Opening Prayer
Lord Jesus, grant us love. Amen.
Text: Matthew 5:38-42
“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. Give to him who asks you, and from him who wants to borrow from you do not turn away.”
Devotion
“Whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also.” These words the Lord Himself demonstrated in Caiaphas’ house. When the servant struck Him in the face, He said: “If I have spoken evil, bear witness of the evil; but if well, why do you strike Me” (Joh 18:23)? He loved His enemy and wanted to save him. We should put ourselves in our neighbor’s place and deal with him as best serves his interest, even if it is contrary to our own desire. Rather than argue, let your enemy keep all that is yours! What are all your goods compared to love and your neighbor’s soul? But just as you yourself must not willfully do anyone wrong, so you also should not help others to do wrong. What you might wish that someone would deny you in their place, for example, money for getting drunk, or a loan for wild living and useless dealings, that you should deny your neighbor. But this requires holy sincerity, love, and self-denial. It is easy to say: “I would gladly turn the other cheek, but I don’t do it literally, lest I exasperate him. I would gladly let him have my coat, but love forbids me to help him do wrong in stealing. I would gladly go two miles with him, but I don’t want to encourage his wickedness. I would willingly give and lend to him, but I refrain lest it tempt him to sin.” Words come easily, but it really depends on whether you show your sincerity by offering works of love to your neighbor. While you do not fulfill the Lord’s words by mere literal obedience, it is equally certain that a charitable impulse in the heart will, as a rule, result in some outward deed, and will always express itself in some way or other. If out of love you deny a drunken tramp money, then your love must take shape in some better way for him.
If only your enemy’s temporal and eternal welfare were dearer to your heart than your goods and your easy living! Are you willing to take on trouble and burden, to help those who persecute you maliciously? “This is grace.” Live and practice it. Live like this. It is a glorious life. It is a life in freedom, a rich life, a life in power and a life in honor even if you are the lowliest, poorest, and most humble of all, for life in service of love is truly the life of a great human being. – This is learned only from Jesus. Only he who daily bows himself at the Savior’s feet and receives pardon for his sin learns this. But he really does learn it, even so that he learns it throughout his whole life.
Closing Prayer
Lord, we pray You heartily: Grant us Your love. Let our whole life be love. Amen.
Hymn
Whoever still would say to thee:
“I cannot love my enemy,”
Shows that he does not understand
The love of God which has no end.
But if you say: “This I would do,
But cannot find the pow’r thereto,”
Then run to Jesus once again
Within His wounds true love regain.
Your heart bring with true penitence,
In Jesus’ blood your sins to cleanse,
The mind of Christ within you dwell,
Imprinted by the Spirit well.
Brorson: Skal Kjærlighed sin Prøve staa L 516:5-7 tr. DeGarmeaux;
tune: Herr Jesu Christ, dich (ELH 23); alternate hymn: Lift up your heads, ye mighty gates ELH 92:5