Five Ways to Live a Grace-Filled Life

 “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ But 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 5:38-42

Have you ever noticed in Jesus' Sermon on the Mount how he gently prepares his audience to accept something new? He starts off by letting them know who is blessed and why (Matthew 5:2-12). He then goes on to point out that if they are going to follow Him, their behaviour will have to be different than those around them (Matthew 5:13-16). He enforces this by letting His listeners know that He is the fulfillment of the Law (Matthew 5:17-20). He then goes on to begin almost every topic with a variation of this set of words: "You have heard that is was said...but I tell you," referring to the laws of the Old Testament (Torah). In fact, for the rest of Matthew five that is how he begins each topic. He did this to contrast the Pharisaical interpretation of the Law with His fulfillment of its intent. And once again we see in the verses above that Jesus gets to the intent of the law and in the process shows us what grace is all about.

The principal of retaliation was taken from Exodus 21:24 as a means to end disputes. The judicial penalty of "an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth" was a common practice among the Hebrew nation as well as other nations of the time. But Jesus realized those who enforced these laws were using them as a license for revenge. This is why he started this topic off with, "You have heard that it was said," because now He was going to tell them a new way to live and the proper interpretation of Exodus 21:24. Rather than give in to anger and revenge against your neighbour, Jesus proposed a better way on how people were supposed to react when confronted with evil. And by evil I am talking about the sin nature that is present within all people. It doesn't disappear as some Christians are taught to believe. Just because you have been forgiven by God and saved from eternal punishment because of Jesus' sacrifice for you, doesn't mean your sin nature (your ability to sin) has disappeared. It will be present with you until the day you die. This is why Paul voiced his displeasure at the war that raged within his body (Romans 7:13-25). Instead of responding with anger, violence or revenge (giving into our sin nature) Jesus wanted people to follow His example and rise above it. Therefore we need to "overcome evil with good" (Romans 12:21). As God showed grace to us, we are to show grace to others. Jesus then goes on to give us five examples on how we can extend grace to others.

 Five Ways We Should Respond in Difficult Situations

1. Turn the Other Cheek - A slap on the cheek was symbolic of being personally insulted (it wasn't just about being attacked), so to turn the other cheek meant to ignore the insult. Jesus stood silent before His accusers, ultimately winning the battle over the enemy. This too, is how we win the battle over the enemy, by not giving in to anger, but choosing instead to forgive and rise above it - to extend grace. You see, if Satan can get you angry enough to react, he has already won the battle.
   
2. Settle Your Grievances Peaceably - In Jesus' day if someone had a grievance with another, they would have to take it before the court (Sanhedrin) to have it settled by the Teachers of the Law and the Priests. When Jesus said, "If anyone wants to sue you and take away your tunic, let him have your cloak also,"  I'll bet the people gasped in surprise. Why? Because a tunic was worn next to the skin and a cloak was the outer garment. Jesus was  effectively telling them to go naked if someone was that desperate or angry with you. So again, Jesus' answer was to rise above it. Acknowledge the grievance another has with you, don't be the reason they will sin in their anger. Today we live in a litigious society where you can get sued just for smiling at someone the wrong way and we are hard-pressed not to give in to justifiable anger at some of the outrageous lawsuits people start. So we need to look at the intent of Jesus' words and live at peace with others as much as possible.
3. Go the extra mile - in other words, do all you can to help someone, even if that someone is your worst nightmare. How you treat others who treat you badly will have more of an impact than you can know.
4. Give when asked - If someone asks for money, food or help, give it to them, In Jesus' day they would bargain, "I'll do this, if you do that" sort of thing. Here He is saying, "Just do it without expecting anything in return."
5. Lend when asked - If someone wants to borrow something from you, don't worry about ever getting it back. Just give it to them. This too is a hard thing in our world because we place such a huge importance and value on "things". If we remember that all we own comes from God, and has been temporarily leased to us until we return home to Him, then clinging to those "things" is not the proper perspective God wants us to have. Be thankful, yes - and show that thankfulness by sharing what you have with those in need.

The passages above do not mean that a man or woman should not defend their family when threatened or defend their country. But rather they should not attempt personal vengeance, to compensate for a personal injury. Jesus' life is the best example of how to overcome evil with good (Romans 12:21) and how to live life with grace. It is one every Christian should try to emulate.

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