The Evidence Bible - Mattheus - Evangelisatie-materiaal.nl

Matthew 5 170
Q UESTIONS & OBJECTIONS
O5:38
“When the Bible says ‘an eye for an eye,’ it encourages
us to take the law in our own hands
by avenging wrongdoing.”
This verse is so often misquoted by the world. Many believe it is giving
a license to take matters into our own hands and render evil for evil.
In reality, it is referring to civil law concerning restitution. If someone
steals your ox, he is to restore the ox. If someone steals and wrecks
your car, he is to buy you another one...a car for a car, an eye for an
eye, a tooth for a tooth.
The spirit of what Jesus is saying here is radically different from the “sue the shirt off the
back of your neighbor” society in which we live.
what reward have you? do not even the
publicans the same?
47 And if you salute your brethren only,
what do you more than others? do not
even the publicans so?
48 Be therefore perfect, even as your Father
which is in heaven is perfect.
T
CHAPTER 6
AKE heed that you do not your alms
before men, to be seen of them: otherwise
you have no reward of your Father
which is in heaven.
2 Therefore when you do your alms, do
not sound a trumpet before you, as the
5:44 There are several reasons why as Christians we should pray for those who persecute us: 1)
we are commanded to; 2) prayer is an antidote against bitterness; and 3) it can lead to the salvation
of the persecutor.
5:44 Capital punishment. Some maintain that this verse shows Jesus did not believe in capital
punishment. However, just because we have love for an enemy doesn’t give us the right to allow
him to escape punishment for murder. The Bible says, “Let every soul be subject to the higher powers.
For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. Whosoever therefore
resists the power, resists the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves
damnation...But if you do that which is evil, be afraid; for he bears not the sword in vain: for he is
the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that does evil” (Romans 13:1–4, emphasis
added).
The Bible says that if I deliberately take a life, I should lose my own: “Whoso kills any person,
the murderer shall be put to death by the mouth of witnesses: but one witness shall not testify
against any person to cause him to die. Moreover you shall take no satisfaction for the life of a
murderer, which is guilty of death: but he shall be surely put to death” (Numbers 35:30,31).
Genesis 9:6 says, “Whoso sheds man’s blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of
God made he man.” This shows the value that God places on human life. The seriousness of a
crime is revealed in the punishment dealt to the criminal. It is interesting to note that when Oklahoma
City bomber Timothy McVeigh requested the death penalty, 250 relatives of the victims he
killed asked to watch his execution. Their desire to actually see justice done shows the value they
place on the loved one they lost. Despite claims to the contrary, capital punishment does deter
crime. The person executed will not do it again.
Still, there are respected Christian leaders whose conscience will not allow them to advocate
capital punishment. This is understandable in light of the fact that innocent people fall through the
cracks of a godless justice system. However, despite civil law’s imperfections, we are told to be subject
to the governing authorities.
It was God who instigated the death penalty in the beginning. The Judge of the Universe pronounced
the death sentence upon all humanity when He said, “The soul that sins, it shall die”
(Ezekiel 18:20).