Sermon preached by Matthew DelValle on August 11, 2024 at First Baptist Church in Delphi, Indiana. First Baptist Church is an evangelical church in Delphi, Indiana helping people find and follow Jesus. Our mission is to declare God’s truth, disciple God’s people, delight in God’s Son, and display God’s glory. Join us for Sunday Worship at 10:30am. Sunday School begins at 9:30am. We gather at 103 S. Indiana Street, Delphi, Indiana 46923.
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Introduction
Big Idea: Jesus came to suffer for sinners so that we can renounce retaliation and instead love those who do evil against us.
1. What Were the Pharisees Teaching About Retaliation? [Mt. 5:38]
- The Design of the Law: “Lex Talionis” [Ex. 21:23–25; Lev. 24:10–23]
- Discouraging People from Seeking Personal Revenge [Gen. 34]
- Administering Justice Through the Courts [Dt. 19:15–19]
- Ensuring Penalties for Crimes Are Just and Proportionate [Dt. 19:21]
- Putting the Fear of God in People [Dt. 19:20; Rom. 13:1–4]
- The Distortion of the Law: Unlawful Expansion to Personal Vengeance
2. What Did Jesus Teach About Retaliation? [Mt. 5:39–42]
- The Summary Command [Mt. 5:39a]
- Negatively Stated: Don’t Resist the One Who Is Evil
- Positively Stated: Renounce Your Desire for Revenge & Extend Love
- The Specific Examples
- Your Human Dignity [Mt. 5:39b; Exod. 22:2]
- Your Legal Property [Mt. 5:40; 1 Cor. 6:7]
- Your Civil Liberty [Mt. 5:41]
- Your Financial Generosity [Mt. 5:42; 2 Thess. 3:10]
3. How Can We Guard Our Hearts from the Desire for Retaliation?
- Rest in God’s Final Judgment of Evildoers [Rom. 12:17–21]
- Recognize Your Own Evil Against God and Others [Mt. 5:37; 7:11]
- Remember Often How Christ Responded to Evil [Isa. 50:6; Mt. 26:67–68; 27:27–44; Lk. 23:34; 1 Pet. 2:19–24]
Conclusion