14EPIP07SAG (February 23, 2014)
Matthew 5:38-48
LOVE MAKES YOU "GODLIKE" ON EARTH
1. Godlike as you live to love
2. Godlike as you live in God's love
38
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ 39
But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the
right cheek, turn to him the other also. 40 And if someone wants to sue you
and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. 41 If someone forces
you to go one mile, go with him two miles. 42 Give to the one who asks you,
and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.
43
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your
enemy.’ 44 But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who
persecute you, 45 that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He
causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the
righteous and the unrighteous. 46 If you love those who love you, what
reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47 And if
you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do
not even pagans do that? 48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father
is perfect
Intro: You will notice the word "godlike" in the title for this message
today. Just what has the human race generally regarded as qualities that
make a person godlike? The ancient Greeks and their mythology are
probably a good place to start. They had a lot of heroes that they
considered godlike. Hercules was considered godlike because he had
godlike strength. Even as an infant when Hera released snakes into his
crib, the snakes were no match for the strength of Hercules. Achilles
had godlike warrior abilities and was considered unbeatable except for
the weakness in his heel. Odysseus was clever and smart like a god and
outwitted his opponents. Orpheus had godlike musical ability which he
used to charm his way through the dangers he encountered.
Mythology and mythological gods aside, what really makes a person
godlike? The answer to that question is what Jesus addresses today.
1. Godlike as you live to love
So, how godlike do you think that you are? Georgia took on a new job.
She was normally well-liked, highly regarded and patient but there was a
co-worker at this new job that just didn't like her. Georgia had no idea
why this was happening but what she did know was that the verbal put
downs and cold shoulders were starting to get to her. She was feeling a
combination of bewilderment, anger, and worthlessness all at once.
How do you handle that when it happens to you? Ever been bullied in
school or online? How do you handle that? What do you teach your
children to do when they encounter that? Is it the old adage, "if you are
going to get into a fight make sure that you win"? Ever had a complete
stranger on the road break out in road rage at you - what do you do?
How do you react when you feel like you are being treated unfairly when you are a David being wrongly hunted down by a Saul (1 Samuel
18:28-19:1)? In everyday life how do you interact with the person who
stands on the other side of the political fence from you?
And what would people say about the way you treat people? Are you
self-centered to the point where people find it hard to be around you?
Are you a know-it-all that always has to be right and never considers that
someone else might know something too? Does your impatience make
you rude around others? Are you one of those people who think that
you are not just the judge of another person's actions but also the
executioner and are vengeful thoughts something with which you
struggle?
In front of Jesus on the mountainside was a crowd of people, most of
whom had come to know and believe in Him as their Savior. They were
like us this evening/morning who have entered His sanctuary to worship
Him and to be spiritually fed by His word. In our Lord's heart was a
deep desire to instill God-like qualities into these people that He loved.
So this is what He said "38You have heard that it was said, 'Eye for
eye, and tooth for tooth.' 39But I tell you, Do not resist an evil
person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the
other also.'.......'41If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him
two miles.'" Jesus is clearing up some of the misconceptions over what
the scriptures had said. The words of Exodus 21, an eye for an eye and a
tooth for a tooth, were not given as a formula for personal revenge.
They were given as regulations for courts to use as God-appointed
representatives dealt with wrongs and injustice in an "official" capacity.
This same God says to the individual in Proverbs 24:29 "Do not say,
'I'll do to him as he has done to me. I'll pay that man back for what
he did." Personal vengeance was never a part of God's will. In fact
God has made it very clear "'Vengeance is mine, I will repay', says the
Lord."
So, the best individual response for you and me is to walk away from a
fight; when it is necessary, to accept mistreatment and to endure it rather
than retaliate; to be loving in response to hatred and injustice.
Interestingly, that often has the effect of eventually shaming the person
who is dishing this out to you. That is what our Epistle lesson was
talking about when it said "In doing this, you will heap burning coals
on his head." (Romans 12:20) Dr. Luther said this: "One must strictly
distinguish between the hand and the mouth. The mouth must never
concede wrong but the hand must be held quiet and not avenge itself."
Its all about attitude. Before you respond, search your heart for ways to
show love for those who abuse you and for ways to glorify God as your
respond.
Our Lord also says here "Give to the one who asks you, and do not
turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you." Same
attitude at work but in a different capacity. When someone is in genuine
distress and genuine need, be ready to respond. Walk back that greed or
selfishness that resists helping and be generous. Do that for your
enemies also when the need is genuine: "If your enemy is hungry, feed
him; if he is thirsty give him something to drink." (Romans:12:20;
Proverbs 25:21,22) God, of course, qualifies that command by
reminding us that we are not to be party to enabling foolishness and
laziness in someone by not being discerning in whom we help. He
speaks of the sluggard and the sin of laziness and warns "If a man will
not work he shall not eat." (2 Thess 3:10)
So what is that thing that makes us godlike on earth? It is right here:"I
tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,
that you may be sons of our Father in heaven." Sons of your Father
in heaven means "godlike." What makes you that is love. Love that is
not exclusively for only some people, people that are easy to love, but
love for everyone. But know this, also. There is a wonderful purpose to
that love. That love wants to free our enemy from his own hate, to
rescue him from his sin and to be instrumental in bringing him to his
Savior.
2. Godlike as you live in God's love
We feel so un-godlike right now, don't we? No spiritual Hercules here.
How often have we not loathed someone? How often have we not found
ways to retaliate openly or in creatively devious ways that are meant to
provide us with a veneer of goodness and legitimacy while still sticking it
to the person who wronged us? So many times we have we not even
tried to love those that are so hard to love.
God knows that we will not be godlike if left to ourselves, so he chose
another way. He chose to love us in a way that would make us godlike.
There was one with a human nature who was all of this. Peter wrote:
When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he
suffered, he made not threats. (1 Peter 2:23) You could not have
found a more loving person than him. Patient with his enemies.
Generous and genuinely helpful to those in need. Forgiving of those that
others could not forgive. A person who reached out in love to you and
to me. He was wrongly convicted of capital crimes and as he wrongfully
died what did he say about those who did it to him? "Father forgive
them for they do not know what they are doing." (Luke 23:34) He
was the one who was godlike on earth and perfect as his heavenly
Father was perfect.
That was Jesus and this Jesus has given us his righteousness when we
believe. Isaiah spoke of that when he said "my soul rejoices in my
God. For he has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed
me in a robe of righteousness. (Isaiah 61:10) I have loved everyone in
God's eyes because Jesus has clothed me in robes of righteousness. I
have always loved those who hated me because Jesus has clothed me in
robes of righteousness. He has made us godlike and did it because of his
heavenly love for us.
And now more than ever, knowing this, we want to do all of this that he
taught us today - to show him our love for Him. But how do we get
started? First, take your sins of lovelessness and anger to him and pray
"God have mercy on me a sinner." Then, by the power which only the
Spirit can give you, get back into the fight of faith again. With a heart
full of faith and love pay back cursing with blessing; hatred with good;
abuse with prayer. Amen.
Prayer: O Christ, who in great love kept your promise and came to give
your life a ransom for sinners, look with patience upon us and do not
cast us away. Your are the Searcher of our hearts and know full well
whenever we turn away from your will. Through your Holy Spirit
restore our sagging faith.
Lord, may we ever desire to show our faith and prove our love by
keeping your commandments and by refusing to yield to temptation.
Make our new man strong through the power of the Holy Spirit so that
we may be victorious over sin that rules our flesh, and help us overcome
every evil thought, every wrong desire, every idle word and every sinful
deed.
Forgive the lukewarmness that so often characterizes our faith. To the
praise and honor of your name we ask it, dear Savior. Amen.