Introduction: Sons of God or Sons of Pride?
The world says: get revenge, clap back, never forget. But Jesus flips the script in Matthew 5.
In this passage, He reveals what it really looks like to be a child of God—not just someone who claims the name, but someone who wears the mark of their Father.
This isn’t weak religion. This is heavenly identity. And Jesus ends it with a command no man can keep in the flesh: “Be ye therefore perfect.”
I. The Flesh Seeks Payback — The Son Shows Restraint
Matthew 5:38–42
Matthew 5:38-39
Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: 39 But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.
This command came from Exodus 21:24—a principle for legal justice, not personal revenge. The Pharisees abused it to justify payback.
Exodus 21:23-25
And if any mischief follow, then thou shalt give life for life, 24 Eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, 25 Burning for burning, wound for wound, stripe for stripe.
Jesus is going through this sermon on the Mount, in Matthew 5, to correct false teaching that has been taught by the religious people. They were twisting God’s words to justify their sin.
Jesus corrects them. He says: don’t let evil provoke evil out of you. And this is very easy to do in our flesh. I have fallen for these things. And we all still do at times. But we need to be careful and not do these things.
- If someone slaps you on the cheek? Don’t slap back. Stand with dignity.
- If they sue you for your coat? Give them more than they deserve.
- If they beg or borrow? Don’t harden your heart.
“Give to him that asketh thee…” (v. 42)
The world clutches. The son of God gives. We are to be different. Now, I want to clarify something here so the point is not missed.
“Turn the other cheek” does not mean tolerate abuse.
Let me be crystal clear, especially for the women and children in our community:
If someone is hitting you, beating you, bruising you, hurting you, or threatening you, that is not something God expects you to endure in silence.
Jesus wasn’t teaching people to stay in dangerous situations. He wasn’t saying, “Let people beat you.” He was saying, Don’t let the sin of others drag you into sin too. Don’t retaliate with vengeance—but protect yourself and flee from harm.
Proverbs 22:3
A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself: but the simple pass on, and are punished.
If you’re in danger—get help. Flee. Come to the church. We will stand with you. There is nothing godly about letting a violent man beat his wife or children. That is wickedness, and we will not protect abusers.
For example, slashing your wife and kids with electrical cords is abuse. If any man, especially pastors, think this is okay, someone should slash that pastor with an electrical cord over and over again and see if he thinks it’s okay. He won’t. If you continue to support a man like that, you’ve got major issues. Are you doing the same things? Are you abusing your wife and kids?
It’s not okay. Turning the other cheek is not talking about abuse. Jesus is dealing with insults, injustices, and personal offenses—not criminal violence or family abuse. Remember, the flesh seeks payback but the son of God shows restraint.
II. The Flesh Hates Enemies — The Son Loves Anyway
Matthew 5:43–47
Matthew 5:43-44
Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. 44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
God never said to “hate thine enemy”—that’s a manmade doctrine. But Jesus makes it clear: sons of God SHOULD love their enemies.
How?
“Bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;” (v. 44)
But what about the enemies of God?
Let’s clarify this—because there’s a big difference between:
- Personal enemies (people who wrong you)
- God’s enemies (those who violently oppose righteousness and hate the Lord)
Love Your Enemies Personally – that means to not do wrong to them:
This is the command of Jesus.
Romans 5:10
For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.
We were enemies—and He still loved us. So we must do the same. We bless those who curse us. We pray for those who personally use us and hurt us.
Why?
Matthew 5:45-47
That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. 46 For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same? 47 And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so?
God gives good things to the just and to the unjust. We are to be like our Father in heaven. We want to have the marks of a true son of God.
But Don’t Side With the Enemies of God:
Some enemies aren’t just nasty, like dogs—they’re reprobate, blasphemous, and hellbent on destroying righteousness.
Psalm 139:21-22
Do not I hate them, O LORD, that hate thee? and am not I grieved with those that rise up against thee? 22 I hate them with perfect hatred: I count them mine enemies.
David wasn’t being bitter—he was being righteous.
This is not personal vengeance. It’s holy grief and spiritual loyalty to God.
There’s a difference between:
- A neighbor who mocks your faith (pray for them)
- And a militant reprobate who blasphemes Christ and leads others into destruction (separate from them)
2 Chronicles 19:2
And Jehu the son of Hanani the seer went out to meet him, and said to king Jehoshaphat, Shouldest thou help the ungodly, and love them that hate the LORD? therefore is wrath upon thee from before the LORD.
We don’t show support to those God has rejected. We don’t celebrate wolves in sheep’s clothing. We don’t “love” what God has clearly condemned. We don’t support false preachers.
For example, with the evil Jehovah Witness come to your home, do not welcome them into your home, get them some water, feed them a meal, and say God bless you when they leave.
2 John 10-11
If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: 11 For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.
We are not to love and support the false religion of Jehovah Witness. That is a false religion sending people to hell. If you support them, you are a partaker of their evil deeds.
III. The World Sets Limits — The Son Strives for Perfection
Matthew 5:48
Matthew 5:48
Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.
Jesus isn’t saying you’ll never sin. He’s saying that you should walk in the Spirit and not sin. Don’t let the flesh overtake you. If you walk in the new man, the spiritual man, you can be perfect. Walk in the old man, your flesh, and you will sin.
Perfect here means complete, full-grown, whole—mature like your Father. Jesus wants us to be perfect. It’s not okay to sin. He wants us to be like our Father in heaven.
- The Father loves the unlovable.
- The Father forgives the unworthy.
- The Father gives with no expectation of return.
- The Father still feeds and clothes the wicked.
Can you love like that? You can—if you’re a true son.
If you have believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, you CAN love like that because you have the Spirit within you. You have that new man within you.
Conclusion: This Is the Mark of a True Son
Anyone can love their friends. Anyone can give to people they like. But only a child of God can…
- Forgive the one who attacks them over and over again.
- Pray for the one who slanders them constantly.
- Do good to the one who betrays them.
- Always do good to others.
And only a true son can stand against God’s enemies without compromise, without confusion, without cowardice.
You’ll know a true son not by how loud he sings, but how deep he forgives.
Not by how many verses he quotes, but how he treats his enemies—and how he stands for righteousness.
Luke 6:35
But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.
Call to Action: How to Be Like Jesus
- Who hurt you—but needs your prayer today?
- Who are you holding bitterness toward in your life?
- Are you guilty of sympathizing with the enemies of God?
- Do you bear the mark of a true son—or just the name?
Jesus didn’t just teach this. He lived it. And just so you know, I want you to see this last Scripture today:
Luke 23:33-34
And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left. 34 Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.
Hanging on the cross with the nails already through his hands and his feet:
Jesus says, “Father, forgive them.”
Spoken while the nails were still in His hands.
That’s the mark of the Son of God.
And we need to remember that mark. The mark of a true son. Simply take what the people are throwing at you out there. Take it. Pray for them. Do good to them.
Let’s pray.
Leave a Reply