And Justice for All
Notes
Transcript
Justice
Justice
The quality of being fair.
The administration of the law
In the broadest sense, Justice is principal that people receive that which they deserve.
Today we hear cries for Social Justice or Economic Justice.
We talk about justice In our Pledge of Allegiance:
"I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."
Lately, we have heard chants of “No Justice, No Peace”
What we don’t talk about much is God’s justice.
We serve a just God
25 For he who does wrong will receive the consequences of the wrong which he has done, and that without partiality.
This morning we are going to look at a passage that seems like the opposite of justice, but in these verses are a picture of how God’s perfect justice and His perfect mercy come face to face.
38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.’
39 “But I say to you, do not resist an evil person; but whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also.
40 “If anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, let him have your coat also.
41 “Whoever forces you to go one mile, go with him two.
42 “Give to him who asks of you, and do not turn away from him who wants to borrow from you.
43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’
44 “But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,
45 so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.
46 “For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same?
47 “If you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same?
48 “Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
An eye for an eye
An eye for an eye
We all understand this concept. The punishment is proportional to the crime.
Exodus, Leviticus, Deuteronomy.
21 “Thus you shall not show pity: life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot.
We don’t send people to the electric chair for stealing a candy bar.
We both desire that justice for others, and at the same time recognize the fairness of it and accept that for ourselves.
A sense fo fairness.
Some even think that it’s too fair, that we are too lenient on crime. “Looters should be shot.”
But I say to you
But I say to you
Slaps you on the cheek. Painful insult. rapizo- rap on the knuckles. a smack.
Can I say that we live in a culture that looks to be offended?
PC. that everyone gets offended by someone or something. Everyone is a victim.
Don’t fool yourself into thinking its just outside the church. or outside the biker community.
“I ain’t going back to that church. I was sick and no one called me.”
14 Is anyone among you sick? Then he must call for the elders of the church and they are to pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord;
I guarantee that someone here or online is all sulled up, mad at someone that they think did them wrong, and the other person doesn’t even know they are mad.
I get offended. The other day I said something about being fat, and Martye nodded her head and said, “I know.”
You could argue just a little.....
And when we are insulted, we want revenge. We want to get them back somehow. An eye for an eye.
NO!
Well that stinks.....I get it don’t complain to me.
Don’t complaint to me…it does not good.
Complain to God. How would that go?
God this is stupid. I know it seems that way.
They should pay for what they did. Someone always has to pay, son.
It’s not fair, God! I know, child.
It hurts father. I know it does, son.
But you don’t understand. More than you will every know.
Why do I have to be the bigger person? Because I love you and I chose you to be mine.
Why does it have to be this way? Because I love them, too.
So we are just to forgive?
How come God’s forgiveness comes with a price, but ours is supposed to be free?
Are we better than God?
God, us, sin and justice.
God’s mercy turns the justice on Himself.
Look at what Jesus said.
Turn the other cheek.
let him have your coat also
go with him two.
Love your enemies.
Why? so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven.
Everybody loves and greets their own.
8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
Judgement must be perfected.