Free to Love

 

But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you.

—Matthew 5:44

 

 

All of Jesus’ messages in Matthew 5:38-48 emphasize that we should neither seek revenge nor defend ourselves. “Vengeance is mine; I will repay, says the Lord” (Romans 12:19, Hebrews 10:30). 

 

Struggling to justify yourself to someone reveals a lack of trust in God’s promise. It also reflects spiritual shortsightedness by focusing on the present rather than considering eternity. 

 

One of the best examples of this is David in 1 Samuel 24 and 26. David had many opportunities to avenge himself against King Saul but refused to do so. He trusted God to avenge and promote him (Psalms 75:6-7). As a result, all of God’s promises to David came to pass, and in his old age, God showed David mercy (2 Samuel 15-18), just as David had shown mercy to Saul. 

 

Just as Christ did not come to condemn the world (John 3:17) and was not holding people’s sins against them (2 Corinthians 5:19), we, also, have been given the same ministry of reconciliation (2 Corinthians 5:19-20). For those who do not receive the love we extend to them but rather take advantage of us because of our “turning the other cheek” (Matthew 5:39), God will repay them (Revelation 13:10; 14:9-12).

 

Whoever has taken advantage of you, your battle is not with them. Matthew 5:39 makes this clear: “But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also.”

 

James 4:7 and 1 Peter 5:9 both instruct us to resist evil.  What is the difference in Matthew 5:39, where we are told not to resist an evil person? The key must lie in the distinction between resisting the devil and resisting the individual he is using. Both the Amplified Bible and the New International Version specify that the Lord is saying you shouldn’t resist an evil person. David extended mercy toward his enemy, Saul, but fought against other foes. Jesus drove the money changers out of the temple twice (John 2:13-17, Mark 11:15-17). Certainly, Jesus didn’t violate His own instructions. We resist the devil, but not the individual the devil is using against us.

 

When you trust that your battle is with the enemy, you know you have nothing to prove to the one who has offended you. You have no need to defend yourself or seek revenge. You can forgive as Christ has forgiven you. You are free in Jesus without needing to justify yourself or prove your beliefs. You trust Jesus to take care of it for you. This trust leaves you free to love with Jesus’ love and allow the Holy Spirit to work in another’s life. You become a living witness to the grace of Jesus by extending His grace to them.

 

Jesus Christ never condemned you or held your sins against you. He died for you and reconciled you to God.  Let Him work through you. Trust that your Father will overturn what you cannot. He will fix what you were not designed to fix. He is the judge, not you. Resist the devil, not the person. Love this person, do good, and pray for them. Live in the freedom of Jesus’ grace. 

 

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