Jesus said in Matthew 5: 46-48 for if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you salute only your brethren, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same. You, therefore, must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect. Jesus explained examples of good in Matthew 25:42-45 and in the parable of the Good Samaritan in Luke 10: 29-37.
What is good?
According to Jesus, returning evil with good means emulating God’s perfect character. Goodness makes us perfect as the Father is and this is what Jesus wants to see in us. Goodness is God’s nature and we must emulate it unconditionally without expecting payback as the heathen does.
Paul said in Romans 12: 9, let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. Paul advocates that we must cleave to God’s nature of honest love. He continued in Romans 12: 21, be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good. Paul says in all circumstances, we must remain God’s channel of kindness not channels of subterfuge. Paul says again in Romans 14: 16 let not then your good be evil spoken of. Not everything which appears good is backed by good intentions.
What is evil?
Evil is not God’s nature. Paul therefore says we should not subscribe to evil. Evil is what tempts God or deviates from his nature or his word. Evil has strong attraction and addiction and is quite pleasing to the natural mind as prudent and logical.
We struggle to do good because we love evil above God’s nature in us. We cannot attain good without God’s grace enabled by his Holy Spirit. Romans 7: 19 says for the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. We can only avert evil by grace through Christ Jesus and not by our strength even with the strongest of discipline. Our natural strength cannot help us in this battle.
The Law of Moses
The Laws of Moses which was also called the Mosaic Law was the law which Moses gave to Israel in his days. It comprised of the Ten Commandments; ordinances; and worship system. These included many rules and observances in several books and the Torah. The purpose of Mosaic Law was to reveal first, God’s holy nature and his wants to Israel and second, the rules to achieve the peace in society. One of such laws was the principle of ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth’.
Jesus confronted such laws in Matthew 5: 31-48; 19: 3-9; Mark 10: 2-12; Luke 16: 18. Paul also wrote on the same subject in 1 Corinthians 7: 11-13. Jesus did so because the principles were taught and interpreted quite differently from what it was meant to be. It was not for or to imply quid pro quo; good for good, evil for evil. In other words, doing good is not conditional. Evil for evil is not God’s nature nor does it enhance society or rid society of evil because evil is a spirit.
The Mosaic Law aimed at pacifying the victim of wrong as a deterrent for future occurrences so it was quite easy to understand and apply based on the natural mind. However, God’s true word is for pure love and reprisal is left to him alone. Jesus’ teaching therefore appeared different from the Mosaic Law which obscured God’s pure nature.
What does Jesus want of us?
Jesus said in Matthew 5: 44 but I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. Today, many of us are slaves to the Mosaic Laws because we possess hardened hearts. Jesus said in Luke 6: 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. God wants us to reach out to others with the same without partiality.
Paul speaking by the Holy Spirit said in Romans 12: 19, beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” (See also Hebrews 10: 30). We usurp God’s function when we arrogate the right of avenge to ourselves. Romans 12: 17 says repay no one evil for evil, but take thought for what is noble in the sight of all. Every action starts from the thought and settles or takes seed in the heart to take seed if we accommodate it.
In explaining what is noble, Paul said in Romans 12: 20 if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals upon his head. The purpose of being kind must be to glorify God in the lives of others with a pure heart. It must not be with the intent of heaping burning coals on an enemy’s head which is evil. 1Corinthians 13: 5-6 say love does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrong, but rejoices in the right.
Paul wrote in 1 Thessalonians 5: 15 see that none of you repays evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to all. By human logic, following the Mosaic Law appears comforting whilst following Jesus’ teaching sounds absurd. This is because we do not engage God’s Spirit in us to lead us. God’s approach is rather noble and soul-redeeming with grace. Isaiah 55:8 says for my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, says the Lord. Let us repay evil with good for such is the will of Christ Jesus for us. The Holy Spirit is available to assist us in Christ Jesus.
Prayer
Dear Lord Jesus Christ, by your nature of love, you came to die for us when we were yet sinners. You were wounded, humiliated, denied justice and murdered on the cross yet you exacted no revenge but unfailing and unconditional love for us. In like manner please help us to repay evil with good as you did on the cross for us under the banner of your unconditional love and grace. Help us to be obedient to you always as you wash away our sins in your blood and in your name, Amen!!
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