Scripture

“Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”

Observation

In the past, people decided that “an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth” was an acceptable level of revenge, but amongst people of the Kingdom forgiveness and non-retaliation are the rules. Go further than you have to in order to bless even those who are against you.

We must love our enemies and pray for our persecutors in order to be true sons and daughters to our Father. If we love only those who love us there is no virtue- anyone can do that. No, we are to be perfect like our Father.

Application

The desire for revenge runs deep in the human soul. The law of “an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth” was meant to out a cap on revenge by stating that we can go so far and no farther.

Jesus tears all of this up by commanding us to love our enemy and extend grace to those who hurt us.

This is a radical extension of the idea that God will judge all people and so we do not have to. We offer no retaliation, just blessing.

Prayer

Lord, this is a hard command to put into practice. Grant me grace to bless those who cause me pain. Amen.