Another Sermon Outline By Brian A. Yeager
© 2008 This material may not be used for sale or other means to have financial gain.  Use this as a
tool for your own studies if such is helpful!   Preachers are welcome to this work, but please do not
use my work so that you can be lazy and not do your own studies.  – Brian A. Yeager





I. Introduction:
    A. Again, we shall see what was instructed versus what is now
    instructed (Mark 9:7; cf. Romans 8:2-4).
    B. The basic premise of our lesson will be that we are not supposed to
    be a vindictive people (Romans 12:19).
    1. God will take care of our enemies (II Thessalonians 1:6-10 and
    Nahum 1:2-3).
    2. In some cases, God has put in place things to deal with our
    enemies (which we’ll have: Philippians 3:16-19 and James 4:4; cf.
    Ephesians 5:1)
    a. Spiritually (Romans 16:17-18).
    b. Carnally (I Peter 2:13-16).
    3. TO BE CLEAR, God does not expect us to roll over and play
    dead with our spiritual enemies (Acts 13:6-12).

II. Body: A CONTEXT AGAINST A MINDSET OF VENGEANCE in regards to
our lives in society (Matthew 5:38-42).
    Verse 38: An eye for an eye was the Old Law for CIVIL MATTERS
    (Exodus 21:22-25, Leviticus 24:19-20, and Deuteronomy 19:16-21).   
    •        Remember, for the immediate context, we’ll be talking of
    carnal law, carnal strife, etc.  NOT SPIRITUAL WARFARE (II
    Corinthians 10:3-4).
    •        Don’t take vengeance yourself, which even the Old Law
    taught (Leviticus 19:17-18, Psalms 94:1, and Proverbs 24:29).
    •        When assaults occur, flee rather than fight (Acts 17:1-14).
    Verse 39: Resist not evil means do not oppose it.  Therefore, we know
    this does not apply to spiritual confrontation (James 4:7, Philippians 1:
    17, Ephesians 6:10-18, and Jude 3).  WE ARE NOT TO FIGHT, or provide
    evil for evil (Romans 12:17-18).
    •        This does not teach against rightful self-defense (Luke 22:36-
    38).
    •        Turn the other cheek also is showing us we are to avoid
    carnal strife (Romans 13:13 and I Corinthians 3:3).
    Verse 40: Here the Lord’s instruction to suffer loss rather than go
    through civil litigation is clear (I Corinthians 6:7).  Avoid civil suits
    (Matthew 5:25-26).
    Verse 41: Staying with the course of civil action.  The word compel
    means: “to employ a courier, dispatch a mounted messenger, press
    into public service, compel to go” (Thayer).
    •        If ordered to take a message, be willing to submit to
    unreasonable demands of whatever kind, rather than raise a fight
    (cf. Luke 23:26).
    •        Do not be a rebel (Proverbs 17:11 and Titus 3:1-8), so long as
    disobedience to God is not required (Acts 5:29).
    Verse 42: This passage can only be interpreted in light of the context of
    civil matters and civil law, for we are limited in our benevolence
    otherwise (Matthew 25:40; cf. II Thessalonians 3:10).
    •        As for those who borrow from us, again in light of civil
    matters, how far are we to go to get it back (Luke 6:30 and Acts 20:
    35)?
    •        However, this does not give anyone a license to become
    users of their brethren (Psalms 37:21).

III. Conclusion: Live peaceably upon this earth (Hebrews 12:14).



© 2008 This material may not be used for sale or other means to have financial gain.  Use this as a tool
for your own studies if such is helpful!   Preachers are welcome to this work, but please do not use my
work so that you can be lazy and not do your own studies.  – Brian A. Yeager
The Sermon On The Mount (Part 9)
Matthew 5:38-42