GROUP FELLOWSHIP

SPRING 2002

FEBRUARY 19/21

THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT’

‘WALKING THE WALK’ – and not merely talking the talk

(3) Matt 5: 38-48 : WALKING WITH THE RIGHT REACTIONS

INTRODUCTION: RIGHTEOUS REACTIONS! Having set out his radically different ideals of righteousness (5.17-37), Jesus now outlines the radically different reactions his disciples must have to the personal experience of ‘evil’. The disciples of Jesus are to be as clearly recognised by the way they personally (do not) respond to evil as it touches their lives as by their actions of righteousness.

5.38-48 has been called ‘The highest point of the Sermon…. for which it is both most admired and most resented.’

"Nowhere is the challenge of the Sermon greater,

 Nowhere is the distinctiveness of the Christian counter-culture more marked,

 Nowhere is our personal need for the power of the Holy Spirit more compelling."

(Read it in conjunction with Romans 12.14-21)

NOTE: Jesus’ teaching here has to do with personal relationships, not social justice. The Bible clearly teaches that ruling authorities have the clear responsibility to both restrain and punish evil. (Romans 13.1-5)

• 5.38-42 WHAT WE MUST NOT DO – NO RETALIATION!

A PRINCIPLE STATED

• THE INSTINCT OF PEOPLE
• What is the immediate instinct of fallen men and women to the experience of mistreatment?

 Is this right or wrong?

 How hard is it for us to control this?

• 5.38 In what way was the OT Law (quoted in this verse and set out in Ex 21.24, Lev 24.20, Deut 19.21) an attempt to set limits on reactions to evil?

(Read Genesis 4.23-24 and think about Lamech’s reaction to the wrong done to him!)

• How does the teaching of Jesus go higher and further than the OT Law which aimed at prescribing exact justice?

A PRINCIPLE ILLUSTRATED

• THE INSTRUCTION OF THE LORD
• How are we to react….?
• 5.39 in area of INSULTS where our PRIDE is hurt?
• 5.40 in area of INJUSTICE where our PROPERTY is concerned?
• 5.41 in area of IMPOSITION where our PERSONHOOD is affronted?
• 5.42 in area of INDULGENCE where our POSSESSIONS are scrounged?
• What is your reaction to all this? Does the teaching of Jesus
• encourage moral compromise?
• justify temperamental weakness? (i.e. justify the moral wimp, too timid to stand up for self?)
• advocate total pacifism?
• How did Jesus himself react to personal abuse? (His trial and crucifixion)
• What is morally harder – to yield to instinct and retaliate? or obey Jesus’ teaching and restrain our instincts?

• 5. 43-48: WHAT WE MUST DO (-positive) – OPPOSITE REACTION
• Human instinct is to react to abuse with an equal reaction, to give what we get and as good as we get!

How does Jesus advocate an exact opposite of this?

• What does Jesus say our response should be to those who wrong or abuse us?
• Try to think of different ways people can wrong you. Then think of the ways we normally react to each. Finally work out how you would respond if you reacted in exactly the opposite spirit. (e.g. Someone shows me rejection. My instinct is to reject or ignore them in turn. To move in the opposite spirit is to go out of my way to both approach and affirm them.)
• How in practical terms can we show love to enemies?

What should we pray for persecutors?

• Matt 5. 45 –48: What reasons does Jesus give for our reacting in this opposite way? How important is this?
• Romans 12.1-21: What important reasons are given here for reacting in an opposite spirit?

THINK HARD about today’s teaching:

Do you truly believe that the only way to overcome evil is to react in the opposite spirit to it?

It is so hard to do! Are you prepared to do it?