Getting Even

DEVOTION

THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW

GETTING EVEN

Matt 5:38-42

38 "You have heard that it was said, 'Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.'   39 But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. 40 And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. 41 If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. 42 Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.

NIV

Here again Jesus quotes the Law which these people are knowledgeable of regarding the “Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.

Ex 21:23-25

23 But if there is serious injury, you are to take life for life, 24 eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, 25 burn for burn, wound for wound, bruise for bruise.

NIV

This is actually stated three times concerning specifically different situations which indicates there was very exact circumstances in which this retribution was commanded by God. It may well have been the Jews, the Pharisees, as with all else made up more situations which this law applied to. This act of retribution is nothing more the getting even. This is a term we are more familiar with. Certainly in our civil society this law of retribution has totally lost its way. We would never think of taking a criminals hand because he injured a persons hand in a robbery, nor would we take all his money, if he had a home, or getaway car or whatever other material goods he had because he robbed a person of his money. No, if caught and convicted we simply incarcerate the robber for a number of years. There is no eye for an eye or hand for a hand. But in our personal lives we certainly know about getting even. It seems whenever we are hurt, emotionally or mentally, we begin to take on the attitude of getting even. Some households call this “tit for tat”, but in essence this is a form of getting even. Jesus makes it very clear this is not the way the life of a believer should be. If we are offended, turn the other cheek. If the offense is costly in some manner, forget the loss, in fact, offer more. The idea is no getting even, no retribution. Do not repay evil for evil.

Rom 12:17-21

17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil . Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. 18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 19 Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord. 20 On the contrary: "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head."   21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

NIV

It is a complete reversal of how this people were living, and perhaps it truly is a complete reversal from the way we normally think. It takes some effort not to want to get even in some way whenever we are offended. It takes the Spirit. However in the moment of this teaching, Jesus has not yet sent the Spirit so he intends for the listeners of his teaching to respond in their own way of thinking, to have a change of mind, a change in the way they think about things. So it is with us, although we have the Spirit to assist us, we still have to make that change in our thought process. It is not just rethinking getting even, but it is going the extra mile as well. This is total relaxation, total trust in the Lord, total contentment, total rest in knowing we are doing the right thing in the eyes of the Lord. We simply let it all roll off our backs, so to speak, let it go and in fact be nice, kind, patient, loving, merciful, gentle toward that person who offended us, basically exhibiting the fruit of the Spirit so they can enjoy that aspect of Christ in us. There simply is no room for getting even. Now that also means we should not take advantage of other believers being judgmental or critical of their behavior or actions, or even attitudes, which would put them in the situation of having to avoid that getting even temptation. So no getting even, period.