Spirituality of the Law
57
creditor his due, if necessary surrendering even more than the court
gave him authority to seize. “If any man would go to law with thee,”
He said, “and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloak also.” R.V.
And if the couriers require you to go a mile with them, go two miles.
Jesus added, “Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that
would borrow of thee turn not thou away.” The same lesson had been
taught through Moses: “Thou shalt not harden thine heart, nor shut
thine hand from thy poor brother: but thou shalt open thine hand wide
[73]
unto him, and shalt surely lend him sufficient for his need, in that
which he wanteth.”
Deuteronomy 15:7, 8
. This scripture makes plain
the meaning of the Saviour’s words. Christ does not teach us to give
indiscriminately to all who ask for charity; but He says, “Thou shalt
surely lend him sufficient for his need;” and this is to be a gift, rather
than a loan; for we are to “lend, hoping for nothing again.”.
“Who gives himself with his alms feeds three,
Himself, his hungering neighbor, and Me.”
“Love your enemies.”—Matthew 5:44.
The Saviour’s lesson, “Resist not him that is evil,” was a hard
saying for the revengeful Jews, and they murmured against it among
themselves. But Jesus now made a still stronger declaration:
“Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbor,
and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless
them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them
which despitefully use you and persecute you; that ye may be the
children of your Father which is in heaven.”
Such was the spirit of the law which the rabbis had misinterpreted
as a cold and rigid code of exactions. They regarded themselves as
better than other men, and as entitled to the special favor of God
by virtue of their birth as Israelites; but Jesus pointed to the spirit
of forgiving love as that which would give evidence that they were
[74]
actuated by any higher motives than even the publicans and sinners,
whom they despised.
He pointed His hearers to the Ruler of the universe, under the new
name, “Our Father.” He would have them understand how tenderly
the heart of God yearned over them. He teaches that God cares for