Sermon on the Mount
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menial task required of them. This exhibition of Roman authority stirs
the people with indignation, and they turn eagerly to hear what the
great Teacher will say of this cruel act of oppression. With sadness,
because of the sins which had brought the Jews into such bondage,
Jesus looks upon the shameful scene. He also notes the hatred and
revenge stamped upon the faces of the Jews, and knows how bitterly
they long for power to crush their oppressors. Mournfully he says:—
“Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth
for a tooth. But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil; but whosoever
shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also. And
if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him
have thy cloak also. And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile,
go with him twain. Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that
would borrow of thee turn not thou away.”
The example of Jesus was a practical illustration of the lesson here
taught; contumely and persecution never caused him to retaliate upon
his enemies. But this was a hard saying for the revengeful Jews, and
they murmured against it among themselves. Jesus now makes 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
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which despitefully use you, and persecute you; that ye may be the
children of your Father which is in Heaven; for he maketh his sun to
rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on
the unjust. For if ye love them that love you, what reward have ye? do
not even the publicans the same? And if ye salute your brethren only,
what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so?”
The manifestation of hatred never breaks down the malice of our
enemies. But love and kindness beget love and kindness in return.
Although God faithfully rewards virtue and punishes guilt, yet he
does not withhold his blessings from the wicked, although they daily
dishonor his name. He allows the sunshine and the showers to fall
upon the just and the unjust, bringing alike worldly prosperity to both.
If a holy God exercises such forbearance and benevolence toward
the rebellious and the idolatrous, how necessary it is that erring man
should manifest a like spirit toward his fellow-men. Instead of cursing
those who injure him, it is his duty to seek to win them from their evil