Perfect
Author: Pastor Thomas G. Wilson
April 09, 2020
Matthew 5:38-48 TPT [38]
"Your ancestors have also been
taught, 'Take an eye in exchange for an eye and a tooth in exchange for a
tooth.' [39] However, I say to you,
don't repay an evil act with another evil act. But whoever insults you
by slapping you on the right cheek, turn the other to him as well. [40] If
someone is determined to sue you for your coat, give him the shirt off
your back as a gift in return. [41] And should people in authority take
advantage of you, do more than what they demand. [42] Learn to generously
share what you have with those who ask for help, and don't close
your heart to the one who comes to borrow from you." [43] "Your ancestors have also been taught 'Love
your neighbors and hate the one who hates you.' [44] However, I say to you, love your enemy, bless
the one who curses you, do something wonderful for the one who hates you, and
respond to the very ones who persecute you by praying for them. [45] For that
will reveal your identity as
children of your heavenly Father. He is kind to all by bringing the sunrise to
warm and rainfall to refresh whether a person does what is good or evil. [46]
What reward do you deserve if you only love the loveable? Don't even the tax
collectors do that? [47] How are you
any different from others if you limit your kindness only to your friends?
Don't even the ungodly do that? [48] Since you are children of a perfect Father
in heaven, you are to be perfect like
him."
Most believers
bristle at even the mention of perfection as a viable pursuit as a standard of
living. However the scripture is clear,
the perfection we see in our Heavenly Father is what we must all strive
for. Jesus in the passage from Matthew 5
directly confronts the erroneous teachings of the Jewish ancestors. The difficulty in changing these teachings
is that they were based on the law that God had given to Moses. The teacher of the law at that time and some
still today use the law as an instrument of judgment of others rather than a
motivation to change themselves. It is
noble to respect your heritage and to respect those who have made sacrifices to
make life better for the generations after them; nevertheless, the beliefs,
instruction and convictions of our ancestors should never take the place of
those of the First Family of Heaven. Our
spiritual heritage must always and in every situation dominate our thinking as
well as our actions. Jesus outlines the
process of responding the way your Father in Heaven responds, perfect
- Don’t
retaliate in kind. When you are
insulted, do not look to repay the offender for what they have done.
- Don’t be
moved or motivated by the actions (lawsuits) of others, your feelings, or even injustice. Be motivated by Holy Spirit.
- Don’t
respond tit for tat even though this is what they may deserve. We should not demand justice in interpersonal
relationships rather dispense grace.
- Don’t be
fixed on vengeance. The Bible says
“vengeance is mine, I will repay saith the LORD. Leave justice to the LORD.
- Don’t
allow your generosity to be controlled by logic or need or some other
qualification. Jesus said the only
qualification is that they ask.
- Dispense
love unconditionally.
- Bless
those who curse you.
- Do
something wonderful for those who hate and persecute you, pray for them.
Do not misunderstand
the message. Jesus main purpose is that
we do not respond to situations based on someone’s actions or our feelings for
it is then possible for the devil to manipulate a couple of aggravating
circumstances and before we recognize what is going on, the devil is in
control. If we discipline ourselves to
respond only as God would have us do, there is no possibility of deception nor
manipulation. We can live out our lives
under absolute submission and trust in the Lord God! The above list outlines
our Heavenly Father’s ways and when we respond His way, it is always the
perfect response.
For further reading: Luke
23:34; Gen.29-30
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