Matthew 5: 38 – 42
GIVE (See also Luke 6: 27 - 36)
Verse 38
Jesus begins by quoting
a the eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth concept from the Old
testament (Exodus 21: 24, Lev. 24: 20, Deut. 19: 21)
But then he tells us
to go beyond this and give!
39 I but say to you
plural Do not STAND AGAINST EVIL μὴ
ἀντιστῆναι τῷ
πονηρῷ!
This is usually
translated in to English as resist though it literally means stand
against and is also an excellent example of an Aorist Infinitive used
as an Imperative Command like several other verbs in this section.
But whoever you
accusative strikes onto, εἰς
means
onto or on here, note accusative of motion, the right cheek, turn
στρέψον
an Aorist Imperative, to him / her, read καὶ
as also, the other cheek.
40 and he who wishes
or wants from you to have after a judgement your tunic taken let him
also take the cloak.
Note the evils he
speaks of resisting are minor and seem petty to us. Bear in mind he
spoke at a time when one or two tunics and an cape or cloak as an
over garment might be a person's only clothes. The tunic taken might
be your other best embroidered linen kept for special occassions and
hence a valuable item that could be sold to pay a debt.
Note
κριθῆναι an Aorist
Passive Infinitive
41 Jesus then applies
this to a law stating Roman soldier could force ἀγγαρεύσει
civilians to carry their packs for a mile or so. He asks his
listeners not to carry the pack for just one mile but two!
We should fulfil our
civil and legal obligations to the fullest extent and generously.
42. Finally, and check
Luke 6: 27 – 36 for a parallel verse, he states to him or her who
asks you GIVE δός
and those wishing from you to make a loan / middle so borrow from you
not turn away / refuse. Δανίζω
and ἀποστρεφω.
Read this and then the
next linked following section about loving enemies.
It is not enough to
give and love when it is easy. Jesus challenges us here.
May the Divine have
mercy onto all us sinners who fall short of this and other
challenges.
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