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Give Away Your Coat. Jesus’ target was their hard hearts. His next illustration is a legal one.
And if anyone wants to sue you, and take your shirt, let him have your coat also. (NASB) Matt. 5:40 In Jesus’ day, most of the people wore an undergarment or “shirt” and an outer garment called a “coat.” According to God’s law, if you had loaned your outer “coat” to someone, they had to return it to you by sunset (Ex. 22:26-27). Jesus does not tell us if the lawsuit was justified or not. That is not Jesus’ point. Jesus is saying, give them your coat - do not resist - show them Jesus’ love. How often we seek to protect our own rights (Phil. 2:3-4). Jesus is saying give them up.
Go the Extra Mile. Some folks in the crowd probably disagreed with Jesus by now, but He was not done,
And whoever shall force you to go one mile, go with him two. (NASB) Matt 5:41 Jesus was referring to a Roman law that gave a Roman soldier the right to force a civilian or his animal to carry something for a MILION, which is a Roman mile. So, Jesus says to go two MILION. The Jews hated the Romans. Just imagine how the crowd must have reacted. Probably few if any in the crowd really wanted to help a Roman soldier.
Give and Loan. Each statement was getting worse but Jesus was not done, He has another illustration,
Give to him who asks of you, and do not turn away from him who wants to borrow from you. (NASB) Matt. 5:42 The Greek text implies that this person was asking and asking. Few people will ask and ask. Only those in real need will repeatedly ask. Jesus tells us to help them. Jesus was not talking about giving to someone who makes unreasonable requests such as asking for your home, ALL of your money (1 Tim. 5:8) or asking you to commit some sin (Acts 5:29).
Conclusion. Jesus was talking about our heart . . . He was illustrating unselfish love. He was showing us how to show love to those who insult us, sue us, compel us to help them, who beg for help and who request to borrow money.
These religious leaders had twisted God’s holy law to serve their own selfishness. God had established the principle of an “eye for an eye” and a “tooth for a tooth” to limit punishment and bind justice. We are like them in many ways. When someone is controlling, indifferent, excessive, or unkind, we too violate God’s principle,
“VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY,” says the Lord. (NASB) Rom. 12:19 God does not want us to think “Vengeance is for me, I deserve to be treated better.” Jesus was not literally talking about offering your “other nose” to be hit or to go about naked. He is not encouraging us to deprive our families of home, food and money. His target was the cold hearted and selfish. He was talking about yielding yourself, your rights, and your heart to another.
One of the great marks of mature Christians is their love from the heart, with their money, for the widows, orphans, those in distress, strangers and prisoners (James 1:27; 1 Tim. 6:17-18; Heb. 13:1-2). When was the last time you helped your neighbor or defended someone who was being slandered? Jesus wants us to sacrificially reach out to others, to Christians (Gal. 6:10) and to evil men in love through the power of the Holy Spirit.
If anyone wishes to come after Me, let him deny himself . . . (NASB) Luke 9:23 |
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| Sermon on the Mount | |||||
