Sunday 31st March
Read Matthew 5:38-42
“‘You have heard that it was said, “Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.” 39 But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also. 40 And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well. 41 If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles.42 Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.” (NIVUK)
The first example of not resisting an evil person involves the personal insult, the second involves legal proceedings and the third involves government imposition. All of them have in common the subjugation of one’s personal rights in favour another.
There was an ancient rule imposed by ruling governments that if a soldier demands you carry their luggage one mile you must render that service. It was simply part of being occupied. Baggage had to be moved and someone has to move it. Jesus argues that if you are dragooned in such a manner you should voluntarily offer twice the service required. It would have been an absurd demand for those hearing it in occupied Roman territory. Probably why it was remembered!
Martyn Lloyd-Jones argues persuasively that the equivalent today would be the paying of taxes. Often we do everything we can to avoid paying taxes to government. We may rightly or wrongly consider them unworthy money-wasters. We moan and work out ways around paying them. Jesus would argue we should not grumble, we should not minimise, we should not seek out every exemption – but simply pay.
The demands of the kingdom are challenging indeed.
