Ol’ Fuzzy has noticed that people don’t want to read an exegesis. I guess it was too dry, and the original language was all Greek to most people. So today Fuzzy is going to change tack and make summaries of the scriptures instead of exegeses.

Matthew 5:38-42: “38 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. 40 And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloak also. 41 And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain. 42 Give to him that aesthete thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away.”

In this passage, Jesus engages in the typical Hebraic idiom of hyperbole. He exaggerates to emphasize the point. The point is that we are to be kind in the face of unkindness, good in the face of evil, and generous in the face of greed. We are the example of what is right in the world. But if we act just like everyone else, no one will notice a difference. To be a visible example of difference we must be different.

So let’s look at the specific examples of hyperbole that Jesus uses. To turn the other cheek is unthinkable in the modern society. Our knee jerk reaction is to lash out at those who try to harm us. Stand your ground is the rally cry of today’s popular culture. But in the way of Christ, standing your ground with kindness is the proper response. It takes far more courage to abstain from responding to violence with violence, and evil with evil.

I have faced some of the most violent and evil men in Texas who wanted to do me harm. Most folks wonder why I didn’t fight. By not fighting I won the encounter. Fighting never proves who is in the right, just who is in the wrong. Don’t get me wrong, I stood ready to fend off any attack, and at times I was required to do so. By reacting with peaceful intent, I usually defused the situation. And on the few occasions when I was attacked, by not responding with maximum violence I proved it was possible to treat even those who will you ill with love in your heart for them.

Generosity is not just voting for government handout programs to redistribute tax money. Nor is it merely giving to charities. When you are liable for damages, make it up to the aggrieved party with interest. And if you are compelled to serve, do so willingly and do more than is expected of you. A modern example is the draft. Some people of my generation avoided it by entering college and getting deferment or escaping to Canada. But the ones who not only served but volunteered for officers’ training or specialty schools are examples of the type of service Jesus expects of His followers.

An attitude of gratitude is expressed in the actions of the grateful. If we say we are thankful to God for the blessings He has given us, and we are stingy with those same blessings toward others around us, our words are empty air and don’t please God. The old saw, “Actions speak louder than words,” is very applicable here. Be the blessing God has been to you.

Ol’ Fuzzy is not employable and was denied for disability benefits. The only thing I have is the blogs. But I don’t qualify for ads on the blogs until September. If you like the scribbles I post, please help me keep it going. You can leave me a gratuity by dropping a buck or two in Ol' Fuzzy's Tip Jar. This is a PayPal account I opened on Wednesday, April 5, 2017.