IV SERMON ON THE MOUNT - Action and Re-Action
IV SERMON ON THE MOUNT – Action and Re-Action
(Matthew 5: 38- 42)
Preached by: Pastor Carolyn Sissom
Sunday, May 2, 2010
This is a classic example of a principle that has been taught from the letter and not the Spirit. Extremes of this Scripture from a legalistic view-point could be most damaging. The Sons of God are not called to be victims, but victorious over evil. Jesus is dealing here with a Spirit of revenge.
Matthew 5: 38-41: “You have heard that is has been said, an eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: But I say to you, that you resist not evil; but whosoever shall smite you on your right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if any man shall sue you at the law, and take away your coat, let him have your cloak also. And whosever shall compel you to go a mile, go with him two.
How do we rise above it? We certainly do not pretend the offense never occurred. Most of us deserve better than to be mistreated by anyone. The way I rise above offense, being used, abused, or mistreated is to pray and seek the Lord. Jesus wants us to be free from a spirit of revenge and holding grudges. He wants to remove that reactionary spirit that fights back with words or acts.
We should try not to take anything personally or take ourselves too seriously. I am not a reactionary person. I cognitively respond to things.
First I deal with my internal reaction. Proverbs 20:30: The blueness of a wound cleans away evil; so do stripes the inward parts of the belly.” If I am hurt or offended, then I must deal with my own issues.
I personally am a work in progress and ask the Lord to give me the Wisdom of Jesus and how he dealt with the adversary.
Jesus did not turn the other cheek in John 18: 19-23: This was when one of the officers struck Jesus with the palm of his hand when Jesus spoke with boldness to Caiaphas, the high priest. Jesus answered him, If I have spoken evil, bear witness of the evil; but if well, why smite you Me? We would do well to respond in like manner to those who smite us either with words or deeds.
My husband had this gift. Jim Dougherty said of him, “He gave no quarter and he took no quarter.” Jesus gave no quarter in this conversation with the high priest and he took no quarter. The high priest asked Jesus of His doctrine. Jesus answered him, “I spoke openly in the world; I even taught in the synagogue, and in the temple, where the Jews always gather; and in secret have I said nothing. Why ask you Me? Ask them which heard Me, what I have said to them behold, they know what I said.” Jesus knew he was going to the Cross, it was not the time to play nice. He spoke no evil and he is saying I do not receive your words accusing me of evil. He took no prisoners. However, after he was raised from the dead, He went to Hell, took the keys of death, hell and the grave, and set the captives free.
If I have overcome being sensitive in the area of offense, then I will have the Grace to be able to speak words of truth to the offender at the time I was smitten. This is what Jesus did. I feel confident that the soldier who smote him was changed by the words of Jesus. However, the devil was so angry he crucified him. Turning the other cheek may not make you popular, but you will have respect. Truth will be spoken that will set the offender free. When we are able to speak truth from the inward parts, we like ourselves and we no longer have issues.
This is the key. What do you really sense from within when smitten? God will sacrifice our externals to deal with our internals. Outward chastening cleanses the inward parts. Thus when our “coat” (undergarments) are taken away (that is what Jesus is after), we may have to give up our “cloak” (outer garments) also until we can do it freely.
If I am smitten and it rolls off my back, then my inward parts have been cleansed from taking offense in that area. If I am smitten and I take offense, then I must seek the Lord on how to deal with my inward parts before dealing with the offender.
Satan will not smite us when we are strong. He will wait until he thinks we are weakened either from weariness, illness, stress or other pressures. At that time, he will not use strangers to smite us, but those who are close to us. A stranger could not wound us. It would take someone we love to be able to inflict wounds.
If we turn the other cheek that means the one used to smite us had no power over us. If we become angry, then we, too have unresolved issues. Satan will use immature people to purposely try to “Push your buttons”. When we no longer react to the button pushing, we have become an overcomer. We have vanquished the enemy. The enemy has lost his power.
We turn the cheek, give up the cloak, or walk the second mile only if we have the wrong spirit of retaliation. We will turn the cheek, give our wardrobe, or walk with the pack until we have learned this lesson and principle…until the blueness of the wound cleanses the inward parts.
Heb. 5: 8-9: “Though He were a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered; And being made perfect, He became the author of eternal salvation to them that obey Him.”
“Forbid him not” (Lk. 9:49-50) “we forbad him”
Matthew 5: 42: The principle of Liberality (Stewardship):
“Give to him that asked you, and from him that would borrow of you turn not away.”
Again this scripture should not be understood in the legalistic point of view that people are to take of advantage of Christian liberality. There are times when people are suffering hardship and we should have compassion on true hardship. However, after a period of time if that person keeps asking and/or expecting, then there is a need to encourage that person to seek employment or a means by which they can support themselves. As ministers of the gospel, we must teach people how to flow in God’s economy.
This scripture does not mean that we are obligated as Christians to give long term support to people who would take advantage of Christian liberality. The Lord has set up a clear promise for prosperity and provision.
Proverbs 3: 9-10: “Honor the Lord with your substance and with the firstfruits of all your increase; so shall your barns be filled with plenty, and your presses shall burst fourth with new wine.”
Proverbs 11:25: “The liberal soul shall be made fat; and he that waters shall be watered also himself.”
Proverbs 22:9: “He that has a bountiful eye shall be blessed; for he gives of his bread to the poor.”
Isaiah 58:10: “If you draw out your soul to the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted soul; then shall your light rise in obscurity, and your darkness be as the noon day.”
Luke 6:38: “Give, and it shall be given you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that you mete withal, it shall be measured to you again.”
Luke 6:34: “If you lend to them of whom you hope to receive, what thank you have you? For sinners also lend to sinners, to receive as much again. But love your enemies and do well, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and you shall be children of the Highest; for He is kind to the unthankful and to the evil.”
The Characteristics of Giving:
- Into the place of feeding (local church ) (Mal. 3: 8-12)
- Willingly (Ex. 35:22) “And they came, both men and women, as many as were willing hearted, and brought bracelets, and earrings, and rings, and tablets, all jewels of gold: and every man that offered an offering of gold to the Lord.”
- Regularly (“upon the first day of the week” – 1 Cor. 16:2). “Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God has prospered him that there be no gatherings when I come.” This church operates on this principle. We believe when we have guest ministers, they should not spend their time taking offerings, but we should have the offering ready when they arrive. This we do!!!!! The only time we take special offerings if for special benevolence circumstances when I feel everyone should be given the opportunity to receive their blessing by giving to the poor.
- Personally (“let every one of you” – 1 Cor. 16:2)
- Proportionally (As God has prospered you” – 1 Cor. 16:2)
- According to income or ability (Deut. 16:17; “Every man shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of the Lord your God which He has given you.”
- Freely (Matt. 10:8) “Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils; freely you have received, freely give.”
- Cheerfully (11 Cor. 9:7) “Every man according as he purposed in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.”
- With simplicity – sincerity and generosity (
- With proper motives (1 Chron. 29:3; Matt. 6: 1-4) “Because I have set my affection to the house of my God, I have of my own proper good, of gold and silver, which I have given to the house of my God, over and above all that I have prepared for the holy house.
- Sacrificially (Luke 21: 1-4) “And He looked up, and saw the rich man casting their gifts into the treasury. And He saw a certain poor widow casting in two mites. And He said, Of a truth I say to you, that this poor widow has cast in more then them all. For all these have of their abundance cast in to the offerings of God, but she of her penury has cast in all the living that she had.”
In the New Covenant walk, God has access to all that we have in the natural and we have access to all that God has in the supernatural; nothing is ours, for all belongs to Him, and he can touch and use all He desires.
The tithe was before Genesis 14: 18-20 (Abraham tithed to Melchizedek) and 28: 20-22 (Jacob’s vow). The tithe was during Lev. 27: 30-33; Numb. 18: 20-32; Duet. 12: 5-6; 11 Chron. 31: 5-12; Neh. And Mal. The Tithe was after the Law in Matt. 23:23; Luke 11:42; 18:12; Heb. &; 1-21).
Preached by: Pastor Carolyn Sissom
Eastgate Ministries, Inc.
We video our Sunday a.m. services and audio all other services.
All scripture from K.J.V. Bibliography, The Sermon On The Mount by: Kelly Varner.