Rewriting the Law (Enemies)

Summary

“An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth” was written to protect lawbreakers from excessive punishment—to ensure justice and protect against vengeance. Jesus here “rewrites” the law by encouraging His disciples to go beyond justice to mercy. Anyone who has ever been hurt by anyone would have difficulty hearing this. It is easy for men to demand punishment when an evil is committed against them. It is incredibly difficult to forgive those who have hurt or defrauded you. Men’s kingdoms are characterized by crushing their enemies; God’s Kingdom is characterized by blessing His enemies. By grace, Jesus Christ forgave us when we were hostile enemies. As C.S. Lewis wrote: To be Christian means to forgive the inexcusable because God has forgiven the inexcusable in you” We rebelled against God. We robbed God of His glory. We dishonored Him. We hurt Him. And yet, He allowed himself to be harmed, hit, and defrauded by his enemies. He humbled himself to the glory of God that we might be changed and do the same.

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