Matthew 5:38-42 (ESV)
"You have heard that it was said, 'An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.' [39] But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. [40] And if anyone would sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. [41] And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. [42] Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you.
And if anyone would sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you.
Jesus is telling us that we are to go above and beyond. If for some reason a man is suing you for your tunic give him more than what he is suing for, don’t even let the thing go to court, especially if you are in fact guilty. Go the extra mile. Those who beg from you, give to them, and those who would borrow from you, let them borrow from you. There is of course this verse too, 2 Thes. 3:10 (ESV)
“ For even when we were with you, we would give you this command: If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat.”
Which verse you might remember when a random dude walks in your office asking for a hotel room for the night. We have all been at one time or another in places where we needed a little handout, a little charity. And we know people to whom this happens. But we ought not let people abuse this verse to justify sitting on a corner with a sign asking for money, when they have no intention of working. It’s best to give to the shelters that actually do help people, rather than giving them your money without thought. Though I’m not always so good at that.
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