Introduction. Newton's Third Law of Motion says every action has an equal and opposite reaction. This is a fixed axiom in physics, and has led to a better understanding of God’s creation. Since sin entered the world, it has also become an axiom for the emotional responses to the actions of others.
This emotional axiom leads to an escalation of conflict. Friendships that take years to develop can be destroyed in a few moments when an action meets with an equal and opposite reaction. When an outburst of anger in one person meets with an equal and opposite reaction in another it often escalates first to angry words and the often to evil deeds. Jesus summed up this worldly axiom when He said: “You have heard that it was said, “An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.” In judicial proceedings where all facts are taken into consideration with guilt and innocence established by evidence, this is the fair and equitable way to justly mete out punishment to the guilty. In other words, the punishment must fit the crime. But when it becomes an axiom of how to treat people one another in daily life (i.e., “Do unto others as they have done to you.”), it is harmful and leads to great sorrow and often ruin the brightest links of life.
When we allow the rude and sinful actions of others to bring an equal and opposite sinful action within ourselves, we feel justified. Fairness has been restored and all is well again. Although it is so common in this age that it seems normal and even just, it is wrong and must be changed. Those who take a tooth when another takes their tooth or an eye when their eye is taken actually live by the law of the jungle in this age. If they hit you, you hit them. If they insult you, you insult them. If they cheat you, you cheat them. If they become your enemy and hate you, you become their enemy and hate them. Many are so convinced of this truth that a desire for vengeance and revenge is the equal and opposite reaction. Until this equal and opposite reaction is complete, there is a debt owed and sooner or later it must be repaid.
While Jesus admits that this is an accepted axiom of this age, it can have no part in the behavior of His disciples. Instead of living in a world where actions are controlled by the treatment of others, it is God’s will that we live above the actions of others and respond not with reactions to their action, but with the motives of love, mercy and kindness given by Jesus. If we want to be children of God, we must change our axiom or philosophy by which we live.
This emotional axiom leads to an escalation of conflict. Friendships that take years to develop can be destroyed in a few moments when an action meets with an equal and opposite reaction. When an outburst of anger in one person meets with an equal and opposite reaction in another it often escalates first to angry words and the often to evil deeds. Jesus summed up this worldly axiom when He said: “You have heard that it was said, “An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.” In judicial proceedings where all facts are taken into consideration with guilt and innocence established by evidence, this is the fair and equitable way to justly mete out punishment to the guilty. In other words, the punishment must fit the crime. But when it becomes an axiom of how to treat people one another in daily life (i.e., “Do unto others as they have done to you.”), it is harmful and leads to great sorrow and often ruin the brightest links of life.
When we allow the rude and sinful actions of others to bring an equal and opposite sinful action within ourselves, we feel justified. Fairness has been restored and all is well again. Although it is so common in this age that it seems normal and even just, it is wrong and must be changed. Those who take a tooth when another takes their tooth or an eye when their eye is taken actually live by the law of the jungle in this age. If they hit you, you hit them. If they insult you, you insult them. If they cheat you, you cheat them. If they become your enemy and hate you, you become their enemy and hate them. Many are so convinced of this truth that a desire for vengeance and revenge is the equal and opposite reaction. Until this equal and opposite reaction is complete, there is a debt owed and sooner or later it must be repaid.
While Jesus admits that this is an accepted axiom of this age, it can have no part in the behavior of His disciples. Instead of living in a world where actions are controlled by the treatment of others, it is God’s will that we live above the actions of others and respond not with reactions to their action, but with the motives of love, mercy and kindness given by Jesus. If we want to be children of God, we must change our axiom or philosophy by which we live.
- "You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' 44 But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, 45 that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; (Mt. 5:43-45)