And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two.
-Matthew 5:41, NKJV
In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness.
-Matthew 23:28, NIV
When dealing with a “Christian” cheater, another level of complexity is placed on Christians trying to figure out how to respond.
Some pastors will teach a blanket statement from Jesus about always loving your enemies (see Matthew 5:44). They will push this Scripture as the most important Scripture for the situation (along with the verses on forgiveness, of course).
I see a discernment and wisdom problem here.
Jesus does not treat people in the same way. The passage about enemies is clearly about Jews and Gentiles as the Romans were the one compelling the Jews to walk a mile. Jesus was not talking primarily about those inside the community, in my opinion.
When it comes to religious people, Jesus reserved his harshest words. Some might not call them very loving.
I think they are loving in the sense that he speaks truth to shock the harden religious people out of their complacency and warn others of the threat they present. The command to love our enemies has to be walked out within this fuller context of Jesus’ ministry.
Cheaters usually fall into the category of Pharisees rather than outsider enemies.
They are completely content with their sin. In fact, they might try to “justify” it with religious language.
This sort of person needs the tough love that Jesus exhibits for the Pharisees and teachers of the law found in Matthew 23. They don’t need a soft touch as they are already self-assured of their wickedness. These cheaters need a wake up call before they fall of the spiritual cliff to damnation.
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*A version of this post ran previously.
