that these subjects come to our attention because in verse 20 Jesus has said that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and the Pharisees you'll never make it to heaven. And we've learned that they were supposedly the most spiritual people in Palestine of that day. And some of them are standing listening to Christ when He says, if you follow them, they're not going to heaven and neither will you because their righteousness is not a true righteousness. And then we made this observation. In the remaining chapter 5 there are six different situations in life in which Jesus compared the false teaching of the Pharisees and the true teaching of Christ, or of almighty God. And we observed some of those comparisons a couple of weeks ago. We learned that those false teachers were saying for any reason you can get a divorce. Jesus said not so. There's only one. 

Now Jesus takes up the subject of retaliation or revenge, and in doing such He touches an aspect of our being where because of our very nature, our evil heart, when someone does us wrong we want to get even. No, not get even. We want to win. It's not getting even. And Jesus said let's talk about this. He said you've heard that it has been said. Now where was it said? Let's go back to Exodus 21:12-25. We're in Exodus 21 and I'll commence reading at verse 12, and here's what it says. "He who strikes a man so that he dies shall surely be put to death. "However, if he did not lie in wait, but God delivered him into his hand, then I will appoint for you a place where he may flee. In other words, there may come a moment when the accident was accidental and great harm was done, and God said what I'll do is I'll appoint six cities, and they'll be the cities of refuge and when something has happened and you know that you're innocent, it wasn't on purpose, you run to the city of refuge and there you'll be safe. 

But he goes on to say, "But if a man acts with premeditation against his neighbor, to kill him by treachery, you shall take him from My altar, that he may die. In other words, he may by premeditation have committed this crime, he runs to the city of refuge. You can go into the altar where he's hanging on and you can take him, and he'll pay the price for his crime. "And he who strikes his father or his mother shall surely be put to death. "He who kidnaps a man and sells him, or if he is found in his hand, shall surely be put to death. "And he who curses his father or his mother shall surely be put to death. "If men contend with each other, and one strikes the other with a stone or with his fist, and he does not die but is confined to his bed, "If he rises again and walks about outside with his staff, then he who struck him shall be acquitted. He shall only pay for the loss of his time, and shall provide for him to be thoroughly healed. I find that fascinating. 

In ancient history God said, listen, if you cause an injury which brings a loss to someone else, he can't go to the job and he can't get his paycheck, you've got to pay him for his loses. You've got to pay his doctor bills and his health bills until he's thoroughly healed. Isn't that interesting? Let's go on. "And if a man beats his male or female servant with a rod, so that he dies under his hand, he shall surely be punished. "Notwithstanding, if he remains alive a day or two, he shall not be punished; for he is his property. "If men fight, and hurt a woman with child, so that she gives birth prematurely, yet no harm follows, he shall surely be punished accordingly as the woman's husband imposes on him; and he shall pay as the judges determine. If there's a fight and a woman with child is injured and she gives birth prematurely and everything's all right then the husband can impose through the courts whatever judgment he shall desire. "But if any harm follows. If that little child dies then it's going to be a life for a life. 

Verse 24, "eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot. Burn for burn, wound for wound, stripe for stripe. And what Jesus is saying, it's the law that has been reflected down through time. It's found even in the ancient code of Hammurabi which is timed at possibly 100 years prior to Moses. And it's simply this, that punishment shall be exactly to the crime. We can say a tit for tat, or quid pro quo, or in the ancient law it was known as the lex talion. Simply this, the crime must be punished equally to the crime. 

Now both in the law of Moses as we just read and in the law of Hammurabi there were two reasons, two basic purposes, for this law. First of all it was to curtail further crime. In Deuteronomy 19:20 it says when a person is punished for his wrongdoing the rest will hear and be afraid and will never again do such an evil thing among you. What almighty God said, if there is that knowledge that you're going to pay for your crime, there will be a certain resistance that will be within you, a curtailment to crime to sin. And secondly, the purpose was to prevent excessive punishment based upon personal vengeance and anger. God was not going to leave this issue to the evil heart because with our evil heart we want a pound of flesh for an ounce of offence. 

We're not just going to balance the books. We're going to go a step further. Our evil heart will not keep justice in balance. And so God allowed and brought this law into society and those laws that we read in Exodus 21 were the laws that guided the courts and the judge. And as a result, that brought a balance in society. Now the law, and eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth, was a just law because it matched punishment to offence. It was a merciful law because it limited the innate propensity of the human heart to seek retribution beyond what the offense deserved. And it was a benevolent law because it protected society by restraining wrongdoing and thus it was an eye for and eye and a tooth for a tooth. But it kept society in balance. Selfish overreaction is the natural response of the sinful nature. Human vengeance is never satisfied with justice. It wants more. And this is the reason God said listen, I'll handle this whole matter of vengeance. It's not in your hands. 

Romans 12:19 says, Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, "Vengeance is Mine, I will repay," says the Lord. In Hebrews 10:30-31. For we know Him who said, "Vengeance is Mine, I will repay," says the Lord, and again, "The Lord will judge His people." Now in no instance did the Old Testament allow an individual to take the law into his own hands and apply it personally. As I have noted, these Old Testament regulation and laws were laid down to guide the courts, that were civil, and the judges, but it was not, the law was not to be taking into the individual's hand. You see when self interest dominates, justice is replaced by vengeance. 

Now we've learned that the setting is this, Jesus said unless your righteousness exceeds those scribes and Pharisees, you're not going to make it. Now the questions we've asked all along in these various situations; What was it, what was it that those scribes and Pharisees were teaching that Jesus said if you follow them you'll go to hell right with them? You'll never make it to heaven. Well each man was permitted, when that leader of the synagogue stood up each man was permitted to become his own judge to avoid the courts to avoid the judge, and he took the matter of vengeance in his own hands. And these religious leaders were saying if somebody does you wrong, you make sure you get even. And if you have to go a second mile, you take your vengeance. Now the Pharisees.

You know as I've gone along and studied this sermon with you, I've tried to imagine the atmosphere and the environment and the congregation that Jesus was speaking to. We've leaned first of all that religion was corrupt to the core, and He walked into a scene where everything that was being said called religious had nothing to do with the teachings of almighty God. Can you imagine the broken heartedness that He must have felt. And secondly, we've learned that these religious leaders were saying go get a divorce for any reason. You don't even have to have a reason. I made the observation that if divorce was that easy, the divorce rate must have been much higher than it is even today. Standing out there in His congregation were people who had over and over again violated the sanctity of marriage. There were dysfunctional families. There were children who didn't know which way to turn because the consistency of the home was gone. And now we learn that these religious leaders were saying, look at, take it in your own hands. If somebody does you wrong, get even with them or even hurt them worse. You can understand the feeling of Jesus in this sermon as He teaches to such a dysfunctional nation. 

The Pharisees instead of properly acknowledging the law, an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth as a limit to punishment, handled by the courts. They conveniently used it as a mandate for vengeance as it has been wrongly viewed throughout history. It's been wrongly interpreted and I suggest that probably there are no other verses in this sermon that are more misunderstood and misinterpreted. It has been interpreted to mean that Christians are to be sanctimonious doormats. It has been used to promote pacifism or conscientious objection to military service or lawlessness or anarchy and a host of other positions that these verses do not teach. 

Jesus said, listen, I want to talk about this issue of retaliation. And I say to you do not resist him who is evil. Now that is an interesting phrase. In this command, do not resist him who is evil, Jesus rebuts the Pharisees' misinterpretation and He forbids retaliation in personal relationships. Jesus does not teach as many have claimed that no stand is to be taken against evil and that is should be simply allowed to take its course. That is not what Jesus is saying here. Jesus took His stand against evil. He walks into the synagogue and His heart is broken. He sees all of these merchandisers and the bleating of the animals, and the money changing. He picks up a whip and He takes those people and chases them from the synagogue and says you made My house a house of merchandise. You thieves. 

Jesus wasn't going to allow evil. He took a stand against it. And the early church was admonished not to let evil happen within the church. If that wicked one is among you, Paul said, you cast them out. This verse does not teach just simply allowing evil to have its free course. Because not to restrain evil is neither just nor kind. It fails to protect the innocent and it has the effect of encouraging the wicked in their evil. Proper restraint of evil, however, not only is just, but it's beneficent as well. And so you say, then what did Jesus mean when He said do not resist him who is evil? Well, Jesus used the word which in the Greek language meant a word which means to set against or to oppose, and in this context speaking of personal resentment or spite or vengeance. 

What Jesus is saying, listen, we live in an evil world and you're going to be treated wrongly and your rights at some point are going to be trampled. But don't waste your time allowing the root of bitterness to grow thinking how you're going to get even, how you're going to take revenge. Don't do that. One of the elements of the great American philosophy of life is that we all have certain rights and our natural tendencies are to defend those rights. And in the process of protecting what is our own we are also inclined to reap considerable trouble on anyone who takes advantage of our rights. Retaliation with interest is our natural extension of selfishness. 

Now here's what Jesus is saying, we do live in an evil world and you will be treated evilly at times with evil, but don't waste your time thinking of how you're going to retaliate. God sets the high standard of forgiveness not revenge, and Peter says, For to this end were you called because Christ also suffered for us leaving us an example that you should follow in His steps. Who committed no sin nor was deceit found in His mouth. Through when He was reviled, He did not revile in return, and when He suffered, He did not threaten but commuted Himself to Him who judges righteously. Jesus was treated with evil, but He didn't spend His time figuring out how to retaliate. They had taken His body and plucked the beard from His face and placed that crown of thorns and then put Him on that cruel cross and when they nailed that final nail and the stuffed that cross in the ground, what is Jesus saying? Father, forgive them for they know not what they do. Yes we live in an evil world. And sometimes we're treated wrongly and the natural thing is to retaliate. But what Jesus is saying, don't waste your moments figuring out how you're going to get even; forgive. 

And the Old Testament says, He was oppressed and afflicted yet He did not open His mouth. He was lead like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her sheerers is silent, so He opened not His mouth. In Ephesians 4:2, be completely humble and gentle, be patient bearing with one another in love. And in Colossians 3:13, bear with each other, and forgive whatever grievances you might have against another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And here's His point. Personal retaliation is forbidden in scripture. 

Leviticus 19:18 says, Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against one of your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. Proverbs 20:22 says, Do not say, "I will pay you back for this wrong"; wait for the Lord, and He will take care of the matter. Romans 12:17 says, Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. And 1 Peter 3:9 says, Do not, Do not! Repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with a blessing because to this were you called so that you might inherit a blessing. 

You see, the Sermon on the Mount shows us and teaches us the characteristics of a Christian. And the characteristics of a Christian, a child of God's kingdom, when wrong is done to us we let vengeance leave in the hands of God, and we respond in humbleness, in gentleness and in forgiveness. Now, when Jesus now has laid down that principle, God will take care of the retaliation not us, He selects four areas of our life where this is worked out. First of all He speaks of our dignity, then of our security, of our liberty, then of our property. Concerning our dignity this is what He says, that whoever slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. 

You see, in Jewish culture, and I'm sure it moves across into many cultures, when someone slaps you in the face that is an insult. That's an indignity. But Jesus went a little step further, He said when he slaps you on the right cheek. Well if I'm standing and I hit somebody on the right cheek, I've got to hit them with the back of my hand. And that was a lower insult. And Jesus says when man attacks your dignity and even insults to you the lowest rung of the ladder, turn the other cheek. Now you say as human beings we have the right to be treated with basic dignity and respect and consideration. But ladies and gentlemen, we live in an evil world and from time to time our right to dignity will be violated, especially because we are Christians and our conduct is resented by those who're made guilty by our lifestyle. 

John writes in his gospel the words of Jesus, if this world hates you, you know that it hated me before it hated you. If you are of the world the world would love its own. Yet, because you are not of the world and I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. If they persecuted me they'll persecute you. 1 Peter 2:19-20 says, For this is commendable, if because of conscience toward God one endures grief, suffering wrongfully. For what credit is it if, when you are beaten for your faults, you take it patiently? But when you do good and suffer, if you take it patiently, this is commendable before God. For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps. What's His point? We have a right to dignity and when someone lowers our character status in the eyes of someone else, our natural tendency is to retaliate. 

I'm just like you, and in the 48 years of ministry from time to time I've had people really lie viciously on me. And my natural tendency is to go to their house and cut all four tires on their car and then throw a bomb and blow the place off the map. I'm just like you, but I've learned something. They may slap my cheek with their words. They may do harm to my dignity, but I'm a child of God. And if I allow Him to balance the books He always does a much better job than I do. 

There are some of you sitting here today as we prayed in our elders prayer meeting just before the service. Some of you your mate slaps you on the cheek with indignities and words of hurt and pain. The words of Jesus are don't retaliate. God ultimately may do a marvelous miracle in that relationship, but if you retaliate, you may polarize the matter and bring it to a place where it never can be healed. The idea with turning the other cheek symbolizes the non-avenging, non- retaliatory, humble and gentle sprit that should be the character of us as Christians. So when someone attacks our right to dignity just leave it in the hands of God. 

Secondly, Jesus said let's talk about security. If anyone wants to sue you, and take your shirt, let him have your coat also. Just a minute. I mean, I've got my rights. But you see in those ancient days they had two garments, an undergarment and an outer garment. The courts would never allow you to take the outer garment. Because most people only had one outer garment and they wore it as a covering during the day and then used it as their blanket for the night, and they're protected. 

In Exodus 22:26 it says, "If you ever take your neighbor's garment as a pledge. That is you're holding it for security against an agreement of debt. You shall return it to him before the sun goes down. "For that is his only covering, it is his garment for his skin. What will he sleep in? And it will be that when he cries to Me, I will hear, for I am gracious. And what Jesus simply is saying, if anyone wants to sue you or take from you what seems to be their legitimate claim, solve the matter immediately and even give him more if necessary to appease him. You see already He said in verse 25 and 26, "Agree with your adversary quickly, while you are on the way with him, lest your adversary deliver you to the judge, the judge hand you over to the officer, and you be thrown into prison. "Assuredly, I say to you, you will be no means get out of there till you have paid the last penny. 

I have learned, ladies and gentlemen, that the wise person is the person who will not let an adversarial situation last long. When you know that there's someone that is adversarial to you, the Christian, the wise person will immediately seek to get an understanding and agreement in that matter, because time has a way to make things get uglier and uglier, and bigger and bigger, and attorneys bills higher and higher. And here's what Jesus is saying, if there is an adversarial condition even if it's to your loss, solve it. Where else does He say it in the scriptures?

Go with me to 1 Corinthians chapter 6 and it's very, very clear here. Paul is talking about Christians going to court with Christians and then he says, Now therefore, it is already an utter failure for you that you go to law against one another. Why do you not rather accept wrong? Why do you not rather let yourselves be cheated? You do wrong. Paul is saying it's better to take that position of loss if necessary if somehow it can heal an adversarial situation and maybe bring the friendship out of it. And I told you as a pastor over the many years from time to time people have taken advantage of this church and sued us, and it's always been my position, get to that person before the sun goes down, find a solution even though we're not wrong bring a conclusion to the matter and get it behind you. That's Christian. 

You say, but I got a right, they're wrong and I'm going to stand my ground. You do and you'll pay the last penny. You'll pay the last penny. Jesus said the marks of a kingdom child is the man who seeks his adversary and seeks to bring that to a conclusion as quickly as possible.  He says, if someone wants to borrow from you, give him what he wants. Boy, if I did that, Pastor, I'd be broke. Now Jesus is not suggesting that everyone that asks us for something we should give it. That's not good stewardship. I have, from time to time people come to the front door of this church, and I've found that 98% of them are fakes. Oh you're going to Oregon. Yes and I need gas money to get to Oregon. I say okay, come on in, I want to phone your family and tell them you're on your way and we're going to make sure you get there. Well, why should I give you my telephone number? You're asked me for money. No, He doesn't mean to foolishly. This is what He is saying. When you know that there is a valid genuine need and you as a Christian can fulfill it, don't even wait to be asked, do something. 

In Matthew 25 Jesus said something that has always just really hit me right to the core. He says, In that day I will say to them ye cursed into everlasting fire and go there where I prepared the fire for the devil and his angels. Why? Because I was hungry and you didn't feed me. I was thirsty and you didn't give me anything to drink. I was naked and you didn't clothe me. You see, stinginess is not Christian. God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son. He gave us this beautiful world to live in. God is a generous, wonderful God and the marks of a Christian is generosity. Jesus said you live in an evil world, but don't waste time retaliating. Remember, the guy who's always trying to get even never gets ahead. Retaliation just does not have any benefits. Leave it to God. And in these areas where our dignity or our rights by evil people are misused, let's just act like Jesus. That's all Jesus is telling us here. It's hard isn't? but I'll tell you, it leaves a wonderful witness to the world who looks on.

Let's pray. Lord Jesus, we love You. We all need help in these areas so please by Your precious Holy Spirit empower us to do that which we know is right and to live like You want us to. In Jesus' name. God bless you. God bless you. Thank you.