Read Luke 6:29b-31
I Hate Not Being Able To Retaliate!
Jesus makes yet another challenging and profound statement that will be hard for people to accept. He says, “If someone takes your coat, do not withhold your shirt from them.”
Here’s some background information regarding a coat. Exodus 22:26-27 and Deuteronomy 24:12-13 states if someone was taking a loan they would have to pledge something as collateral. If the debtor gave their coat, the creditor had to give it back by sunset because the debtor would need their coat to keep warm. God did not want his children without a coat.
So now we see Jesus saying if someone takes your coat, typically meaning by force, then give to them your shirt also. Once again, our initial response when someone takes something of ours by force we want to retaliate or get revenge. However, giving your shirt along with your coat does something:
1. You aren’t retaliating but actively showing love and forgiveness for something evil someone did to you.
2. Giving more than what was expected is a testimony of God’s transforming power in your heart.
3. This act of love and forgiveness God uses to convict the heart of the person who took from you.
Jesus goes on to say that if someone asks of you something and even takes it, don’t demand it back. The Greek word for ask means asking out of true need or desperation. The Greek word for take is different than the one in verse 29. Take means taking out of entitlement. So not demanding it back is a hard thought.
Perhaps Jesus is trying to teach us that this non retaliation with love and forgiveness is a powerful tool to win people’s hearts for the Lord. Perhaps he’s teaching us that worldly possessions aren’t as valuable as we think they are. Jesus ended saying, “Do to others as you would have them do to you!” In all honesty, I would want someone to hold me accountable for any wrongdoing. If I broke a law, then turn me in. I would want others to hold me accountable regardless of the consequences because I want to become a better person. In fact, if you were my friend, I would enjoy you coming alongside me and helping me. Perhaps I need to do that more for others.
