Lev 19:1-2,
17-18; 1 Cor 3:16-23; Mt 5:38-48
In the winter of 326 BC,
Alexander personally led a campaign against the clans of the Assakenoi of the
Swat and Buner valleys. A fierce contest ensued. The Assakenoi fought bravely
and offered stubborn resistance to Alexander in the strongholds of Massaga. The
fort of Massaga could only be reduced after several days of bloody fighting in
which Alexander himself was wounded seriously in the ankle. Alexander and his
army took revenge for the wound he suffered by slaughtering the entire
population of the city. Not being satisfied with that, they reduced its
buildings to rubbles.
Since the revenge often surpassed
the offense, ancient legal systems had formulas that were applied to specific
crimes, laws that prescribed punishments equal to the offenses. A common
expression was: “an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.” We find another one
of those formulas expressed in the Book of Genesis where in Chapter 9 we read:
If anyone sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed… (Genesis
9:6).
Jesus’ audience was familiar with
that system of retribution, and they accepted it as the best means of ensuring
justice. So, the words of Jesus, I say to you: “love your enemies and pray for
those who persecute you” must have sounded strange in their ears.
In the contemporary history, too,
we find instances, where revenge was hundreds of times greater than that of the
offense. In 1940, during the Second World War, a British bombing mission had
struck Berlin - ostensibly by mistake. To take revenge on this Hitler ordered
London to be targeted. Thus civilian bombing of London began, causing the death
of thousands, and spreading misery to many. The history of the recent past is
full of incidents of massacre, prompted by individuals or nations. Hence, the
words of Jesus, “love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you” must
sound strange in our ears, too.
“By taking revenge, a man is but
even with his enemy; but in passing over it, he is superior,” Says the proverb.
Desire for revenge will beget only evil and destruction. Gandhiji expressed it
as, “An eye for an eye would make the whole world blind.” Another proverb,
attributed to the Chinese philosopher Confucius states, "Before you embark
on a journey of revenge, dig two graves." The implication here is that a
desire for revenge may ultimately hurt the seeker as much as the victim.
In the poem, “Poison Tree”
William Blake gives a moral lesson of great importance. He compares anger and
hatred to a poison tree.
I was angry with my friend:
I told my wrath, my wrath did end.
I was angry with my foe:
I told it not, my wrath did grow.
And I watered it in fears,
Night and morning with my tears;
And I sunned it with smiles,
And with soft deceitful wiles.
And it grew both day and night,
Till it bore an apple bright.
And my foe beheld it shine.
And he knew that it was mine,
And into my garden stole
When the night had veiled the pole;
In the morning glad I see
My foe outstretched beneath the
tree.
Jesus instructed His disciples to
go beyond, to follow a higher law, a law not based on retaliation and
retribution but based rather on a more powerful force to govern our human
relationships – the Law of Love. Jesus exemplified his teachings through his
own actions. On the cross Jesus prayed for his enemies, and, as the legends
states, restored sight to the soldier who pierced his side.
Toward the end of the
Revolutionary War, a turncoat traitor, named Michael Whitman, was captured. At
his trial it was proven that he had given the British army invaluable
assistance on numerous occasions. He was found guilty of spying and sentenced
to death by hanging. Michael Whitman was from a town called Ephrata. Word got
back to that town of his imprisonment and impending execution. There was a
Baptist preacher who also lived in that town whose name was Peter Miller. He
heard about Michael Whitman's plight and walked 70 miles in the cold and the
snow to Philadelphia to see George Washington. George Washington and Peter
Miller were very close friends. Miller had done a great many favours for the
army; he had given them spiritual nourishment and emotional strength during
difficult times. When he came in to see George Washington he said,
"General, I have a favour to ask of you." Washington said, "What
is it?" He said, "I have come to ask you to pardon Michael
Whitman." George Washington was stunned. He said, "Pastor Miller,
that's impossible. Whitman has done everything in his power to betray us, even
offering to join the British and help destroy us. I cannot be lenient with
traitors, and for that reason I cannot pardon your friend." Peter Miller
said, "Friend! He's no friend of mine. He's the bitterest enemy I've ever
had in my life. For years he persecuted me and harassed me. He did everything
he could to hurt my church and to hinder the preaching of the gospel. He even
waited for me one time after church and beat me almost senseless, spitting in
my face, knowing full well I would not strike him back." He said,
"General, let's get this straight—Michael Whitman is no friend of
mine." George Washington was puzzled. He said, "But you asked me to
pardon him." He said, "I have, and I ask you to do it to me as a
personal favour." He said, "Why?" He said, "Because that's
exactly what Jesus has done for you and for me." With tears in his eyes,
George Washington walked into the next room and soon returned with a paper on
which was written the pardon of Michael Whitman. Peter Miller went personally
with him to the stockade, saved Michael Whitman from the hangman's noose, and
personally took him back to his own home where he led him to faith in Jesus
Christ. Peter Miller was right. What he did for Michael Whitman Jesus Christ
has done for us, and on the cross He spoke to us as we should speak to others:
"With malice toward none; with charity toward all."
It must have been difficult even
for the apostles, to accept the teaching of Jesus regarding the forgiveness
extended to enemies.
Jesus put forward four concrete
situations to emphasize His point.
First of all, “Offer the wicked
man no resistance…. if anyone hits you on the right cheek, offer him the other
as well.”(Mt 5:39). Jesus did not want his disciples to react to evil by
repaying evil for evil that is by taking revenge. Paul advised the Christians,
“Never try to get revenge…
if your enemy is hungry you should give him food,
and if he is thirsty, let him drink….
resist evil and conquer it with
good.” (Rom 12:19-21).
History teaches us that all the
kingdoms established by the power of sword, gave way to a more powerful king.
They disappeared and another more powerful kingdom emerged in its place. There
was constant war and bloodshed. St. Francis set out to join the crusaders. He
wanted to march to the holy land with sword. But the unseen hand of God stopped
him on the way. Finally, when he set foot in the holy land he carried, not the
sword but the cross. He conquered not with a bloody battle, but with the
captivating message of peace. That is what Jesus wants from us, too, today.
Captivate the world, not by means of revenge, but by means of love. Benjamin
Franklin knew the power of forgiveness. He wrote, “It is more noble to forgive,
and more manly to despise, than to revenge an Injury.”
Secondly, “If a man takes you to
law and would have your tunic, let him have your cloak as well.” Jesus advises
to give the unjust claimer even more than what he unjustly claims. According to
Jesus, the Christian never stands upon his rights. Our contemporary world
emphasizes more on rights than duties, justice than forgiveness. The Christian
must think not of rights, but of his duties, not of his privileges but of his
responsibilities.
Thirdly, “If anyone orders you to
go a mile, go two miles with him” At the time of Jesus, for lack of roads
travelling was always done on foot. Jesus’ advice is to be ready to carry the
load even for a longer distance than we are compelled.
Fourthly, “Give to anyone who
asks, and if anyone wants to borrow, do not turn away.” For Jesus giving was at
once a privilege and obligation; for in reality all giving is nothing less than
giving to God. So it is better to help a score of fraudulent beggars than to
risk turning away from the one man in real need.
So let us remember the words of
Jesus. "No one who loves and forgives those who hurt him be left out of
God’s kingdom; no one refusing love will be admitted."
Satish