Hear these gospel lessons:

It hurts when people wrong us. That is especially true when one whom we least suspect injures and wrongs us. Jesus experienced this sort of unfair treatment time and again. One of His apostles betrayed Him, another denied knowing Him, and all of them scattered from Him when He was arrested. The religious leaders of the Jews, who should have rejoiced in His coming, condemned Him to death. Truly, Jesus was “a Man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief,” “who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten” (Isa. 53:3; 1 Pet. 2:23). What restraint! What love! What goodness!

Jesus is our example for how to respond when others wrong and mistreat us: “For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps” (1 Pet. 2:21). Sure, Jesus was hurt when people mistreated Him. David prophetically said, “For it was not an enemy that reproached me; Then I could have borne it: Neither was it he that hated me that did magnify himself against me: Then I would have hid myself from him: But it was thou, a man mine equal, My companion, and my familiar friend” (Psa. 55:12-13; cf. 41:9). Jesus suffered many wrongs at the hands of both friends and enemies. How He reacted is our pattern to follow. It will take all the faith we have to follow in His footsteps at such times.

And yet, Jesus has not given us an impossible task. This business of turn­ing the other cheek is the essence of loving our enemies (Matt. 5:38-39, 44; Lk. 6:27-30). It is the embodiment of the golden rule: “And just as you want men to do to you, you also do to them likewise” (Lk. 6:31). Christians must not wrong the wrongdoer. We must not render evil for evil, even when we are tempted to feel justified in doing so (Rom. 12:17). Such conduct is from the devil, not God. 

How can victims of evil possibly return good for evil? Jesus teaches us how in Matthew 5:38-48 and in Luke 6:27-36.

1) Unselfishness (Matt. 5:38-42). Unselfishness is the essential quality of turning the other cheek. We must devalue ourselves in our own estimation in order to ever be able to value the evildoer … espe­cially when he carries out his evil against us!

2) Love (Matt. 5:43-48). Loving our enemies may be one of the most difficult things we are called upon to do. Yet, to do so is to be “sons of (our) Father who is in heaven.” Remember, love does not keep a scorecard of wrongs committed against it: Love, “keeps no accounts of evil” (footnote, NKJV) (1 Cor. 13:5).

3) Pray (Lk. 6:28). Jesus said to “pray for those who spite­fully use you.” Those who treat us abusively need our prayers. We are following Christ’s example when we pray for our enemies: “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they do” (Lk. 23:34). The sinner needs our petitions, not our animosity and contempt.

4) Do good (Lk. 6:27). It is good to pray for the person who has wronged us and not to keep a record so that we can “get even.” It is also good to take the initiative and respond with kind actions. Jesus went about doing good to all (Acts 10:38). The Father’s sunshine and rain blesses the evil and the good (Matt. 5:45). Likewise, we are to be doers of good to those who hate us. What a challenge it is to be like Christ!

5) Be merciful (Lk. 6:36). We all need the mercy of God because we are all sinners. But, that fact tends to be obscured by our pain when someone sins against us. We lash out, instead of extending mercy. We must never forget that we, too, will only reach heaven by the mercy of God. We should give other sinners that which we cannot do without (Matt. 5:7).

The next time you are wronged, instead of rendering evil for evil, try taking Jesus’ approach. And, do not despair when you do (Lk. 6:35). Jesus’ way is best, whether the sinner appreciates it or whether he continues to take advantage of you. By following Jesus’ way you will be “sons of the Most High. For He is kind to the unthankful and evil” (Lk. 6:35).

Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. Therefore “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; If he is thirsty, give him a drink; For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. (Rom. 12:17-21) 

-Reprint, The Spirit's Sword, Nov. 30, 2003

Conclusion
Broken cisterns will never refresh your soul, Jno. 7:37-39.

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The Spirit's Sword is a free, weekly publication of the Mt. Baker church of Christ, Bellingham, WA
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