Page 15 - Demo

something to the other. So they other person retaliates. You ask why either of then did what they did, and they will say they are only responding to what the other person did first. When we see it in 8 year olds, the futile nature of the perpetual cycle is obvious. But this problem is repeated over and over in human history. When we are hit, we like to hit back. We want to get even. But this doesn’t solve the problem, it just feeds the flame of evil. Jesus shows his followers a new way. He show them how to take the evil out of circulation.
The first thing Jesus says, and which countless parents have said to their children, is “you don’t have to respond.” Often we are so eager to enforce what we believe are our rights, that we walk around all the time like a spring ready to be sprung or a gun ready to go off. Any perceived insult or injury and we explode. In 1 Corinthians 6:7, Paul asked the Corinthians who were busy suing one other a hard question, “Why not rather be wronged?” Are you worried that God doesn’t see, or that God wont provide for and protect you?
Jesus in this passage show his followers how to move from perpetual retaliation to love and service. It
starts first with a passive act of not responding to being hit. The kind of hit that is referenced is the physical equivalent of being insulted. Maybe we aren’t prone to hit back, but are quick to respond when insulted. Jesus says the first step is not to respond.
Jesus then tells his followers to “go the extra mile.” This is where that phrase comes from. Roman soldiers could compel locals to carry their equipment for a mile. Jesus says not to do the bare minimum, even when compelled by people you don’t like. Go beyond. Serve them.
This attitude of non-retaliation and service is only possible if you see them the way God sees them. That is why Jesus continues this passage with a call to learn to love even those who are your enemies and pray for those who are consciously cruel to you. God loves every person, no matter how much they are twisted by sin. He desires to see them restored fully to right relationship with Him and with others. We can be a part of that by trying to live in right relationship with others, no matter how they treat us, and to do so not because of what they have done but because of who they are in God’s eyes.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
1. How do we use words like “technically” to excuse or cover-up our sin? How does that lead to us pursuing “external righteousness? What does it mean to be a “white-washed tomb?” How does the righteousness of Jesus differ from this?
2. How do we sometimes justify our anger? How can we learn to be “slow to anger” like James teaches? How can we learn to pursue reconciliation first?
3. How is human sexuality broken by sin? How do lust and adultery reveal an inability to see the image of God in others? What can we do to change this?
4. Do you know somebody whose word cant be trusted? Does your yes mean yes and your no mean no? If not, how do we start making our words matter again?
5. How have you seen the circle of retaliation manifest itself is children and adults? Have you ever been tempted to hit because you’ve been hit back. Have you ever don’t medicocre work because you were being compelled by a bad person? How does love help us break this cycle?
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