I. What We Are To Do When We Are Mistreated
A. Do Good To Those Who Persecute Us V. 14a
1. We are to bless them
a. Bless- eulogeo (“good” eu + “speaking” logeo) – to praise, celebrate with praises; to invoke blessings; to ask God’s blessing on a thing
b. “God bless you, I’m praying for you”
c. “Lord, soften their heart, save them, show them your love, etc.”
2. Obey Matthew 5:43-48 43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 [o]But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, 45 that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47 And if you greet your [p]brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the [q]tax collectors do so? 48 Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.
B. Don’t Respond With Evil
1. Do not curse V. 14b
a. More than not swearing or using foul language
b. Speaks of not calling down curses on them, not wishing them evil
c. Not like David-Psalm 58:6 “Break their teeth in their mouth, O God!”
d. Don’t take the low road, as tempting as it might be
2. Do not repay evil for evil V. 17a
a. Story- Truck driver in Nebraska
There was a story about a truck driver who dropped in at an all-night restaurant in Broken Bow, Nebraska. The waitress had just served him when three swaggering, leather-jacketed motorcyclists—of the Hell’s Angels type—entered and rushed up to him, apparently spoiling for a fight. One grabbed the hamburger off his plate; another took a handful of his French fries; and the third picked up his coffee and began to drink it. The trucker did not respond as one might expect. Instead, he calmly rose, picked up his check, walked to the front of the room, put the check and his money on the cash register, and went out the door. The waitress followed him to put the money in the till and stood watching out the door as the big truck drove away into the night. When she returned, one of the cyclists said to her, “Well, he’s not much of a man, is he?” She replied, “I can’t answer as to that, but he’s not much of a truck driver. He just ran over three motorcycles out in the parking lot.”
b. KJV-Recompense- to discharge what is due
c. That assumes we know what the appropriate re-payment should be
d. It assumes that we know how long that repayment should last
e. It assumes that we fully understand the situation
f. The person may make an honest mistake, but we determine it was pre-meditated
i. We recompense too heavily
g. It may be one of many serious pre-meditated offenses
i. We treat it too lightly, wanting to be too gracious
h. Only God can rightly re-pay someone for the evil they have done
C. Live In Peace (If It Is Possible) V. 18
1. Peace- to make peace, to cultivate or keep peace, harmony, to be at peace, live in peace
2. We can only go as far as the other person will allow. They may not want peace
3. Sometimes reaching out stirs up trouble. Perhaps avoid contact for a season
4. That is not failure, but wisdom. Continue to pray for an open door
5. No one has control over any relationship. Needs to be mutual desire to live peaceably
D. Do Not Avenge, Give Place For God’s Wrath & Vengeance V.19a
1. Avenge yourself- to vindicate one’s right, do one justice, to punish a person
2. We need to understand that God hates injustice more than we do.
3. He will deal with the offender in His time, and in His method.
4. We give place for God’s wrath- orge- boiling anger
5. Dog catcher story.
II. What Should People See When We Are Mistreated?
A. Proactive Godly Behavior
1. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. V. 17b
a. NLT- Do things in such a way that everyone can see you are honorable.
b. ASV- Take thought for things honorable in the sight of all men.
c. NIV- Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody.
d. KJV- Provide things honest in the sight of all men.
i. Provide- to think of beforehand. (This requires honest, humble prayer)
ii. Things honest- beautiful, excellent, surpassing, useful, praiseworthy
e. EX.- Lord, how can I bless that person appropriately?
2. 2 Corinthians 8:21 “…providing honorable things, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men”. (People should be able to see us treat offenders well)
3. Matthew 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.
4. A “good reputation” is very important to the ministry of the church
a. It was one of the qualifications of an elder (1Tim. 3:7)
b. One of the qualifications to be a deacon (Acts 6:3)
c. How do you treat people who have wronged you?
5. Honorable treatment to offenders can only happen if our hearts are surrendered
6. We need to surrender the injustice done against us to God
7. We need a change of mind & heart regarding those who have committed injustices
8. We need to have the love of Christ & the mind of Christ
9. We need to have God speak to our hearts about how to bless those people
10. It starts with surrender. It starts with Romans 12:1, 2
B. Responsive Godly Behavior V. 20a,b
1. If they are in need, respond in a practical, godly manner
C. What This Accomplishes V. 20c
1. Your neighbor’s fire goes out, & you give them coals to re-start their fire
2. The coals would be carried in a clay jar upon their head
3. Neighbors would see that act of kindness and be touched by it
4. The offender will be deeply touched & convicted, & God has a way in to their heart
D. The Big Picture V. 21
1. Overcome- nikao- to conquer 2. Don’t allow evil to gain the victory against you
3. Overcome evil with good
4. Responding w/evil means I have come down to the level of my offender
5. To be overcome by evil means I am conquered
6. It is a powerful thing to respond to evil with good
7. That is what Jesus did by dying on the cross for us