Year A Epiphany 7 (Proper 2) 20 February 2011
Leviticus 19: 1-2, 9-18 Psalm 119: 33-40 1 Corinthians 3: 10-11, 16-23 Matthew 5: 38-48
Matthew 5:38-42 “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 anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also. And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well. If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles. Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.”
I’m not real keen on the readings for this week. I think most of us are a lot more comfortable with the concept of an “eye for an eye”. As far as loving our enemies goes and “turning the other cheek”, I think I’d much rather return the slap with another added for good measure.
Each of our readings tells of the divine law of God and the Psalm explains to us that we need divine understanding to follow God’s law. Although the law was written in great detail the Psalmist prayers for understanding. The Psalmist was wise in praying for understanding and we really need to do the same. We know from history that the Israelites misinterpreted God’s law to the extent that they crucified Jesus for seeming to be breaking God’s law.
God’s law included a framework for compassion and mercy:
Leviticus 19:9-10 “‘When you reap the harvest of your land, do not reap to the very edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest. Do not go over your vineyard a second time or pick up the grapes that have fallen. Leave them for the poor and the foreigner. I am the LORD your God.”
By the time that Jesus walked the earth the religious leaders had interpreted the law and it’s demand, “an eye for an eye” to be a licence for revenge. Originally the idea of an “eye for an eye” was about a system of justice, and it was to be conducted by the elders or judges or a system of reputable council. At the time of Jesus, the people were taking the law into their own hands and quoting the scripture, “an eye for an eye” to justify their actions, but as you might imagine, this attitude of revenge wasn’t part of God’s plan for equality and justice where an eye was given for an eye, but the people made it more like an arm, a leg and an eye for an eye.
We can see that people in the past have misinterpreted the scripture and God’s law and we need to be very cautious that we don’t find ourselves doing the same. There are two sides to this coin. One side is the humility and wisdom to look beyond our own experience and acknowledge that we don’t know everything and the other is to stand up and fight for the essential truth of God. You might recall that although Jesus taught constantly about loving each other and especially our enemies, he was also constantly confronting the religious leaders and he became so angry in the temple that he over threw the money changers tables and took a whip to them.
“Turn the other cheek” and “blessed are the meek” are not a command to allow yourself to be walked on. Many have taken these scriptures so literally that they have completely embraced a life of pacifism. We SO need to pray for God to give us understanding and base our understanding on revelation of the Holy Spirit and on all scripture, because pacifism is not what Jesus taught – but he did teach love.
In the Jewish culture of Jesus time, a slap on the face was a great insult, such that a slave would rather be whipped then have his master slap him. The slap was an insult and an offence. To receive a slap and to turn the other cheek did two things. Firstly it is clear as an injustice and witnessed by all heaven, therefore if we have been innocent and stood firm without retaliation then the ultimate judge will call to account. Secondly, to turn the other cheek would literally be peacefully allowing the offender the opportunity to see their sin and repent. It is like the Bishop in Les Miserable when after catching the thief stealing from him, offers him more to take away.... which was the act of forgiveness that lead to repentance. Imagine some friend has been at your house and you realize they have taken something of yours.... you then offer them your DVD player.... the offender realises that they have been found out, but because of this response, the offender is convicted of their guilt... and hopefully all turns out well.....
Leviticus 19:18 “‘Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against anyone among your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD”.
In our relationships we often have people who offend us. We need to find a way to let go and forgive completely without thoughts of revenge. This is not easy and there comes a point where we need to walk away.... stop turning your cheek because it becomes a case of you “throwing your pearl to swine” and scripture tells us not to do that either.
I can share a practical example with you. A long term friend of mine has often treated me badly over the years and hurt me. I kept turning the other cheek. I’d be hurt and confront him and he’d deny that he’d done anything wrong. Then one day he confessed that he could never again trust me. We had been going out briefly at one point at the beginning of our relationship -a very long time ago and I broke it off because I had feelings for someone else. Though we’d remained friends and although he said he’d forgiven me his actions and confession showed that he was harbouring feelings of revenge and un-forgiveness. I continued to communicate. I did Not point out his flaws and I did apologise yet again for any past hurt - but he is unwilling to admit that he has treated me badly and so although I continue to care and remain willing to have his friendship, I’m putting in some distance and letting go of that “friendship”.
This is the same person who, way back at the beginning of our relationship couldn’t believe that I could be a Christian and be divorced.
The root of this problem is pride. It is our pride that makes us feel that we are better than someone else – more “good” or should have revenge over another. Once again we need to pray for God’s wisdom because quite often we are falling into the trap of the original sin of Adam and Eve – that is, thinking that we can be like God carrying out judgment. It is God who is good and faultless – not us. We think we are like God discerning good and evil – someone has done evil to us and we are good. But we are not good and there is no room for any self-righteousness. We have been forgiven by God and need to forgive others.
1 Corinthians 3:18-23 “Do not deceive yourselves. If any of you think you are wise by the standards of this age, you should become “fools” so that you may become wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God’s sight. As it is written: “He catches the wise in their craftiness”; and again, “The Lord knows that the thoughts of the wise are futile.” So then, no more boasting about human leaders! All things are yours, whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future—all are yours, 23 and you are of Christ, and Christ is of God.”
This reading from St. Paul to the Corinthians is about a group of Christians who were divided because one lot claimed to have Paul as their leader and another group claimed to have Peter (Cephas) and yet another group had Apollos. We have a similar situation today. We have many Christian churches and a great divide between.
I have walked between many denominations for many years and it confuses many, but I’m so glad that I have. Mostly through music, I’ve had the opportunity to be part of many Christian communities and made many friends from other denominations. I know that the more traditional denominations appear very strange and even cult like to the less formal denominations, and though it will probably shock the less formal denominations the reverse is often true also. I’m aware of the theological differences that divide the denominations, but I’ve also been blessed to be part of inter-denominational organisations that have realised the unity of our core beliefs.
There are some very important reasons behind the beginnings of each denomination. Without Martin Luther there may have been no reformation in the Catholic Church. And at the top levels of some churches are the talks of unity... unfortunately much of these talks never reach the people in the pews.
St. Paul and St. Peter argued about circumcision. Peter was for it and Paul was against it and yet St. Paul still circumcised Timothy. There are times when things are called for in a certain way and other times when it must be different. What we need to do is to pray for God’s wisdom to know what we need now and to put aside our pride and maybe even our ways of doing things yesterday. We need to know the essentials of our Christian faith and know it completely and thoroughly, and then, in the love of God, we stop being obsessed and wasting energy on less important things.
Our energy needs to be focused on proclaiming the Good News of Jesus, through whom we have forgiveness of sin and the assurance of eternal life. Note that I said we have assurance of eternal life. It is through the sacrifice of Jesus and our faith in him. It is not our rites and rituals or splendid sound gear, theological training, inspiring sermons, superior teaching or denomination...... but it is the sacrifice of Jesus and our faith in him that gives us forgiveness of sin and the assurance of eternal life. We need to stand against things that come in the way of this and stand for things that promote the message... and we need to stand together.
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