I think Jesus often made seemingly outrageous statements like this to give us a picture of God's character. In other words, the lofty goals portrayed in his sermon on the mount give us a goal...a target...the pinnacle of what God's love looks like.
So in one part, he says "if someone demands your coat, give them your tunic as well". Now, obviously it sounds like we should give a robber twice what he is trying to steal. Would any of us do that? Is it possible?
So let's look at this from the robbers perspective: he is just doing his thing, taking from others what is not his. The strong fight back. The weak give up easily. But who happily gives what is his to the thief along with a blessing and well wishes? Would Jesus do that? Now let's take it to the next level: the victim not only happily hands over the goods, but gives him extra stuff too. What? I can only imagine what the thief must be thinking. It almost looks as if the victim loves the robber, doesn't it? Yes, and that is exactly how we are to treat our enemies...to love them, pray for them and do good to them.
Acting like this towards the wicked gives them a taste of God's love. It may soften their heart, it may not. The only agenda we should have is love, and this is how we really share it.
So, is it a command to be like this, to just let ourselves get taken advantage of? Well, it is not a command in the sense that our failure to do it will result in punishment...it's not THAT kind of command.
He is simply giving us a goal to shoot for. The closer we can get to that sort of love will get us closer and closer to the Living God. The greatest commandment is to love God and acting like him towards others is doing just that.
So as far as money, they ultimate goal might be to sell it all and give it to the poor, but the point to the rich, young ruler was that he loved his possessions more than he loved God. Jesus showed him that following Torah was good, but not enough. Jesus wanted him to stop loving money and to do this, he needs to willingly part with it. In the same way, if we love money more than God, we might need to part with it. We don't need to give it all away, but how about some of it? How about we find someone in need and bless them with a gift, not expecting to ever be repayed? Wouldn't that sense of love for another person be more valuable to us than $50?
Isn't that what this is all about?
So in one part, he says "if someone demands your coat, give them your tunic as well". Now, obviously it sounds like we should give a robber twice what he is trying to steal. Would any of us do that? Is it possible?
So let's look at this from the robbers perspective: he is just doing his thing, taking from others what is not his. The strong fight back. The weak give up easily. But who happily gives what is his to the thief along with a blessing and well wishes? Would Jesus do that? Now let's take it to the next level: the victim not only happily hands over the goods, but gives him extra stuff too. What? I can only imagine what the thief must be thinking. It almost looks as if the victim loves the robber, doesn't it? Yes, and that is exactly how we are to treat our enemies...to love them, pray for them and do good to them.
Acting like this towards the wicked gives them a taste of God's love. It may soften their heart, it may not. The only agenda we should have is love, and this is how we really share it.
So, is it a command to be like this, to just let ourselves get taken advantage of? Well, it is not a command in the sense that our failure to do it will result in punishment...it's not THAT kind of command.
He is simply giving us a goal to shoot for. The closer we can get to that sort of love will get us closer and closer to the Living God. The greatest commandment is to love God and acting like him towards others is doing just that.
So as far as money, they ultimate goal might be to sell it all and give it to the poor, but the point to the rich, young ruler was that he loved his possessions more than he loved God. Jesus showed him that following Torah was good, but not enough. Jesus wanted him to stop loving money and to do this, he needs to willingly part with it. In the same way, if we love money more than God, we might need to part with it. We don't need to give it all away, but how about some of it? How about we find someone in need and bless them with a gift, not expecting to ever be repayed? Wouldn't that sense of love for another person be more valuable to us than $50?
Isn't that what this is all about?
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