First:

‘You have heard that it was said, An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. If anyone wants to sue you and take away your tunic, let him have your cloak also. And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two." [Matthew 5:38-41]

Second:

" Give to him who asks you, and from him who wants to borrow from you do not turn away." {Matthew 5:42]

In order to understand this law, let us divide it into two parts:

1- The negative aspect [Matthew 5: 38-41]

2- The positive aspect [Matthew 5: 42]

A Jew was required not to exceed the limit of revenge. It meant, "don’t exceed your revenge" more than what actually affected you. [a tooth for a tooth] . This has been mentioned in Exodus 21:24, Leviticus 24:20 and Deuteronomy 19:21. Human nature tends to react with more than the actual assault and considers the one who initiates such an assault to be liable for more.

However in Christianity it is totally different. It calls for:

1. Not to respond to evil.
2. And to tolerate the fault of the assailants.

Then, what does it mean?

We may understand the meaning if we analyze it from the opposite side.

Certainly it doesn’t mean to:

1. liquidate our army
2. and let the soldiers to retire
3. or cancel the jury service
4. or retire the policemen
5. And the prisons.

What a blessing would it be if we were able to achieve this, but the world is not is not yet ready for this blessed step.

At this time, nations are not yet under the banner of the Kingdom of God, so the laws of this Kingdom don’t apply on them.

But one day, kingdoms of the world will be for our Savior and God Jesus Christ. We look forward for this joyful day. This is the day that Isaiah prophesied, when he said, "…..… He shall judge between the nations; and shall rebuke many people; they shall beat their swords into plowshares, And their spears into pruning hooks. Nation shall not lift up sword against nation, Neither shall they learn war anymore."

The eye for an eye law is for the ruler to insure justice among people. Our religion doesn’t permit a victim to revenge for himself. It is sinful when a victim takes justice in his hands, but rather it is permissible to him to go to the judge for judgment. Even self-defense may exceed certain limits. If an armless thief comes to rob you, you are not entitled to use a weapon and kill him.

God’s words are for the people as individuals who are under the banner of God’s Kingdom. This does not apply on nations.

For people have to resist evil like when they are subjected to personal insults as:

1. Being slammed on the face insulted or degraded.
2. Judgement
3. Enslaved to do work without pay or permit.

John and James went once to a village of the Samaritans, to prepare for the visit of Lord Christ, on His way to Jerusalem. The villagers didn’t accept the disciples. When they returned, they said, "Lord, do you want to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them, just as Elijah did? But He turned and rebuked them and said, You do not know what manner of spirit you are of. For the son of Man did not come to destroy men’s lives but to save them’’[Luke 9:54].

The Lord wanted to tell them to know that they are children of God, whose character knows no revenge. Consequently John changed and became known as "beloved John". He became the closest to Lord Christ, as his heart was filled with love.

The law was confirmed in the epistle to the Romans, "Repay no evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. If it is possible as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, "Vengeance is Mine, I will repay," says the Lord. Therefore if your enemy hungers, feed him; If he thirsts, give him a drink; For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head." [Romans 12: 17-21]

There is a place for God’s wrath, that He is the One Who judges. Our role is simply to let "virtue" overcome "evil". Rightness is stronger than evil

An experienced man once said, "Before I realized the meaning of this law, I thought if didn’t fight back, I may be encouraging them to behave cruelly. I also thought that it was better for me to stop nasty actions, or continue hurting others.

But later I understood correctly, that God is capable to deal with them, better than I am.

When we revenge, we definitely feel a sense of retaliation. God sees them as sinner who needs to repent at a time He prefers. Let us love them and keep the judgement to God.

Story:

A preacher who was in a good finical position gave a friend a loan. The friend later refused to repay back the loan. The preacher who was sure the court will be on his side preferred not to sue his friend. Weeks later he received a letter from his friend to tell him that he was sorry for the delay in repaying his loan and asked him to come and visit him and receive his money. The preacher was busy at the time, apologized for the lack of time to visit him. He shortly received a reply informing him that it came to his attention that the preacher would be in a nearby church and he intended to go there at that time and repay him. The man came with the money and asked him for forgiveness for his delay.

God, who can revenge for you, did motivate the man’s heart and paid the loan out of court.

Story:

As the tenant refused to pay his rent, the landlord consulted a lawyer, who advised him evict him by a court order. The owner didn’t want to go to court. Two weeks later, the tenant came with the money and left the apartment and mentioned that he felt ashamed for his behavior. It was obvious that the situation would have somewhat different if the case went to court.

I believe that God wants us not to respond to evil either in

1. our deeds
2. our talks
3. Or even within our hearts.

Is it enough not to respond to evil? We have to tolerate it and to bear what might affect us with courage. Let us learn how to love those who insult us.

St Augustine once said, Christ God of Glory Himself followed the same advice He gave us. When a servant of the high priest slammed his right face, He said, "If I have spoken evil, bear witness of the evil; but if well, why do you strike Me." [John 18:23]

He didn’t offer the other cheek, as he was ready in His heart to save the world, not by giving the other cheek for another blow, but by giving His body for crucifixion.

Father Joseph warns us not to execute the law literally, while the heart is not feeling true love towards the offender.

If your right cheek receives a strike, then let the inner heart accept the strike on the other cheek. This makes it easy for the "external man" to take it while the "internal man" is saved.

Are you asking me if it is possible to abide with this law?

As a human, it is difficult to abide with it, for our nature as humans is irritated and desires revenge against others. That is a human nature that applies on everyone.

The children of God, who live under His Kingdom, must follow His law. What drives us to revolt and disobey this law, is nothing but a trace of the old evil nature that we inherited if from Adam. But with the death of Christ on the cross, we were completely saved from our sins and other evil deeds. Even He separated us from the dormant sin that prevents us to disobey His orders, and the old man, as was called by St. Paul, was crucified with Him.

If we feel that we are dead through our sins

And realize what Christ did for us

And examine its practicality in our life

We will be able to see the reality and truth

The wounds of our Lord Jesus Christ purified and healed them.

Who knows, we may be in need ourselves for these healing and purifying touches

Suppose some people did hurt you and your heart wants to revenge

Suppose you never sympathized for their failure in life, or became saddened for them

It may be true that God noticed this defect and you became aware of your improper reaction.

It is nice to hurry up to repent and confess to God in the presence of the priest. Confessing about your weakness, of feeling – within your hearts – the need to revenge. We do believe in what St. John wrote, "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." [1^st Epistle of John 1:9]

It is then, that God will forgive and purifies us from every evil that pushes us to sin. He will liberate us from the tendency within us, of reacting to evil with evil.

Repentance is like a second great-blessed Baptism. Each time when we repent and confess it is also as if we were born again and became a new person.

Wisdom:

Whoever bear injustice for the sake of Christ, or for spiritual reasons, he shows a true power, not cowardliness nor weakness. It is the powerful who can endure. Those who jump to revenge against those who trespassed against them or those who get anger quickly and enjoy unfriendliness their spirit are different from that of Christ. They are similar to persons who insist for their right, praising the world, not Christ. Those who receive insult with patience for the sake of Christ will receive an eternal blessing.

Story:

A person used to work in mines, had acquired angelic characters after was saved from his sins and accepted the Lord fully in his heart.

One day while he was deep in the mine, another worker who hit him hardly punishing him for converting to Christianity. Mockingly he told him that this was a prize for getting a new religion.

He responded by saying that he is asking God to forgive him as he also forgave him. Few days later the man came back to him asking for forgiveness and for his prayers so God would permit having him as a Christian.

I read about:

An elderly man and his wife were unable to attend spiritual gatherings in Suez because of their failing health. Some of their friends used to come and visit them after these meetings to summarize for them what they heard. The previous story about working man at mine was mentioned. They felt that they behaved badly in an incident that happened to them. Earlier some youngsters used to play in front of their home making much noise and throwing stones through the window. He angrily went to their neighbor, the mother of the boy who threw the stones asking her to punish him. She apologized for her son. But the man after hearing this story of the miner realized that he was wrong and he should have forgiven the boy. This elderly man went again to the mother and asked her for forgiveness, being angry and not tolerant. He even cried. This man was greatly gratified when he learned heard later, that this woman confessed and converted to Jesus Christ, being influenced by the behavior of this old man.

Another story:

During WW2 in the forties there were many Christians working at El Tal el Kebeer Camp. H.H. Pope Yousab authorized the conduction of a church service for these employees in one of the large tents. Many of them were servants from Giza.

This service had a tremendous effect on one particular person who was in the past a very aggressive person. He repented and confessed in the present of the priest partook the Holy Body and Blood.

A hateful person determined to test his Christianity and while he was pouring tea for him in his cup during breakfast. He intentionally pour the boiling tea on his chest. He didn’t react and simply used his handkerchief to wipe his burning skin at the surprise of the others. He said, "You are saved from my revenge as I knew Jesus Christ when I confessed and took the Holy Sacrament. If this did happen before that, I would have reacted differently. You are lucky that I repented and followed Christ. God forgives you."

The Lord Jesus Christ gives strength to those who want to fulfill this law. If we do, we are following our Lords example Who said, "who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten.." [1^st Epistle of Peter 1:23]

Don’t react to evil

• Who hits you on one cheek turn to him the other cheek. Do not resist him. Hitting the right cheek may constitute insult and despise but hitting the other cheek may be counted for glorious times.
• Who turns against you and takes your robe, be calm and leave the dress to him also.
• Who asks you to walk a mile, walk for him two miles.

Don’t consider walking the first mile as slavery, but an act of love that will extend to the second mile, in expressing God’s love.

Defeating the evil:

The greatest war among us nowadays, is a war between the good and evil, "For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood.." [Ephesians 6:12]

The greatest enemy is not the visible one who we can avoid, but it is the invisible one.

Then what is the best way to defeat evil?

• Treat the evil with rightness
• Don’t let the evil to defeat you
• Defeat evil with goodness

Scientists noticed that waterways were blocked with certain wild plants. Each time they treat the problem by removing these plants they recur. They discovered a solution that took care of the problem. When they planted certain trees along the sides of the waterways the problem ceased to exist. These trees deprived the wild plants from their nutrition and died! This is similar when we implant "goodness" on either side of "the evil". Evil can’t survive in that environment!

What is important? When someone insults you, just leave it to God. Don’t let hatred to fill your heart. God wants you to leave it for Him Who is capable to covert him to be a decent person.

Stories:

• A Chinese Emperor prevented his commander from sending a ruthless army to punish one of his revolting provinces. He preferred to gain them compassion that they may reciprocate this rightness. He ordered him instead to send them trains filled with their needs from food, medicine and other materials they needed. When the trains arrived they were received with welcome and by shouting, "Long live the Emperor." He conquered the evil by rightness. This was a real victory.

• Before communism took over Christian Russia, there was a war between Russia and Turkey. At the beginning, Turkey was ahead in fighting and captured a Russian commander. In his captivity, he was treated inhumanely. Russia won at the end and the Turkish commander became a prisoner of war. Everyone expected Russia to revenge, but the Russian commander was reading his Bible and came to a verse asking not to respond to evil with evil. He then immediately sent a written order stating, "According to Christ Whom I worship, I order to let the Turkish commander be freed." When his messenger reached the prison, it was too late to stop the torture of the Turkish commander, who was dying. Nevertheless he saw the order and realized what it meant. He said his last words, "Now I can die as a Christian."

• Who ever asks you, give
• "Who wants to borrow from you do not turn away." Matthew 5:42]

1. Never revenge
2. And be generous to others without limit.

An Example:

Suppose I was in need for money and asked God to provide it for me. I believe that God’s words are true. I also know very well, that if I didn’t actually need that money, He will not give it to me. In summary, I learned from God, as one of His children that have to help any brother or sister who is in need as long that I can afford to do that. However giving should be wisely done. The money must not be used to harm someone, or to used to do an evil thing with it.

Surely we should only give when there would be no harm done to us or to those who will receive it. We have to refuse if it was intended to harm someone and to guide whom is asking to spend it the right way.

In case of doubt, it is better to give to an unworthy person than to turn away someone who is in real need.

"By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him? My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth." [1^st John Epistle 3:16-18]

If God gives us more than we need, it is so we can give others.

We give to who is in need, but before abiding with this law, we have to follow other laws of the Heavenly Kingdom. " Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal." [Matthew 6:19] The Lord told the rich man to go and sell what he had and give the poor, so he will have a treasure in heaven and then to come and follow Him. What does it mean when we were ordered not to have our treasures on earth, but in heaven? Does it mean that we should never hold any treasures at all?

No this is not what it meant. You can, but not for yourself, but rather for God. Then you become a treasurer to spend it according to God’s guidance. Then

Why he was ordered to go and sell what he had? Does God mean that you go and sell everything you have and give it to the poor? This is not exactly what the words meant, unless God directs you to do it. St. Anthony followed it and sold everything and went to the wilderness.

We need to put what we have at the feet of the Lord Jesus. Selling meant to change the ownership from being yours to be God’s. It is like selling a car from one person to another. The ownership status changes.

It was obligatory for the Jew in the Old Testament, to give ten percent of his wealth to God. There are many people who do this till our time. That was a Jewish law. It is nice to give God according to our wealth, but we have to believe that God owns all our wealth and not a percentage of it.

We have to put everything at Christ’s feet before trying to obey His order to give every asking. This means we have to share our wealth with those who are in need, according to His guidance.

We heard about the Disciples’ era when the people went and sold what they had and put the money at the Apostles feet. The money was spent for their daily need.

If we apply this words spiritually, then it is our duty to sell all what we have [meaning that we are no more the owners], and put it at Christ’s feet, for our daily needs. If we are prepared to follow this in regards of our earthy properties, we can obey His order to "give to who asks."
 
 

St. Luke wrote about loans. "Give to everyone who asks of you. And from him who takes away your goods do not ask them back. And just as you want men to do to you, you also do to them likewise. But if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. And if you lend to those from whom you hope to receive back, what credit is that to you? For even sinners lend to sinners to receive as much back. But love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Highest. For He is kind to the unthankful and evil. Therefore be merciful, just a your Father also is merciful." [Luke 6:3-36]

Notice:

God has promised us, when we lend others:

1. Our credit will be great
2. In fact we become truly His children.

The rule is when you loose you gain!

The difficult question is, "The one who asks me, is he in need in fact?"

This difficulty vanishes when we are ready to obey God, as the Holy Spirit will guide us for what we do.

All what we have is His, but to mean what we say, we have to be practical. Someone may claim that this understanding is not practical. One may say, if he follows this, he will soon be broke, loose everything and will stand on the needy side!

Not really my dear! "But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things shall be added to you." [Matthew 6:33]

In my own experience, I recall this incident. After I was ordained a priest, and while I was away from home for the forty days, I spent all what I had saved in eight years from my practice as a lawyer. When I returned to my home, I was told that the church’s budge would provide me LE 8.50 for that month. That was according to the arrangement the late Bishop Abraam, set up. At that time, it meant that after I pay the rent of my apartment, which was LE 8:00, only half a pound will be all was left to survive for all the month!

I had no doubt that God would provide me for my needs.

One day, all what I had in my pocket was one piaster, when my wife asked me what to prepare for dinner that day. I told her that I needed to go first to perform a prayer service at a home of a sick person. I didn’t tell her that I had no money. When I came back, I found a letter waiting for me in my mailbox. A hand written paper saying, "ask first for the Kingdom of God" and attached to it was a note of one pound. This pound was enough to support us for two days. I accepted it as a gift from God. My wife and I knelt and bowed to God Who gave us this gift at the time of our need.

I used to pray, "God I don’t need much money, but don’t permit that I ask others to supply me with my needs, except You." God did move the heart of that person who sent me that pound at that critical time of my need.

It is for sure that every one of us had experienced God’s kindness at a time of need.

There is no doubt, that the most successful way to gain the Kingdom of God is to follow the laws of this kingdom. Don’t forget His saying, "Ask and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find, and knock and it will be opened to you." [Matthew 7:7]

Also listen to this, "If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father Who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him! [Matthew 7:11]

We can afford to be generous, as we have a Father Who is loving and rich and capable to supply us with all our needs. Certainly He can give all what we ask for.

Unfortunately we don’t pick up the rewards that the sermon on the mountain promised as we neglect to take them for our advantages. The rewards and the orders are not separable. It is clear that if we abide with them, we will gain the rewards. " And whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight." [1 John 3:22]

Wherever there is obedience, there would be deep faith.

When we express our concern to others, our belief in God’s care towards us will be strengthened.

Remember also, that if our giving was done in a joyful spirit and acceptance, then God will compensate us for all what we give. "Give, and it will be given to you: good measure pressed down, shaken together and running over will be put into the bottom." [Luke 6:38]

"So your measure must be good, pressed, shaken and over flown.

Here also St. Paul adds, "But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. [2 Corinthians 6:38]

Are you still wondering? Then listen to some that had their experience.

1. One remembered a friend who barely had little to survive on. He felt that God was asking him to send his friend LE. 10. All what he had was only LE.15. He heard what seemed to him a voice predicting that he was about to change residence that may cost him more than he had. However he put a note of LE. 5 in an envelope and wrote that his Heavenly Father knew his needs. He sent the letter from other post office than his so his identity would not be known and also changed his handwriting style. The friend never knew who sent it to him. His idea was not to let your left hand what the right hand was doing. Two weeks later he received a letter from an unknown with a LE. 10. Three weeks later he received a similar letter from an unknown lady, telling him that what she was sending was from the blessings she received in the prior year. A note of LE. 10 were also enclosed. He said he can go on and on mentioning how God rewards those who belief and participate in giving the needy saints.
2. A servant was a need for LE. 25 to carry on with his service. A person heard about it, but he had only LE. 53. He heard a voice he thought a call from God asking him to send that money. He wrote a letter but kept it for the next day till he was sure that what he was doing was right. The following day he woke up with a pleasant feeling and became confident it was like the Divine saying that "who gives has more joy than the one that receives".


Few days later he received a letter and LE. 50. The letter was from a lady, who was a friend of the family. She wrote that she was planning to leave for him some money after her death as a gift to help him for the education of his son. Now she decided to give him the money while she is still alive. He said that this showed the honest promises of God for those who follow His commands.

3. The House of Deacons" the seven story building in Giza, where 150 deacons live has its history. A colleague named Albere William Matta, was a successful engineer working for the Shell Company in Suez. He used to have lot passion in his heart for God. One day I call him on the phone letting him know about a piece of land not far from the university campus in Giza and we were thinking of purchasing it at price of LE. 60, per square meter. Without hesitation he asked me to send him someone and he will give him LE 100 for the project. All his savings at that time were only LE. 106. That was his style, giving many families in Suez a monthly financial help. Albere lost his life at work when he rushed into the flames to shut off the gas terminal that could have burned all Suez City. When he died the family didn’t have even his burial expenses. I expressed to his wife, who was a servant at St Mark Church in Giza that I was sorry that he didn’t leave for them anything. She replied that her husband had great wealth in heaven and she doesn’t doubt that God will take care of her and their child. The company compensated his family generously for his heroic action in saving others. The LE. 100 he paid were the nucleus that turned to a seven-story building for 150 deacons who serve through the villages of the diocese.
4. The owner took the building used by some servants in one of the villages. The servants had money to buy a peace a land but not enough to build. They needed LE. 600 to build. One of the servants, felt a Divine call to pledge to pay this amount, but was hesitant as he had a partner in his business and he had an obligation to his business and partner. He was uncomfortable till he received a letter three weeks later from his partner informing him that he discovered a mistake in the last year budget. The corrected budget showed that he was ahead with LE. 600 for his favor!

 

 
 

These are not mere stories, but actually happened showing that the Heavenly Laws work in a practical way.

If we have accepted Christ a King and obey His commandments, certainly we see His wonderful blessings.

If this would be our behavior for all the trust He put into us, then it would be easy to make us as blessings to others, supplying them in their physical and spiritual needs.

"And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you always having all sufficiency in all things, have abundance for every good work." [2 Corinthians 9:8] This is what St. Paul wrote to the Corinthians in his second epistle asking them to help others.

Can you visualize the result if we follow His commandment? We will be used as God’s agents in delivering His blessings.

5. This story was told by one of the servants who worked in Congo. He translated the sermon of the mountain to them in their dialogue. When he came to mention, " whoever comes to you to borrow, don’t let him go without giving him". He was hesitant to translate this verse, as he was afraid if he did, most of listeners will and ask him personally to give them what he had. So he skipped this verse and went to what followed. A servant asked him about their meaning and he replied that these were God’s words, but he didn’t think anyone could follow.


The servant in his deep prayers asked God to show him how what to do. He then translated all the verses the way God ordered, word by word. They came to him and asked for everything that he had. To show them how to obey God’s word, he gave them all what he had. One may say, was he right and another may say he was wrong. Let us find what happened. Few days later the same people, whom the Holy Spirit apparently rebuked, returned to him what they took from him. A great spiritual atmosphere grew in this area because of the honesty of this servant and the lesson he gave to the people. If we are determined to obey the lord and follow His commandments, then He is capable to trust us to behave as He ordered us. This can’t be achieved unless we surrender totally to Him. Many Christians should be ashamed from themselves, When God is ready to use them as blessing to others and they miss by refusing to obey His commandments.

6. In our recent history of our glorious church, the Saint Anba Abraam, the bishop of Fayoum was a marvelous example in giving. He executed the commandment to the letter. God rewarded him the ability to make miracles. He was known truly as the friend of the poor and the needy. Still the people seek his blessing even after he departed many decades earlier.
7. A lady approached a man of God and asked him if he obeys Gods orders to give. He replied that he does whenever he could by God’s help. She then told him that she knew that her husband would be coming to him asking for money and asked him not to give it to him. She explained that he is a drunker and spends all the money for his drinks and he would do a great favor to her and her family if he refrains from giving him that money. The man replied that he couldn’t promise her anything other than asking God’s help to guide him. Before they left they prayed together. The man later came to see him and in a sarcastic way told him that he heard about him to be a Christian and behaves according to God’s teachings. The man replied that he tries when it is possible. They began to talk about the pleasure in living with Christ. The husband began to talk about his miserable life and asked him as a man of God to give him money that he needed. All of us logically may have hoped if he gave him nothing, after all it would be spent on drinks. But the man of God asked him about the sum of money he needed and after stating a certain figure, he opened the drawer of his desk and picked up the money. As he was about to give him the money, the husband felt a chock wave in his body from his head to his feet and knelt on his knees and confessed that he was a sinner indeed. He was determined at this point to stop drinking and to behave as one of God’s children. This was a work of God.