Note the pattern in these verses. Jesus gave six examples that contrasted pharisaical “righteousness” with true, “surpassing” righteousness. This is characteristic 5 in the previous week (Anger, Adultery, Divorce, and Making Promises) The concern of these verses is the ninth commandment and the truthfulness that humans find so difficult.  What Christ demands is contrary to our natural tendencies. It takes the touch of God in life to make this kind of life possible. It takes a new birth to create it. What Does Jesus Say About Revenge? Matthew 5:38-39  1. God’s System Of Justice Is Not Retaliatory As an element of Moses’ penal code, it offers a clear and just principle for punishing wickedness while forbidding vendettas and vengeful excess. It expressed the lex talionis, the principle of exact retribution, whose purpose was both to lay the foundation of justice, specifying the punishment that a wrongdoer deserved, and to limit the compensation of his victim to an exact equivalent and no more. It stipulates that a thief is not maimed or slain, as other ancient codes dictated. Instead, thieves pay back double, so they lose exactly what they would have gained, and their victims gain precisely what they would have lost. We will understand Jesus best if we observe his behavior when evil men assault him. When falsely accused, he was silent. When insulted and beaten, he did not retaliate. Therefore, a disciple must resist temptation, a magistrate should resist invaders, and everyone should resist those who prey on the weak, but disciples do not resist when harmed personally. Jesus offers no rationale for this command. He does not say the striker will feel shame or repent. It is simply Christ’s way. In the first example, a man strikes another on the cheek—a painful blow and a gross insult. If a right-handed person strikes someone’s right cheek, presumably, it is a slap by the back of the hand, probably considered more insulting than a slap by the open palm. This was before the crucifixion, and Jesus modeled this when he went to the cross. God calls us to live as a peaceable people, not to go after our pound of flesh. Matthew 5:40-41  2. Go The Extra Mile Even Though You Are Not Required Although the outer cloak was an inalienable possession under Mosaic law, Jesus’ disciples, if sued for their tunics (an inner garment like our suit but worn next to the skin), far from seeking satisfaction, will gladly part with what they may legally keep. The third example refers to the Roman practice of commandeering civilians to carry the luggage of military personnel a prescribed distance, one Roman “mile.” Impressment, like a lawsuit, evokes outrage, but the attitude of Jesus’ disciples under such circumstances must not be spiteful or vengeful but helpful—willing to go a second mile. The one mile refers to the practice of the Roman soldiers requiring civilians to carry their burden for one mile. According to Roman law, the soldier could require no more than one mile of a single porter, but Jesus’ kingdom servants were needed to go beyond what was required of them. Jesus is saying here that God is asking us to go the extra mile, even when that is not required of us. This plays out in our relationships, if your friend needs you, do what they ask and more. In marriage if my wife asks me to do something, I should be willing to do that and more and expect nothing in return. As Christ’s followers, we should be more than willing to go over and above for those around us. Not because we are required to, but because we get the honor of serving people. Matthew 5:42  3. We Are Called To Be Generous The final illustration requires interest-free loans and a generous spirit. While these four vignettes have powerful shock value, they were not meant to be new legal prescriptions. Yet the illustrations must not be diluted by endless equivocations; the only limit to the believer’s response in these situations is what love and the Scriptures impose. Christ completely reverses the interpretation of the Pharisees. Instead of the spirit of self-centeredness, which insists on rights and demands retaliation, you should have the opposite—selflessness, the ability to abide wrongs and to give of self. God’s people should be defined by their generosity. We are not called to have a poverty mentality because we serve the one that owns it all. We cannot say I will be generous with others when I have enough to be gracious. In a world full of people looking for others to serve them, God’s people should be generous and loving to each other. The world should see that the church is a caring and gracious community. This will draw them in to see what they are missing. What are our transformational moments? Are you looking for your pound of flesh? Are you willing to go the extra mile for those around you? Are you generous?