Note Before Reading: This is commentary of one person. Think of it more as a bible study where each person might see something that someone else didn’t see. God’s word is multifaceted and alive. We will be learning about Jesus, from His Word, through all Eternity. This is just a peek, a few gems, there are many more. I pray that each of you can draw from the well of the Lord’s word, be fed your daily bread and that this might serve as salt to flavor some things you may not have noticed before. Let the Holy Spirit lead you and guide you into all truth.
Ye have heard that it hath been said,
An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: v38
But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil:
but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek,
turn to him the other also. v39
This is in line with Romans 12:19 and several other parts of the bible where God showed up to help people, to repay enemies, to take care of His Saints.
Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath:
for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.
If we take matters into our own hands, that is a lack of trusting God,
a lack of faith, not to mention unforgiveness.
And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat,
let him have thy cloke also. v40
Let them win. Be a peacemaker. Let Jesus take care of all the ins and outs.
He knows the whole picture.
And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain. v41
Help the situation the best that you can. If that person needs support, give it to him or her. If that person is accusing you, let God deal with them and just do your best to help them to see the Lord’s grace operating in your heart and life.
Give to him that asketh thee,
and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away. v42
This has always been a hard one for me. Give freely as you have received and do not be stingy. I’ve had to struggle often with people who waste their money and then ask for more. Just be sure that whatever you do, you do so before the Lord and be willing to do what He shows you to do. He is always watching and sees when we have poor motives. If we check our motives with the Lord and ask for wisdom and He will help us to do what He is showing us to do.
Ye have heard that it hath been said,
Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. v43
No. the next scripture explains God’s heart.
He wants us to love our enemies and forgive from the bottom of our hearts.
But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you,
do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; v44
Love them; bless them; do good to them; pray for them, even when they curse you and hate you and despitefully use you and persecute you.
That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven:
for He maketh His sun to rise on the evil and on the good,
and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. v45
As children, we can reflect our Father’s goodness and righteousness and love and mercy and kindness and generosity.
For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same? v46
That’s okay to love those who love you. That’s easy. Love the unlovely, love the difficult ones, be a vessel of the Lord’s goodness even when it’s not easy.
And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so? v47
Extend your hand. Extend the graciousness that Jesus has taught you from extending His graciousness to you. Share that with others. You might even receive more when you do. If you don’t use it, you lose it.
For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath.
Matthew 13:12
Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect. v48
Perfection. None of us are perfect, however, God looks on the heart. He is always looking on the heart. So, since we don’t see that same way, we can’t even see ourselves as God does, we still want to emanate His righteousness and cherish it in our hearts so that we can please Him. It is an ongoing process and He will appreciate our obedience and trying to do His will.