Many people believe retribution is justified when they are mistreated. What is the appropriate response when people are mistreated? Jesus taught His disciples to love their enemies and pray for those who persecuted them.
In Matthew 5, Jesus challenged his disciples to move beyond the righteousness that they saw in the religious leaders –the teachers of the law and Pharisees. Jesus did this to push his followers to go beyond the behavioral righteousness of the Pharisees. The ethics that Jesus teaches are the way of the kingdom of Heaven. As such, they often run counter to popular thinking and human wisdom. This lesson continues Jesus’ teaching on righteousness in two more areas: retaliation and love for others.
