F O O T H O L D
READING
33 TRUTH AND LOVE
PRAY Speak to me clearly
through your word today, Lord.
READ Matthew 5:3348.
THINK Of all the teaching in
this section, which is the hardest to put
into practice? Why?
FOCUS KEEPING OATHS (3337).
The Old Testament demanded that people
should carry out whatever
they swore to do. But Jesus said that
his followers must have one
standard of truth for all occasions.
They must do all they have
said they will do. 'Special promises'
and 'sacred' oaths to back
up what they say, are out.
RETALIATING (3842). Most of
us have some people who dislike us,
people who treat us unfairly.
Most of us would like to pay them
back as they deserve. Or
perhaps rather more than they deserve.
The Old Testament contains a
wise law. It says that when A is
punished for doing wrong to
B then the punishment should be FAIR.
It should balance the wrong
that has been done (38; Exodus 21:24),
but should not exact a
greater vengeance.
Jesus says that there is an
even better way. He says that his
followers must not try to
get their own back on people who wrong
them. Verse 41 refers to the
power Roman soldiers had to force
Jews to do menial tasks.
LOVING OTHERS (4348). Jesus
tells us to get rid of our enemies
... by changing them into
friends!
Most of us have two ways of
behaving. We are nice to some people:
and not very nice to others.
People not the Old Testament used
to say you should love your
friends and hate your enemies (43).
Jesus tells his followers to
imitate their heavenly Father. He has
no favourites. He is good to
everybody.
PRAY Ask God for help to
love even those you find it difficult to get
on with. Mention them by
name.
