On 11-13-11, Matthew 5:43-48 or 5:38-48 will be our Adult Sunday School/Uniform Series/International Sunday School Lesson this is my commentary.  This week’s lesson is known by some as Loving as God’s People aka Loving Your Enemies.  You will find the 11-06-11 lesson Forgiving as God’s People aka First be Reconciled directly beneath this message and/or on the right side.

Jed

Loving as God’s People

Or

 Loving Your Enemies

Matthew 5:43-48 or 5:38-48

International Sunday School Lesson

November 13, 2011

Commentary

By

Jed Greenough

Part I 5:38-42

Those of you whose lessons include these verses should have interesting discussions as you all share your thoughts about what you think and what others have thought down through the years about what Jesus was saying here.

Many will say that Jesus overturned what had been a long standing system of justice in an eye for an eye.  While others will say Jesus wasn’t being literal.  What will you say?  I say He was doing both.

Jesus being fully God is not a man that He should change His mind (Numbers 23:19 and 1 Samuel 15:29) and so when we read Him say, “You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘Do not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’  But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment.”  Do you think He was changing His mind about murder?  Of course not!

So when we read Him saying, “You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’  But I tell you, do not resist an evil person.  If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.”  He wasn’t changing His mind here either.

In 5:28 Jesus said that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has committed adultery with her in his heart and if their eye has caused them to sin they should gouge it out.  I ask you, how many one eyed men are there in your church?

Should a man commit adultery?  Of course not!  Should they literally chop off their limbs and gouge out their eyes?  Again, of course not, it was the man who sinned and not his part and it is the man who needs to change his behavior.

Likewise, eye for an eye, meaning justice that is fair and equal, is still to be measured out, Christ has not, like a man changed His mind, but rather it is man’s behavior that should change.  Imagine how fewer things would escalate to assaults and lawsuits, war and punishment if the behavior of men towards each other should change.

Part II 5:43-48

Have you ever had an enemy or at least someone who persecuted you?  I am sure if you have lived any part of a worldly life you have had an enemy or two.  And if you have “lived a Godly life in Christ Jesus” 2 Timothy 3:12 at all you have been persecuted.  So, how’d you do loving and praying for them?

I pray that God showed through your reactions.  That is really what Christ is saying here when He says, “Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”  Just as God “causes His sun to rise on the evil and good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.”, so too are we to react with love towards even those who hate and persecute us.  And because we are heirs with Christ, God as our Father is patiently expecting things from us. “He is patient with you not wanting anyone to perish” 2 Peter 3:9

You see if we react the way the world reacts then we are no different from the world.  But if we react as God does with us, with patience, then we are emulating Him.  The world expects us to react as it does when they hate us or persecute us but to react with love and patience is a witness.  The “Lord’s patience means salvation” 2 Peter 3:15 perhaps for those who hate and persecute you.  This is being perfect like the Father.

 

For Discussion:

1.     “To hate your enemy” is not from God but must have been how they had twisted things to do the opposite from love your neighbor.

2.     Proverbs 19:11

3.     Concerning eye for an eye, read Exodus 21, Leviticus 24 and Deuteronomy 19.

4.     Have people discuss occasions when they should have turned the other cheek and did not and occasions when they did.

5.     With regard to verse 42, discuss how we have had a tendency to grow cold towards all those who ask from us.  Is it better to give to someone who does not deserve than to risk not giving to those who truly need?

6.     Discuss that Christmas Day is on a Sunday and that your class is one that will not give up meeting that day!  Your class should be like a family and should meet especially on this day.

Upcoming Adult Sunday School Lessons

11-20-11:  Praying as God’s People, Matthew 6:5-15

11-27-11:  Facing Life Without Worry, Matthew 6:25-34

12-4-11:    A Blessing for All Nations, Genesis 12:1-9

12-11-11:  A Promise to Abraham, Genesis 15:1-6, 12-18

12-18-11:  The Lord Provides, Genesis 22:1-2, 6-14

12-25-11:  According to the Promise, Luke 1:46-55

Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 Biblica. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved