A quick review; At the beginning of chapter 5; Jesus had just came from the wilderness where he had been tempted by Satan. He had been calling some of his disciples and had been preaching and teaching in the synagogues. In Matthew 5:1 we see that a multitude were folowing him. As he looked upon them he sat down and began to teach them. Because Jesus is omniscient; all knowing, he knew that they were giong to be tested for their faith in him , so he began to teach them some fundamental truths so they could stand when the storms came. Matthew 7:24.
We are picking up our study in Matthew 5:38. Jesus had been clarifying some of the Law; Old Testament. He is now teaching the difference between Law and Grace. The Law said that (verse 38) “Ye have heard that it has been said, an eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: (39) But I (Jesus) say “That ye shall resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.” I have thought much about this verse; what Jesus is tell them and us is contrary to my basic nature . I would see that as a weakness but God sees it as meekness. Go back and look at 5:5; “Blessed (happy, holy) are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.” In Romans 12: 17-21; Paul told the church of Roman, not to recompense (pay back) evil for evil, live peaceable with all men, be not vengeful instead leave it to the Lord; “Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord”, do good to and for your enemy and “Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good”.
Jesus doubles down on how you treat your enemy. Verse 43-47; “Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbors, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you.”
Verse 45 establishes why they and why we should react and treat others, our enemies and those that do wrong to us. “That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven” 1st John 3; is a great chapter to study. In relation to our hevenly Fathers love toward us and how thru that love to us should magnify our love to others. At salvation we became the children of God, he expects us to love others as he loves them.
Verse 48 ” Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.”
The word “perfect ” in the Bible is often the hebrew word “teleios” which gives us the idea of fully grown, mature. Knowing we are not sinless and never will be. We must understand this to mean as a child of God we should always be growing in our Christian faith. One of those charcteristics of matutity is how we respond to others. Do we reflect that love of our heavenly Father to those that we encounter?
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