https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s3yj4ygM76o

Matt 5:38-48 Go the second mile- love your enemies

Living the Christ life requires we live and respond a certain way. Its more than just belief. This whole sermon on the mount is a list of dos and donts and hows and whys

We want to get it right because we want to honor God- These are some contentious verses!

1. Don’t be a person bent on retributionREAD 38-40This is not a statement on pacifism. This is not a scripture intended to direct the affairs of nations and police departments. This is not a constitutional edict or military planRemember- Jesus is the same yesterday today and forever. Jesus was directing the war time affairs of Israel bent on holy destruction of adversaries. Bloody destructive wars in the OT all passing through the loving hands of JesusGod clearly does not advocate lawlessness nor he want evil unchecked- he would never tell an abused woman or child to ‘turn the other cheek’. He didn’t let them stone the adulterous ladyObserve Luke 3:14 allows military service.  John the Baptist didn’t tell them to quit the service

John 18:36 shows that Jesus acknowledges that the sword of violence is used by the worldRomans 13:3-4 allows the Government of man to punish evil and force. Paul even calls them a “minister of God”Now we’re not going to take a side step to talk about righteous and unrighteous govt. lets just agree that God allow Government and force to enforce municipal law. Lawlessness never OKseparation of Church and state is good. The church does notuse violence, but the state is and a person in the military or police is acting as an agent of the state, not of their churchA police officer is just a citizen who has sworn to uphold the law and is afforded certain benefits from that oath and is an agent of the state used to quell evil and enforce the law. (biblical)lets come back to the hyperbolic nature of parts of the sermon on the mount Jesus is speakingHyperbole- exaggerated statements or claims not meant to be taken literally.We don’t pluck out our eyes, cut off our hands, we don’t always pray alone, Jesus is stating what our primary character traits  of life must be-  don’t rush to retaliationLater we’ll talk about loving your enemies- this is the crux- the best response is no responseVengeance is mine saith the Lord- it is mine to avenge. He will take care of itIf someone hurts you emotionally, or attacks you relationally, gossips about you, just let it go and the best way to get back at them- is give them the other side of your cheek to show them how disinterested you are in fighting them- Let God take care of you- IN a world that everyone wants to assert their dominance, give it up- let them win. These times were an honor-shame society-someone would gain or lose in every interaction Common for a person who was of a higher status to backhand a person as an insult- Jesus is preparing his followers- if they do this- show them how much you don’t care about your social standing in this world- let them smack you on the other check as well- hopefully those around you will see the pointless parts of this society where people work so hard to maintain their image. Just allow yourself to be embarrassed. (basketball game- just sit down- wouldn’t let him beat my daughter encourage her to take it)

1 Thessalonians 5:15 See that no one renders evil for evil to anyone, but always pursue what is good both for yourselves and for all.1 Peter 3:9 not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing.1 peter 2:20 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,