Love Your Enemies And Keep A Pistol Handy

Jesus refuses to abolish the law or the prophets. He fulfills them by bringing out their true intent, not by cutting them down to outward behavior. The same God who gave the law through Moses does not change His mind, so apparent contradictions must drive Christians to read the whole Bible carefully. The law exposes murder in angry hearts, adultery in lustful hearts, and covenant breaking behind convenient divorces.

The law of “an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth” belongs in the halls of justice. Lex talionis means that the punishment should fit the crime. Exodus, Leviticus, and Deuteronomy place judges, witnesses, victims, and lawful process around this principle. Justice must not be too light, letting evil run wild, or too heavy, crushing people beyond what their offense deserves. The civil magistrate bears the sword as God’s servant, an avenger appointed to punish evil rather than an excuse for tyrants to do whatever they want.

Jesus turns from the civil sphere to the personal sphere. The individual disciple must not grab a legal maxim and use it to justify being nasty, vindictive, and retaliatory. A slap on the right cheek is an insult, not a home invasion. Christ calls His people to take insults without returning them, swallow pride, bite the tongue, forgive offenses, and deescalate rather than one-up the offender.

Jesus also calls His disciples to suffer wrong in ordinary disputes. The tunic and cloak point toward a willingness to avoid needless lawsuits, especially among believers. The second mile pictures voluntary kindness after compelled service. Generosity toward beggars and borrowers requires wisdom, since charity can enable destruction, but Christian hearts must not become hard toward poor neighbors.

Exodus still makes a distinction between vengeance and legitimate defense. A thief breaking in at night may present a real threat to life and family, while a daytime thief is not to be executed merely for stealing property. The sword has a place in just government, self-defense, and war. Pacifism has its place in personal relationships.

Jesus finally roots love of enemies in the character of the Father. God sends rain and sunshine upon the evil and the good. Christians bear the Father’s name when they pray for thieves, persecutors, rude drivers, and online enemies instead of feeding bitterness. Yet Christ’s command to be perfect does not become a stairway to heaven. The law leaves sinners poor in spirit, because nobody has loved God and neighbor as he ought. Jesus alone is the perfect Son, and justification rests in His righteousness received by faith.

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Key Takeaways

• 1. Justice belongs in lawful courts [49:07] Lex talionis does not give individuals permission to settle scores. The principle exists so that judges can make punishment fit the crime, neither shrugging at evil nor punishing beyond measure. Civil justice serves the neighbor when it restrains violence, theft, perjury, and oppression according to God’s standards. [49:07]
• 2. Insults do not require retaliation [01:04:44] A slap on the cheek wounds pride more than it threatens life. Christ calls His people to bear insult without making themselves the center of the universe. Turning the other cheek often looks like saying nothing, refusing the comeback, and passing over a transgression without performing spiritual superiority. [64:44]
• 3. Generosity needs love and wisdom [01:15:47] Jesus does not permit hard hearts to hide behind suspicion of the poor. Wisdom recognizes that some giving can enable sin, but love refuses to make every needy person prove worthiness before receiving help. Christian generosity sometimes hurts because it reflects a Father who gives good gifts even to those who misuse them. [75:47]
• 4. Prayer breaks the grip of bitterness [01:24:38] Loving enemies does not call evil good or deny the need for justice. Prayer puts the offender before God, who can either chastise, save, or both. Bitterness loses its hold when the injured person asks God to bring a thief, persecutor, or enemy to repentance rather than merely wishing ruin upon them. [84:38]
• 5. Christ’s righteousness is the only refuge [01:32:34] “Be perfect” should not make sinners boast that they have this handled. The command reveals how far short every person falls in love, mercy, and purity. The law condemns, but faith in Jesus Christ justifies because the Father’s one perfect Son gives His righteousness as a gift.
  
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Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [30:54] - Pacifists and Warriors in Family History
• [32:50] - Love Your Enemies and Keep a Pistol Handy
• [34:04] - Reading Matthew 5:17-48
• [36:26] - Jesus Fulfills the Law
• [40:24] - Eye for Eye and Personal Vengeance
• [42:04] - Lex Talionis and Proportional Justice
• [51:04] - Civil Justice Versus Personal Peace
• [59:17] - Sphere Sovereignty and God’s Law
• [63:31] - Turning the Other Cheek
• [66:16] - Lawsuits, Second Miles, and Generosity
• [78:53] - Self-Defense and the Nighttime Thief
• [84:00] - Loving and Praying for Enemies
• [89:35] - Perfection, Sin, and Christ’s Righteousness

Bible Reading

Matthew 5:38-48
“You have heard that it was said, 'An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.' But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if anyone would sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you. You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” [34:04]

Romans 12:17-21
“Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, 'Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.' To the contrary, 'if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.' Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” [52:15]

Exodus 22:2-3
“If a thief is found breaking in and is struck so that he dies, there shall be no bloodguilt for him, but if the sun has risen on him, there shall be bloodguilt for him. He shall surely pay. If he has nothing, then he shall be sold for his theft.” [01:18:53]

Observation questions

1. In Matthew 5:38-42, what different situations does Jesus mention after saying not to resist the evil person?
2. What details in Exodus 22:2-3 distinguish a nighttime break-in from a daytime theft? [01:20:31]
3. According to Romans 12:17-21, what actions are believers told to take instead of repaying evil for evil?
4. In Matthew 5:43-48, what examples does Jesus give of the Father’s kindness toward both good and evil people? [01:25:49]

Interpretation questions

1. Why does the “eye for an eye” principle require judges, witnesses, and a lawful process rather than giving injured people permission to settle scores themselves? [49:33]
2. How does understanding the slap on the right cheek as an insult help explain what Jesus is calling His disciples to do—and not do—in Matthew 5:39? [01:04:15]
3. How do Romans 12 and Exodus 22 help distinguish personal vengeance from legitimate defense of life and family? [01:22:57]
4. Why does Jesus connect loving enemies and praying for persecutors with being children of the heavenly Father? [01:25:39]

Application questions

1. Think of a recent insult, rude comment, online disagreement, or tense family moment. What did the desire to “get even” look like in that situation? What might turning the other cheek have looked like instead? [01:05:12]
2. Is there someone whose words or actions still stir up anger or bitterness in you? What specific prayer could you begin praying for that person this week—not excusing their wrong, but placing them before God? [01:24:38]
3. When conflict comes up in your home, workplace, or church, are you more likely to escalate it, avoid it bitterly, or pursue peace? What is one way you could deescalate a current conflict? [01:05:30]
4. Have you ever held tightly to a financial dispute, a debt, a damaged relationship, or a perceived unfairness because you felt you had to prove that you were right? What would it look like to seek a peaceful and wise resolution rather than revenge? [01:08:16]
5. When you encounter someone asking for help, what tends to harden your heart? How can you grow in generosity that is both loving and wise, without using caution as an excuse to ignore real need? [01:15:47]
6. Jesus’ command to be perfect exposes how far short every person falls in love, mercy, and purity. When your failure to love others becomes clear, do you mainly defend yourself, despair, or return to Christ for His righteousness and forgiveness? [01:32:34]