April
25, 2003
RETURN
GOOD FOR EVIL
"I
tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you
on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. If anyone
wants to sue you and take away your tunic, let him have your
cloak also. And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with
him two. Give to him who asks you, and from him who wants
to borrow from you do not turn away" (Matthew 5:39-42,
NKJV).
These
words of Jesus "were but a reiteration of the teaching
of the Old Testament. It is true that the rule, 'Eye for eye,
tooth for tooth' (Leviticus 24:20), was a provision in the
laws given through Moses; but it was a civil statute. None
were justified in avenging themselves, for they had the words
of the Lord: 'Do not say, "I will recompense evil."'
'Do not say, "I will do to him just as he has done to
me."' 'Do not rejoice when your enemy fails.' 'If your
enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he is thirsty,
give him water to drink' (Proverbs 20:22; 24:29, 17; 25:21).
"The
whole earthly life of Jesus was a manifestation of this principle.
It was to bring the bread of life to His enemies that our
Saviour left His home in heaven. Though calumny and persecution
were heaped upon Him from the cradle to the grave, they called
forth from Him only the expression of forgiving love. Through
the prophet Isaiah He says, 'I gave My back to the smiters,
and My cheeks to them that plucked off the hair: I hid not
My face from shame and spitting.' 'He was oppressed, and He
was afflicted, yet He opened not His mouth: He is brought
as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers
is dumb, so He opened not His mouth.' Isaiah 50:6; 53:7. And
from the cross of Calvary there comes down through the ages
His prayer for His murderers and the message of hope to the
dying thief.
"The
Father's presence encircled Christ, and nothing befell Him
but that which infinite love permitted for the blessing of
the world. Here was His source of comfort, and it is for us.
He who is imbued with the Spirit of Christ abides in Christ.
The blow that is aimed at him falls upon the Saviour, who
surrounds him with His presence. Whatever comes to him comes
from Christ. He has no need to resist evil, for Christ is
his defense. Nothing can touch him except by our Lord's permission,
and 'all things' that are permitted 'work together for good
to them that love God' (Romans 8:28)."--Thoughts From
The Mount Of Blessing, pp., 69-73.
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