Sermon Tone Analysis
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Introduction:
Martin Luther King got the Sermon On The Mount.
Listen to this quote from Dr. King.
“Love is the only force capable of transforming an enemy into a friend.”
If you tune me out the rest of the evening, hear those words.
For it is love that Dr. King espoused and it is love that we should be about.
My good friend Kevin sent me a picture a while back of a document that followers of Dr. King, who desire to work in his movement, had to sign and commit to.
Here is a picture of that document and I will read it because I know it is tiny on the screen.
Commitment Card
Martin Luther King, Jr, 1963:
I hereby pledge myself—my person and body—to the nonviolent movement.
Therefore I will keep the following ten commandments:
Meditate daily on the teachings and life of Jesus.
Remember always that the non—violent movement seeks justice and reconciliation — not victory.
Walk and talk in the manner of love, for God is love.
Pray daily to be used by God in order that all men might be free.
Sacrifice personal wishes in order that all men might be free.
Observe with both friend and foe the ordinary rules of courtesy.
Seek to perform regular service for others and for the world.
Refrain from the violence of fist, tongue, or heart.
Strive to be in good spiritual and bodily health.
Follow the directions of the movement and of the captain on a demonstration.
I sign this pledge, having seriously considered what I do and with the determination and will to persevere.
Name __________________
Address_________________
Phone___________________
Nearest Relative___________
Address__________________
Besides demonstrations, I could also help the movement by: (Circle the proper items)
Run errands, Drive my car, Fix food for volunteers, Clerical work, Make phone calls, Answer phones, Mimeograph, Type, Print Signs, Distribute leaflets.
ALABAMA CHRISTIAN MOVEMENT FOR HUMAN RIGHTS
Birmingham Affiliate of S.C.L.C.
505 1/2 North 17th Street
F.L. Shuttlesworth, President
I wanted to begin with Martin Luther King because I think he got what we are going to talk about this evening.
We are going to hit on things like revenge, injustice, hate, and how we as Christians are to react to them.
In a world, where we are told to fight for our rights, where looting is a part of protesting, where people hurt one another through abuse, humiliation, words, and discrimination.
Today, we are in Matthew 5, we will begin in verse 38.
There are three times this command, an eye for an eye, appears in the Old Testament.
Exodus 21:23-35, Leviticus 24:19-20 and Deuteronomy 19:21.
We will read from Leviticus
This idea is known as the law of equals.
In fact, this idea was cross-cultural, being seen in all kinds of law documents throughout history.
The Babylonian Code of Hammurabi has a similar statement but with class distinctions,
“If an awīlu [that is, a high-born person] should blind the eye of another awīlu, they shall blind his eye. . . .
If he should blind the eye of a commoner or break the bone of a commoner, he shall deliver 60 shekels of silver.”
The Romans had a similar law known as the Lex Talionis or “The Law of Equals.”
“If a man broke another’s limb, the victim could inflict the same injury upon the wrongdoer (talio), but only if no settlement was agreed upon.”
But the Torah has no such distinction for class.
In God’s eyes, it was simple, “The punishment was to fit the crime.”
In doing this, it was believed to prevent retaliation.
The problem is we don’t have any evidence that this was ever carried out, if it was it was rare, but usually resulted in some form of monetary compensation.
Josephus, the first-century historian suggested that this was only carried out when a victim was unwilling to accept the monetary value.
Philo, a Jewish philosopher from Egypt, considered extenuating circumstances:
whether the victim was a family member or a stranger, a ruler or a citizen, the timing of the offense, and so on
Jesus uses here a law that they would be very familiar with and as usual turns it on its head to mean something else.
Jesus pronounces,
We would expect Jesus to follow this law of equals with some sort of guidelines for our revenger, but he calls us to not resist an evil person.
He does not tell his followers it is okay to seek revenge or to get even.
How often in life have you been treated unfairly?
How do you respond when you are embarrassed, humiliated, put to shame, or demeaned?
Do you get even?
Do you injure?
Surely, Jesus does not want you to be wronged without getting something out of it.
But, this teaching seems to turn our thoughts on their head.
Jesus gives us three examples, each something is audience would know to be an act of humiliation:
Most people are right-handed, so a right-handed cheek slap means you got backhanded.
It is a slap of dismissal and humiliation.
Lamentations makes this clear when the writer says:
Paul, with Jesus' words in mind, says:
So, in her book, Amy-Jill Levine, looks at what options were available to someone who had been backhanded.
You could escalate the violence.
You can cower, keeping the unjust system in place.
Or as Walter Wink suggests, rather than escalate the violence, and rather than lose personal dignity, face the perpetrator by making the violence and so the wrongness of the situation clear.
So, by offering their left cheek an individual was displaying courage and resolve.
You have been taken to court and someone wants to take your coat.
What do you do?
The law allowed for it.
Someone could take you to court and literally take the clothes off your back.
How do you deal with it?
What are your options?
You could freeze that night.
You could not show up to court and face worse consequences.
But, to not only give them your shirt, but also your coat can make a statement that this action is unjust.
It says, I choose to not be humiliated, but I will keep my dignity.
You might freeze, but you take your stance.
You will not allow someone to shame you.
Finally, something all Jews in Jesus’ audience were familiar with, for the Romans could force you to carry their load.
A good example of this is Simon of Cyrene being forced to carry Jesus' cross.
A Jew of Jesus' day could be conscripted at any time.
From your home, while working in the field, while enjoying a meal with friends, or walking down the street a Roman soldier could demand you to carry his belongings a mile.
In fact, it was so common that markers had been set up, like mile markers today, so that you could do only the requirement of the law to keep yourself out of trouble.
After all, what are your options:
You could refuse and risk a beating or imprisonment.
You can do it and be humiliated as he refers to you as his dog.
Or you can use the Jesus way and offer to carry his belongings for two miles.
So, Jesus tells his disciples, To not seek vengeance, but seek the way of peace to rise above humiliation.
Show love and respect to the one who shows you neither.
In everything seek peace, while working towards change.
The idea of avoiding humiliation goes both ways.
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