MONDAY- 11^TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME -B

I Reading: 1 Kings 21:1-16: Naboth has been stoned to death.

Gospel: Matthew 5:38-42: I say this to you: after the wicked man no resistance.

The Real Meaning of the Law Governing Injury

This law has been used and misused, excused and abused down through the centuries. Man has often used the law to treat others as he wished. But Jesus Christ has changed the law. He says that the Christian is not to render evil for evil; he is not to bear a grudge or seek revenge. He must go beyond and forever. However, the Christian has the right to avoid and resist evil for security’s sake (Rom 12:18 for more discussion).

1.     The law (v.38)

2.     The real meaning: do not retaliate (v.39)

3.     The ideal behaviour (v.39-41)

a.     Accept physical injury

b.    Accept property injury

c.      Accept any forced burden

4.     The great Christian ethic: give (v.42)

Thought: A Christian is not to be a revengeful person. He is not to be known as who holds a grudge.

Revenge consumes. It can eat up a person’s inner being. Submission is sometimes the way to overcome (Pr 25:21-22).

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