Dan Herold | Matthew 5:38-48 | 2/19/2017
What do you want to be known for? When people hear your name what do you hope that they think? Whether we want to admit it or not our reputations matter—and they matter a great deal. You may have heard someone say to another person “your reputation precedes you,” when they were meeting for the first time. That means that even though those two people hadn’t met in person before they knew something about each other. They knew each other’s reputation and our reputations set the stage for the sort of relationship we are able to build with others.
In this morning’s Gospel reading we heard a portion of Jesus’ sermon on the mount where he was teaching his disciples about practical ways to apply God’s word in their lives as they prepared to enter their careers in public ministry. What Jesus says to us this morning is tough to swallow…it’s tough because it runs against every natural instinct we have. Naturally we are concerned with self-preservation and advancement, but Jesus says that’s not the sort of reputation we ought to have as his followers. Jesus talks to us this morning about what our reputation should be as Christians… he says we should be known for our love.
That doesn’t mean that we are supposed to go around wearing red and pink all year giving out heart shaped boxes of candy. That’s not the kind of love Jesus is talking about. Jesus tells us that Christians are set apart because they love in a way that is true, authentic, unselfish, and unconditional….Jesus tells us that we are to be known for our love; love which gives glory to God, and love that truly cares for others.
Look at the words our Savior spoke to his disciples and let’s apply them to our lives. Even though the world has changed drastically since Jesus preached this sermon, his words still ring true for us today. Just as the disciples needed to hear this practical example of how they could show Christian love, we need to hear it as well.
In Matthew 5:38 Jesus says,
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’”
And just as the disciples had heard that I’m sure we all have as well. There are even religions in this world that teach that. They teach that taking revenge is the right thing to do, that it is ok to lie to someone who has been dishonest with you. An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth is essentially the same idea as the popular idea of karma–what goes around comes around. And even if you haven’t heard another person talking like that, you’ve almost certainly heard it in your own head because that is just how our sinful nature thinks. It says, “If you hurt me, then I’ll hurt you back.” That way of thinking is so common that we hardly think twice about it, but Jesus called on his disciples–including you and me– to be different. He didn’t tell us to yield to the lowest common denominator, but he told us to love.
Jesus said,
“But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.”
Jesus tells us not to take revenge! Don’t lie back to someone who lied to you! That’s common, be different!
This is the kind of love for which Jesus wants us to be known. Love that is rare, love that is unique, and love that gives glory to God. Now you might wonder how this kind of love gives glory to God. After all if you see a person acting like this we might be inclined to give them praise for being such a good person, but the only way you can show this sort of love is if you first have received this same sort of unconditional love from God.
Take a look at each of the phrases Jesus uses and how each situation gives glory to God. First of all, if someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. When we show love in this way we are giving glory to God by allowing him to punish those who do wrong–by letting him take vengeance just like he tells us throughout Scripture. Our sinful egos, though, want immediate satisfaction if they have been harmed and naturally we want to seek revenge, but Jesus calls on us to be set apart by love which glorifies God by letting him punish those who do wrong.
Next Jesus said,
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“And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well.”
Once again our natural reaction is to keep as much for ourselves as we can–to turn away those in need because on our own we are reluctant to share. So when we show love in this unique way that is willing to share and sacrifice abundantly it gives glory to God because it shows that we trust his promises to continue to provide for us. It also shows that we recognize that what we have in this life isn’t really ours. It all belongs to God and he lets us use it. So, what better way to use his blessings could there be than to use them to reflect the unique love that God has shown us?
Jesus reinforces his point with his last two statements in verses 41-42,
“If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.”
If someone forced me to walk a mile with them I can tell you right now that my natural reaction would not be to say, “Hey, let’s walk another one!” I wouldn’t automatically want to do that. None of these things come naturally–we need to fight our sinful nature and be set apart through demonstrations of this special love that makes Christians different. When someone asks to borrow from us, we don’t just turn away and ignore them…we help them–we help them with what they need immediately, but we can also help their souls by talking to them about Jesus. Sooner or later if you are known for acts of loves like these someone is going to ask you why you act the way you do and right there is the reason for all of it. When that time comes you can tell that person that you are no better than anyone else, but you have received the love of God (love which moved him to send his Son to be your Savior) and now you make every effort you can to show that same sort of love to others.
But we can’t just sit around and wait for one of those opportunities Jesus listed to present itself. We can show this kind of love that glorifies God in our lives each and every day. One way to do that is by demonstrating the selfless nature of this unique love and putting the needs of others ahead of our own wants and needs.
In verse 43 Jesus mentions another common way of thinking when he says,
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’”
And that’s how we naturally think. That’s why we call some people enemies–because our sinful nature has convinced us to not treat them with love. But Jesus tells his followers to be different! He says,
“But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 that you may be sons of your Father in heaven….If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47 And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? 48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”
Now, that’s a tall order isn’t it? And on our own, by our own effort, we could never do it. But we have a perfect example of this kind of unique love that sets Christians apart. We have Jesus who loved with this kind of love–and he did it perfectly, and he did it for us. Just think for a minute about how Jesus demonstrated his love for you….
He willingly set aside some of his heavenly glory and lowered himself to become human. He was born in a stable. He lived a life of persecution having been essentially run out of his home town and threatened just about everywhere he went. He came down from heaven to live on earth, where he would never even own a bed to call his own. And then, he allowed himself to be arrested and put on trial even though he hadn’t committed a crime. He was beaten and mocked. Ultimately, he was executed like a criminal–nailed to a cross–where he felt the burden of all your sins, all my sins, and the sins everyone else who ever had lived or would live. Then he gave up his life, a life that he had lived perfectly, as payment for our sins. And even after all that, he didn’t even own a grave to be buried in. That is how your Savior showed his love for us, and that is what enables you now to show love to others.
I’ll admit that at times hearing about love all the time can be a little off-putting. It can make us sound like a bunch of mushy weirdos that are constantly surrounded by beams of sunshine and smiles. That’s the way that our world thinks of love–as a simple emotion that makes you feel good inside and makes you forget about anything that might be wrong. When Jesus talks about love, though, that’s not what he’s talking about.
When Jesus talks about love he’s talking about something that is not easy and it isn’t always fun either. When Jesus talks about love he is talking about love that will give itself up for another, love that will die for another person, love that doesn’t boast about itself but gives glory to God. When Jesus talks about love he isn’t talking about hearts and roses and candy. He’s talking about selflessness, humility, and ultimately he’s talking about the cross where he died for us because he loved us.
Don’t let the false images of love that our culture is obsessed with define how you, as Christians, think about and act out love. Remember how Christ showed you love, by rescuing you from sin. Remember the sacrifices he made and let him be your model for how you love others. Only with our eyes and hearts fixed on Jesus and his cross can we begin to understand what it means to love. Then that is what our reputation as Christians will be, that’s what others will know about us. That we are defined by love unlike any other love–by love which glorifies our Lord and love which puts the needs of others before our own.
Amen.