1. The Ethics of Discipleship Transformed Living – Part 3
The Sermon on the Mount
Transformed Living – Part 3
Matthew 5:38-48

2. Doing the Impossible
Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect… (Matthew 5:48)

3. Doing the Impossible
Be complete…or completely all embracing… Stassen & Gushee, Kingdom Ethics, p )

4. Evil
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person (Matthew 5:38)

5. Evil
If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also… (Matthew 5:39)
And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well… (Matthew 5:40)
If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles… (Matthew 5:41)

6. “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbour and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,… (Matthew 5:43-44)
Love
…that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous… (Matthew 5:45)

7. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get
If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? Mt 5:47 And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that?... (Matthew 5:46-47)
Love

8. The cross is the differential of the Christian religion, the power which enables the Christian to transcend the world and to win the victory. The passio in the love of the Crucified is the extreme expression of the extraordinary quality of the Christian life… (Dietrich Bonhoeffer, The Cost of Discipleship, 101)
Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect… (Matthew 5:48)

9. Transforming Initiatives
Traditional Teaching
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’
Vicious Circle
But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person
Transforming Initiatives
If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.

10. Transforming Initiatives
Traditional Teaching
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’… (Matthew 5:43)
Vicious Circle
If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? Mt 5:47 And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that?... (Matthew 5:46-47)
Transforming Initiatives
But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, Mt 5:45 that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous… (Matthew 5:44-45)

11. Passively resist evil
Love our enemies
And…be like God who is all encompassing