Getting even

After hearing the lecture about this weeks lesson which was on Matthew chapter 5 I got to thinking about the idea of "getting even". The speaker explained that the law or retribution found in the old testament was very specific when it said eye for an eye, hand for a hand, etc. She explained that if someone slapped you with an open hand then you had to slap back the same way, you couldn't punch them with a closed fist. Isn't that what we want to do though, get them back in a way that makes them understand that they better not mess with us again. Not just do back what they did to us but add a little bit more pain than we initially received. That is the human nature of getting even, but Jesus turns our world upside down by saying we need to turn the other cheek and go the extra mile. I'll be honest and this is not to boast but I am not very easily offended and no one has physically attacked me lately so I haven't had to worry about turning the other cheek much. However, what does bother me is when someone "messes" with my family. I thought about the movies I have watched where the bad guys are torturing someone to get them to talk, but when it doesn't work they start torturing someone else in front of them, usually someone they love or care about. Isn't that what our enemy does too? If he can't get to us by messing with us then he will start messing with our friends and family. For some reason it's easier to justify revenge if it's done on behalf of another. After all, aren't we suppose to be our "brothers keeper". Unfortunately no matter how we justify it, getting even and revenge are God's jobs, not ours.

Responding to the star

I have begun studying the book of Matthew with Community Bible Study. (the website which includes an audio of the lectures is at toccoalavoniacbs.org) One of the questions asked us to list the groups of people who were listed in chapter 2 and what their response was to the birth of Jesus. As I read the chapter I noted that there were 4 groups: 1)the magi 2) Herod and all Jerusalem 3) the chief priest and teachers of the law and 4) Mary and Joseph. This chapter and the story of Jesus birth is a familiar one to most so as I looked at the responses of these 4 groups I realized that in the past I had overlooked one. I knew that the magi were overjoyed, worshiped Him and brought Him gifts. (isn't it interesting that the first people to come and worship the King of the Jews were Gentiles?) I also knew that Mary and Joseph obeyed every step of the way, protecting our young Savior. And, it didn't surprise me to read that Herod and all Jerusalem were "disturbed". People don't like change, especially when that change involves a threat to your position and possibly even your life. What did strike me as odd was the lack of response made by the priest and teachers of the law. Nothing. Nada. No response at all. They answered Herod's question, that's it. Did they even look at the night sky? Did they even wonder if it was true? Did they care if the Messiah really born? Nothing. I guess we all have that same choice today. Jesus said that he will come back someday. I hope that we believe that and are looking at the signs. Every generation must hold on to the promise of his return.

Another interesting point was made during the study of this chapter. The magi were probably from the Babylonian region. If we look back at the book of Daniel we will see that Daniel was promoted and was placed in charge of all the magi in Babylon because of his ability to interpret dreams (Daniel 3:48). Could it be that these magi that came to worship Jesus had learned about it (the prophesies about the Messiah) because of Daniel? Just a thought.