The Courage of Peacemaking 6 Sermon on the Mount Mt 5:38-42

There is no peace because there are no peacemakers. There are no makers of peace because the making of peace is at least as costly as the making of war. Daniel Berrigan

Mt 5: You know that you have been taught, “An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.” 39 But I tell you not to try to get even with a person who has done something to you. When someone slaps your right cheek, turn and let that person slap your other cheek. 40 If someone sues you for your shirt, give up your coat as well. 41 If a soldier forces you to carry his pack one mile, carry it two miles. 42 When people ask you for something, give it to them. When they want to borrow money, lend it to them. [Contemporary English Version]

Traditional Teaching – “you have heard it said…” Vicious cycle – Jesus names the cycles that spiral downwards – “But I say to you …” Transforming actions or initiative – do these things and you will be changed

vs. 38 – “You know that you have been taught …”

vs. 39 – “But I tell you …” “…not to try to get even with a person who has done something to you”

“Never has the use of violence brought peace in its wake. War begets war, violence begets violence. With all my strength, I ask each party in this conflict to listen to the voice of their own conscience, not to close themselves in solely on their own interests, but rather to look at each other as brothers and decisively and courageously to follow the path of encounter and negotiation, and so overcome blind conflict”

Vs. 39b – “When someone slaps your right cheek, turn and let that person slap your other cheek.” The intention was not to injure – but to humiliate.

vs. 40 If someone sues you for your shirt, give up your coat as well.

vs. 41 “If a soldier forces you to carry his pack one mile, carry it two miles.”

Vs. 42 “When people ask you for something, give it to them. When they want to borrow money, lend it to them.”