Eye for an Eye/Love for Enemies | Matthew 5:38-48

Concerning Retaliation

“You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I say to you: Do not resist an evildoer. But if anyone strikes you on the right cheek, turn the other also, and if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, give your coat as well, and if anyone forces you to go one mile, go also the second mile. Give to the one who asks of you, and do not refuse anyone who wants to borrow from you.

Love for Enemies

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be children of your Father in heaven, for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers and sisters, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the gentiles do the same? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

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It’s easy to know who our enemies are:

Those who hold our communities hostage;

Those who are indifferent;

Those who hold power over us.

But who do you hold power over? There is no doubt that the boot of oppression is hovering over us. But where are our own boots stepping? 

Jesus spoke to the lowest and poorest in society: 

To turn the other cheek;

To give up their clothing;

To travel greater distances at personal risk.

Which begs the question: is Jesus speaking to us? 

If you are reading this on your computer or cell phone; 

If you know where your next meal will come from; 

If you have had shelter this winter;

Jesus is not talking to you in this passage. Jesus is giving us another charge:

Stop hitting;

Stop stealing from the poor;

Stop demanding too much of others.

We need to look at ourselves, and ask the questions:

Who are we abusing?

From whom are we stealing?

From whom do we demand too much?

Abuse and theft do not always look like the crimes of intentional malice that we might envision. Abuse might look like ignoring the pain of our trans siblings when we value nostalgia and entertainment over their humanity and safety.

Theft might look like prioritizing our convenience when we continue to shop at Amazon and Target - companies that are well known for their abusive labor practices.

And demanding too much might look like infighting over who is the most righteous, rather than concentrating our efforts on the true evil of the world. When we look out at the world around us, out at our enemies, it is easy to dump our load on those around us, to punch down and take out frustrations on our friends, our coworkers and our communities; and pass off our burdens on those less fortunate than us. 

In the season of Lent, Jesus calls us to repent, to turn around. 

When we don’t take their cloaks, our neighbors are warm;

When we don’t demand extra miles, our neighbors have stamina;

When we don’t exchange blows, our neighbors are strong.

When our villagers are strong, our village is strong. And when we have strength we can face our enemies together with love. 

Love is not passive;

Love is a verb;

Love is making an effort;

Love is righting wrongs;

Love is action;

Love is fighting back against evil because we love what is good;

Love is rooted in community; 

Love is having the courage to tell our enemies when and why they are wrong because

our enemies are made in the image of God, and they are worth being reminded.

Prayer:

Dear God, 

In this season give us courage to admit where we fall short of mercy, and grant us the strength to turn around and root ourselves in community. Open our hearts to put others before ourselves, to engage with difficult conversations, and to show up with love, even in the face of evil. 

Amen

Erik Stenswold 

New York, NY

Camper 2011-2020

Staff 2021-Present

Emily Nowlan, Esq.

New York, NY

Camper 2012-2021

Staff 2024-Present