How should believers respond when someone wrongs us? In Matthew 5:38-42, Yeshua offers a surprising answer to that question. He references the “eye for an eye” principle found in the Torah, and then proceeds to explain how he expects his followers to respond when they are slapped, sued, and mistreated.
Last Sabbath, I had the honor of speaking at my local congregation, Founded In Truth Fellowship, where I discussed this passage. This teaching from Yeshua, which includes ideas like turning the other cheek and walking a second mile, is well known and quite controversial. This passage is often cited as evidence that Yeshua came to undermine the Law of Moses. Also, many understand this passage to imply that Yeshua wants his followers basically to be pushovers. But is that really the point of Yeshua’s teaching here?
In this sermon, we explore Matthew 5:38-42 in light of its cultural and historical context, which will shed some light on what Yeshua means when he says not to resist the one who is evil.
I hope it blesses you!
How Jesus Fulfilled the Law: A Pronomian Pocket Guide to Matthew 5:17-20
What did Jesus teach about the Law of Moses? Did he say that he came to bring it to an end, or did he want his followers to obey it? Matthew 5:17-20 is a key text that addresses this issue. In this passage, Jesus tells us exactly what he came to do with the Torah: he came to “fulfill” it. But what does that mean?
In this short book, David Wilber explores this question. Through a detailed study of Matthew 5:17-20, you will learn how Jesus fulfilled the Law and what this means for Christians today.
“Messianic Jews and Bible-believing Christians will greatly benefit from this extremely well documented book.”
—Igal German, Ph.D.
“David’s treatment of Matthew 5:17-20 provides readers with an easy-to-understand and cogent defense of pronomianism.”
—Gregory Scott McKenzie, Ph.D.
“Wilber’s exposition of Matthew 5:17-20 is a notable step in restoring the correct understanding of Yeshua’s relationship with the Torah and in building up pronomian scholarship.”
—Benjamin Szymskyj, Ph.D.
