The Jesus Challenge!

Matthew 5:42

"Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away."

Here in the Gospel of Matthew Jesus's teaching is VERY CHALLENGING! From turn the other cheek where Jesus tells us to offer yourself for more of what you just got! Jesus adds on to this lesson with; if they take your jacket, give them the shirt off your back too! And, if someone can compel you to carry their load for one mile; go an extra mile, too!

Today's verse continues the theme saying; don't turn away people looking to borrow from you or needing your help. All of these teachings rub the selfish sinners (you and me) the wrong way. This is a radical idea that you are not obligated to take revenge. We don't want to use the Holy Scriptures to take advantage of a situation. Christianity is not about getting advantage over another. It is about sacrifice to another.

If we can grow in our understanding that as Christians our concern is not toward the things of THIS world. Our eyes need to be on HEAVEN. We still need to defend ourselves and others from the evil of the world. For example; a mother must defend her child from a wild dog. This wicked world will seek to take advantage of others, especially weaker others. Don't let evil run roughshod over people. God does call His people to maintain order and good. To exercise good stewardship over their areas of responsibility. All of this will take extra effort from you and me. We do want to serve and honors God, always. This is something we need to decide on ahead of time. We can plan to follow Jesus's example.

Amen.

Some of my notes and insights for this lesson come from the outstanding discussion on this Issues Etc podcast... https://issuesetc.org/2016/12/02/3373-martin-luther-and-the-reformation-part-45-luthers-treatment-of-the-sermon-on-the-mount-matthew-538-42-dr-ken-schurb-12216/

Comments

Elisha’s example

1 Kings 19:19-21 "19 So he departed thence, and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, who was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen before him, and he with the twelfth: and Elijah passed by him, and cast his mantle upon him. 20 And he left the oxen, and ran after Elijah, and said, Let me, I pray thee, kiss my father and my mother, and then I will follow thee. And he said unto him, Go back again: for what have I done to thee? 21 And he returned back from him, and took a yoke of oxen, and slew them, and boiled their flesh with the instruments of the oxen, and gave unto the people, and they did eat. Then he arose, and went after Elijah, and ministered unto him." In Luke 9:54, after James and John sought to call down fire on a Samaritan village that rejected Jesus, they referenced Elijah, saying, “even as Elias did?” Jesus then taught three lessons about rejection: 1- Discipleship demands sacrifice, embracing hardship and forgoing earthly security. 2- Following Jesus requires immediate, un...

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.

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!

Sermon Notes; a Daily Devotional

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