ADVICE FOR LIFE (series)

RELATIONSHIP ADVICEMATTHEW 5

THE FIRST RECORDED BROKEN RELATIONSHIP ON EARTH:

GOD AND MAN BECAME SEPARATED BECAUSE OF MAN’S SIN

“…therefore the LORD sent him (man) out of the Garden of Eden to cultivate the ground…So He drove the man out.” Gen. 3:23,24

THE SECOND RECORDED BROKEN RELATIONSHIP ON EARTH:

CAIN HATED HIS BROTHER, ABEL

“And the LORD said to Cain, “Where is Abel your brother?” And Cain said, “I do not know. Am I my brother’s keeper?” And the LORD said, “What have you done? The voice of your brother’s blood is crying to me from the ground, which has opened up its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your own hand. When you cultivate the ground, it will no longer respond to you.” Gen. 4:9-12

Lamech said –

“Listen to my voice, for I have killed a man for wounding me and a boy for striking me…”Gen. 4:23

God said to Noah,

“The end of all flesh has come before me; for the earth is filled with violence because of them and I am about to destroy them with the earth.”Gen. 6:13

Lesson 1 about relationships

God expects us to be our brother’s keeper!

“Am I my brother’s keeper?”

Lesson 2 about relationships

God holds us responsible and accountable for the devaluing of life and treating others as though they had no value. “Your brother’s blood cries to me from the ground.”

Lesson 3 about relationships

God with-holds his blessing from us when we are responsible for a broken relationship.

“When you cultivate the ground it will no longer respond to you…” Gen. 4:12

Lesson 4 about relationships

Broken relationships can dull our sensitivity to the value of life and can cause one to boast about his shame.

“Listen to my voice, for I have killed a man for wounding me.” Gen. 4:23

Lesson 5 about relationships

In a world filled with brokenness and violence, it is possible for us to be people of grace.

“But Noah found grace in the sight of the Lord” Gen. 6:8

Advice from Jesus

#1 Resolving a broken relationship is more important than going through the act of worship – pretending that everything is OK.

“Therefore, if you bring your gift to the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go your way. First, be reconciled to your brother, and then come and bring your gift.” Matt. 5:23,24

ADVICE FROM JESUS

2. The Old Testament Law was not meant so much to be Permission for revenge, but rather Protection from unbridled revenge.

“You have heard it said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth…” Mtt. 5:38

“…you shall give life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burn for burn, wound for wound, stripe for stripe..” Ex. 21:23-25

ADVICE FROM JESUS

3. Do not respond to the sin of others against you with revenge, but rather respond to them with reward.

“ 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…takes your coat away, give him your shirt also. If anyone compels you to go a mile with him, go with him two…” Mtt. 5:39-41

ADVICE FROM JESUS

4. Demonstrate love to your enemies (not just your neighbor) because that is how God has responded to each one of us.

“You have heard that it was said, “Love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But I say to you, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven…” Mtt. 5:43-45

TRUTH TO LIVE BY

The human heart has a natural respond to evil that is done to us and that response is always revenge.(the spirit of Cain)

TRUTH TO LIVE BY

We all face difficult people who hurt us in a multitude of ways – therefore we need to be prepared ahead of time for the kind of response we are to give.

TRUTH TO LIVE BY

Responding to evil with good (the way Jesus taught) will always do three things: 1. It will leave vengeance and just to God who knows how to do it perfectly 2. It makes the guilty one more guilty 3. It allows good to triumph over evil

TRUTH TO LIVE BY

The only way to live with and respond to difficult people and to respond to evil with good, is to possess God’s power within us because such a response is supernatural – not natural.