SERIES: The Great Adventure: Radical
TITLE: Radical Response
Scripture: Matthew 5:38-48
“Revenge is the greatest instinct of the human race.” Nietzche
I. THE LAW OF THE JUNGLE
(Retaliation) is the law of the jungle.
Ex.21:24-25: “eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burn for burn, wound for wound, stripe for stripe.”
Jesus’ words rebuts the Pharisees’ (misinterpretation) and forbids retaliation in (personal relationships).
II. THE LAW OF THE KING
Jesus’ famous words are “You have heard it said…(But I say to you).”
Exodus 23:4-5- do same favors for their enemy as they would a neighbor.
Proverbs 24:29: “Do not say, ‘I will do to him as he has done to me; I will pay the man back for what he has done.’”
Why would Jesus tell us to love like this?
- It makes us (like God). [v.45]
- It distinguishes us from (the world). [v.46]
NEXT WEEK: Title: Radical Vision
Text: Matthew 6:19-34
