Quiet Time Notes

Notes from my daily Quiet Times with God

Kingdom First - Above and Beyond (part 1)

January 15th, 2010
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Jesus called us to go above and beyond the law - Matthew 5:38-42

1. Addressed our desire to retaliate for injury done to us - rid our selves of it

Exodus 21:24 - eye for eye; tooth for tooth - written to control excess violence and desire for revenge
Excess was what the law was striving to stop
For the punishment to fit the crime and nothing over
To beyond this and not return anything - requires the power and conviction to restrain oneself

2. Addressed insisting upon our legal rights

Jewish law was you could could never sue someone's outer garment but OK to sue to the inner one
Jesus called us to a higher standard - should not be concerned with legal right but with justice, righteousness, and truth - John 18:19-24