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Matthew 5:38-48 NIV

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also. And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well. If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles. Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you. “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

MAIN IDEA

 Love as passive endurance and active engagement. 

GOING DEEPER
Questions from this weeks message.

 1.  What insight, principle or observation from this week’s message did you find to be most helpful, eye opening or troubling?  Please explain.  

2.  Describe a time when someone infringed on you, your space or your rights. How did it leave you feeling? How did you respond?  

3.  Read Matthew 5:38-42. In this section Jesus seems to be calling his followers to a love that passively endures even personal injustice. In what ways does our right’s based society play against us or against you personally in this?  

4. How do you reconcile Jesus’ teaching here with other teaching about the role of governors to bring about justice? (leaders: this will get into the pacifism debate and that is ok to wrestle through).  

5.  Read Matthew 5:43-48. Jesus does not call us only to passively endure, but love pushes us to actively engage for the good of others. Why does Jesus say this is important? He gives several reasons.  

6. How does loving even our enemies make us just like our Heavenly Father? How could you become more perfect ‘in love’ like God is perfect?  

7. What is a personal situation you are being called to endure right now, even personal injustice? Who is someone that seems a bit difficult to love (maybe they are your enemy or they hurt you) that you need to put on your prayer list and look for ways to do them good?  

8. Pray Together.   

SUMMARY POINTS

The kingdom of heaven is upside down to the kingdom of this world. 

Love as passive endurance and active engagement. 

Love strips us of our right to justifiable personal retaliation. 

Love strips us of our personal individual rights to things we own. 

Love strips us of the right to use our time and energy for ourselves, even helping a less than righteous governing authority. 

Love strips us of our right to our own money.

The call to love has no limits when it comes to who, or what we are called to do. 

Love as passive endurance and active engagement. 

CALL TO ACTION

Ask yourself

1. With whom or in what situation is love calling you to endure and not retaliate?

2. Who is someone that feels like an enemy that you need to pray for and treat with goodness?