Be More Merciful Than Man's Law

Be More Merciful than Man’s Law

           

“And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles.” (Matt. 5:40-41)

            With the words above, Jesus continues to raise the bar as to how merciful his followers should be. They should not only refrain from excessive vengeance as the Old Testament required; they should go out of their way to help someone out and to keep the peace, even if they don’t deserve it, and even if they are your enemy.

            This, like the previous teaching, is hard to live out. Especially when we consider that people in New Testament times only had one or two or maybe three sets of clothes if they were fortunate. So if someone asked for your tunic (a garment that went around the whole body), and you also gave him your cloak (an upper outer garment like a coat), it was serious business! To the common person it was giving away half your wardrobe, and to some it might have meant giving away the clothes they were wearing. They would literally be giving their adversary in court the clothes off their back without so much as a fight or complaint.   

            To meet such a high standard, to follow Christ in this way, the disciple of Christ must have absolute faith that God is a very real presence in his or her life and that He will provide for his or her needs, whether it be in this life or the next, in eternity. The disciple must trust that there is an ultimate good that will come out of this type of sacrifice, whether that good be in their own life (the disciple becoming more like Christ by giving up their tunic and cloak) or in the life of the person that receives the cloak (the disciple’s adversary seeing Christ in them and being brought near to God as a result).

            This type of faith in God to bring good out of difficult circumstances is required if we are to live according to the second example that Jesus gives as well. Roman officials had the right to compel their subjects to carry messages or materials for up to a mile. There was no post office in that day but there were stations along the way where messages or materials were passed along from one station to the next. So if an unlucky traveler were to meet a Roman official, he might be forced to go a mile out of his way to deliver the message or materials.

            That would be hard enough to submit to with a good attitude, after all you have to go not only the first mile but then back the mile you went out of your way and you are likely on foot or on a donkey, but Jesus says to not only do that but double it! Go two miles out of your way and two miles back! And, when you do that with a merciful heart and a smile on your face and a song in your heart, you will be blessed!

            Jesus – who gave up his life in the ultimate sacrifice – and those of us who are serious followers of him and live sacrificially day in and day out, live in a realm of existence that is far different than the average person who walks the earth. They have an understanding that their life is not their own but is to be lived for God and for others. They have a faith in God to guide them and to provide for them, whatever the circumstances.

            This kind of life is not easy and requires great faith and sacrifice, but the rewards are eternal. Those who give mercy, receive mercy, just as Jesus promises in the Beatitude. And others are blessed as well, as they come to know Jesus and understand the sacrifice He made by seeing the sacrificial life of others.

Pray with me: Lord, help me to follow you in this way. I can’t do it without you. Give me the faith to live for you. I feel like the man who said “I believe, Lord, help me in my unbelief!” I have faith in you, Lord, but I need even more faith if I am to live as you are calling me to. Give me faith to live for you in these situations I bring before you now…continue praying as you are led…

For further study, meditate on these Scriptures:

1 Peter 2:12 Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.

1 Peter 2:19 For it is commendable if a man bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because he is conscious of God.

1 Peter 4:12-13 Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.

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