In the Fulness of Time/Part 18

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Election time is particularly important to the people of the United States of America because of elections. Not only will we have a newly appointed administration on the national level; there will be numerous statewide and local officials chosen to run the various levels of government. All of this brings up an interesting question with regard to the type of government Jesus was presenting to the Jews of His day. He was claiming to be their long-awaited Messiah, calling on them to enter the Kingdom He would establish. Is His Kingdom of Heaven to be governed allowing a “turn the other cheek” policy toward evil?

The Matter of Retaliation. Matthew 5:38-42

It must be stated at the outset of this series of antitheses that Jesus is speaking about personal retaliation rather than a comprehensive command concerning law enforcement. As a matter of fact, His statement about what the Law of Moses prescribed is in contrast to His suggestions about personal ill-treatment. Remember, the thrust of Matthew 5:21-48 is to emphasize the need for a righteousness which exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, if one is to enter the Kingdom of Heaven Jesus is offering. Nevertheless, Jesus does not contradict the need of a society of law and order, and He would certainly never support the unbridled excesses of evil men against innocent, law-abiding citizens. As Lenski remarks, “Christ never told me not to restrain the murderer’s hand, not to check the thief and robbers, not to oppose the tyrant, or by my gifts to foster shiftlessness, dishonesty, or greed” (Matthew, p. 238). Jesus would not only be contradicting His Father’s actions against evil in the Old Testament, but would also be opposing the New Testament teachings about submission to those higher powers in government. Such a person in government is referred to as “the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid, for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, an avenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil” (Romans 13:4).

What the Law of Moses Said.

Matthew 5:38 “Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.”

This was originally given in Exodus 21:24 to prevent more revenge than was required. Further, this command was not given to individuals so they could take the Law into their own hands, but was presented in the context of injuries to a pregnant woman who happened to get caught in the middle of a fight between two men, one of whom was her husband. The man who hurt the woman “shall surely be punished according as the woman’s husband will lay upon him; and he shall pay as the judges determine. And if any mischief follows, then shalt thou give life for life, Eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, Burning for burning, wound for wound, stripe for stripe” (Exodus 22:22-25).

The two important things to note in all of this are that the punishment must fit the crime, no more, no less; and second, that the decision for punishment is to be made by the “judges” not the victim’s family. Later on, in Matthew 18:15-17 Christ involves the law of “two or three witnesses” from Deuteronomy 19:15. The victim must have the authority of a legal court to exact any retaliation. In our day there are those so-called religious people and others, who say that punishment does not prevent crime. This is in direst conflict with Biblical teaching. According to Deuteronomy 19:19-21, Moses’ Law prescribed punishment for three reasons: first, to produce the two following results; “So shalt thou put the evil away from you” (19:19), and “those who remain shall fear, and shall henceforth commit no more any such evil among you” (19:20). Second, punishment was prescribed to prevent excessive revenge, and third, to prohibit personal or family vendettas (19:21). Lest any should say that this is strictly Old Testament teaching, a second look at Romans 13:1-7 will show that such submission to legal authority is commanded, and that government “beareth not the sword in vain; for he is the minister of God, an avenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.”

What Christ Taught: Live Above the Law. Matthew 5:39-42

In each of these four verses Christ gives a prescription for dealing with personal problems, while at the same time maintaining the righteousness of God. In the present article, we will have space enough to deal with the first command.

Resisting Personal Revenge

Matthew 5:39 “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.”

In order to show that “resist not evil” is personal and not official or legal, all one has to do is to look at the action of the Lord Himself. When attacks against Him were personal He took them without resisting. For example, I Peter 2:20-23 presents Christ as our example in His suffering: “Who did no sin neither was guile found in his mouth; Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not, but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously.” This was in fulfillment of Isaiah 53:7: “He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth.” However, when Jesus stood before the high priest defending His teaching and was struck in the face by one of the officers, He did not turn the other cheek. To the contrary, He defended His speaking the truth by answering, “If I have spoken evil, bear witness of the evil, but if well, why smitest thou me?” (John 18:22-23).

But to an even greater extent, Christ resisted evil when He cleansed the Temple. Jesus actually manufactured a scourge with His own hands and whipped the money-changers and others, driving them out of the Temple, saying. “Make not my Father’s house a house of merchandise” (John 2:16). This, too, was in fulfillment of Scripture: “The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up” (John 2:17 cf. Psalm 69:9). Each of these prophecies, and many more, will be fulfilled “in the fulness of time.”

Read Part 19