Can I Go This Way?

The summary of the way people of the Kingdom of God live is stated in verse 35.  People who live like this – who love their enemies, do good, lend hoping for nothing in return – are the “sons of the Most High.”  In the end, this command and the expectation of Jesus are expressions of two great realities.

1.      This is the way God deals with mankind all the time.  He loves us when we hate Him; He does good for us all the time; He lends/gives to us knowing we have no way to repay Him.

2.      Living this way in love and generosity expresses our ultimate dependence on God as the Sovereign provider of all our needs.  Indeed, all we have or ever will have comes from His hand.

In this context, our responsibility is not to judge or condemn others for their treatment of us, but rather to love them and be generous to them.  When that is true, an overflowing abundance will be poured into our lap (v. 38).  One may ask, “Doesn’t that say we should give to get?”  In a way, the answer is “yes,” but the kind of giving Jesus expects is beyond human ability.  If we give with the motivation of the world, we receive the world’s kind of reward – nothing, but if we give as Christ gave, which is beyond human ability, we receive His reward from His hand, and that reward is in the future in the Kingdom.

One other thought – verse 37 and especially the first phrase of the verse is perhaps the most often misquoted verse from the Bible in the contemporary culture and common conversation – “Judge not that ye be not judged.”  It is misquoted not by its words but by its meaning and purpose.

This statement was made to Jesus’ disciples in the context of the instruction “love your enemies, do good, and lend hoping for nothing in return” (v. 35), and “Give and it shall be given to you; good measure…” (v. 38).  The “judge not” instruction is given in reference to people who hate us and who want a hand-out.  It does not refer to anyone or anything else.

The foundational principles upon which Jesus is building are important.

·         This material world is not important; people are.

·         The disciple of Jesus is a son of the Most High, and he is not a citizen of this culture.  As such he, or rather I should live as a son of God.

·         God is sovereign in all things.  All I have is given by Him, and He has the infinite resources to “over-replace” anything I give away.

Final note: Jesus is emphasizing that as I love and give to others, I am not to judge or condemn them.  Other Scripture, however, instructs me to evaluate and to judge their teaching and lifestyle so that I am not deceived or overcome by their culture.

coram deo