Skip to main content

A Higher Standard

Matthew 5:39
"But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also."

As our Lenten season comes to an end we want to Lift High the Cross. We have returned to the Gospel of Matthew for some more challenging teaching from Jesus. He opened with the standard that the world is familiar with; "Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth:" This is a high standard for justice from the book of Exodus, chapter twenty-one, verse twenty-four. This implies equity and ballace. It's not revenge or payback, it's what's fair. This is NOT what Jesus has in mind!

In today's verse it gets very interesting; "BUT I say unto you, That ye resist NOT evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other ALSO." These words, this idea needs to shock us. We have a defensive reaction; we read all kinds of meaning into God's words. People have gone to great lengths to try get some nuanced meaning from these verses. But, Jesus is a great communicator, His words mean what they say. The old way was to respond in kind, with as good as you got. The NEW way is to offer up yourself for more of what you just got! It's very disturbing to us. Who can do this? 

Jesus is calling His followers to a higher standard of living. His standard. It's a high standard. It's a high cross bar for us to jump. Our saving grace is that He is in it with us. Our sorrows are His sorrows. He took on our sins so we could take on His Righteousness!

The good parts of these daily devotionals are inspired by the sermon at Holy Ghost Lutheran Church in Fredericksburg Texas. You can watch it by following this link... https://youtu.be/cEd-TPnIiw4
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

I will make you

Matthew 4:19&20 "19 And He saith unto them, Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men. 20 And they straightway left their nets, and followed Him." In our "Follow Me" series, we study Jesus calling His disciples in the Gospel of Matthew. By the Sea of Galilee, a thriving fishing hub, Jesus saw Simon and Andrew casting nets as humble fishermen. His disciples were ordinary workers, not wealthy or educated elites. Jesus approached them and said, "Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men." Remarkably, they immediately left their jobs to follow Him. This brief exchange conveys a profound truth: Jesus says, "I will make you." Only God can transform us to accomplish His purpose. We should often pray, "Help me, God," seeking Jesus' guidance to follow His plan for our lives.
Post a Comment
Read more

God’s patience

2 Peter 3:9 "The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance." God did not immediately punish King Solomon when he allowed his foreign wives to build altars for false gods. Despite multiple compromises, God remained patient. Over time, Solomon’s endorsement of idolatry defied God’s covenant, leading to divine judgment, including the loss of the kingdom for his son. Some mistake God’s patience for indifference or inaction, but He follows His plan in His timing. If our nation, culture, church, or we ourselves stray like Solomon, we can repent and return to God’s path. And, should do so sooner than later! Amen!
Post a Comment
Read more

we also...

Romans 6:3&4 "3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into His death? 4 Therefore we are buried with Him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life." In our studies we are striving to understand God’s love and care. God's unconditional love for His followers, appreciating that we are part of GOD’S family! God is with us from cradle to grave. His divine presence is always giving us purpose and guidance. One of the most important milestones in the life of a Christian is baptism. When we are baptized, an indelible mark is made on our soul. This mark signifies a permanent transformation and dedication of the individual to God. The act of Baptism involves water and the invocation of the Holy Trinity. This ritual is seen as a symbolic washing away of original sin and a new birth into the life of Christ. Baptism is a foundational s...
Post a Comment
Read more