A new way

“Your ancestors have also been taught ‘Love your neighbors and hate the one who hates you.’ However, I say to you, love your enemy, bless the one who curses you, do something wonderful for the one who hates you, and respond to the very ones who persecute you by praying for them.”Matthew‬ ‭5‬:‭43‬-‭44‬ ‭TPT‬‬

Israel was turned on its head when Jesus arrived. He took understanding the heart of God to a whole new level. An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth was replaced with grace and forgiveness. This new doctrine was hard to swallow. It meant laying down of precious preconceived notions and learning a new way, a painful way. Vengeance now belonged to God alone. He had said, “I will take revenge; I will pay them back. In due time their feet will slip. Their day of disaster will arrive, and their destiny will overtake them.’”Deuteronomy‬ ‭32‬:‭35‬ ‭NLT‬‬

However, Exodus 21:23-25 became the dominant attitude: “But if there is further injury, the punishment must match the injury: a life for a life, an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, a hand for a hand, a foot for a foot, a burn for a burn, a wound for a wound, a bruise for a bruise.”Exodus‬ ‭21‬:‭24‬-‭25‬ ‭NLT‬‬

in some ways Israel still lives under this premise, as do many in the world.

What then do we do with the words of Jesus? They are words that need to be thought over, prayed over and embraced by faith. We cannot skim over Jesus, we must stop, look and listen. His way brings forgiveness, grace and mercy. His ways bring healing. Justice without grace is harsh and empty. 

In Australia I have seen this in our indigenous people. Some have been hurt by the harshness of the white man but no amount of money or public repentance cleanses away the scar. Only forgiveness, grace and mercy cleanses the soul. Amen