The Way of Peace

Background Scripture: Matthew 5:21-48
Lesson Scripture: Matthew 5:38-48

Introduction

The way of peace, known as the doctrine of nonresistance, is a major doctrine of the New Testament. This way runs contrary to our natural inclination and can only be fully understood by individuals who have received the peace of God into their hearts by a new birth experience. This includes receiving forgiveness for sins, a conversion from the ways of the flesh, spiritual life coming into the heart, and receiving the indwelling of the Holy Spirit of God.

The Bible clearly teaches that God greatly desires to see peaceful relationships among the people of earth. After fall of man in the beginning, He sent his Son to this earth so that peace could be restored. It is his will that all of mankind dwell in peace with God and with each other.

“This doctrine [nonresistance], when considered in its various aspects, shows forth the spirit of Jesus Christ in a special way.” 1

Key Verse

If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men (Rom. 12:18).

Lesson Scripture

Studying the Lesson

The teaching of nonresistance is regarded as a New Testament doctrine. It has its beginnings in the Old Testament but was not fully developed or understood. Some early Scriptures that gives us a glimpse into this doctrine are found in the Ten Commandments: “Thou shalt not kill. . . . Thou shalt not steal. Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour” (Exod. 20:13, 15-16). In Leviticus 19:18 we read, “Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.”

Also in the Old Testament, we catch a preview of the way of peace in the attitude and conduct of some of those early men of God. Joseph, who was sold into slavery by his jealous brothers, proved to be a very forgiving man. When his brothers came to buy corn while he was a ruler in Egypt, he extended mercy and pardon in the true spirit of humility.

Jesus said, “Ye have heard that it hath been said, an eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.” He was referring to Leviticus 24:20: “Breach for breach, eye for eye, tooth for tooth: as he hath caused a blemish in a man, so shall it be done to him again.” By this verse and many others, the law of justice, judgment, and consequence for wrong was confirmed. The established law helps man to understand God’s standards of truth and righteousness. God’s holy standards needed to be understood before his mercy could be understood. The mercy of God is “from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children’s children’’ (Ps. 103:17). It would not be possible to comprehend mercy without understanding God’s judgment for sin. We find Christ’s vicarious death to be the ultimate expression of God’s revulsion for sin.

Jesus continued, “But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil,” and, “Love your enemies.” With these words and many other clear teachings of the Lord and the apostles, a new way of thinking and dealing with others was ushered in. It was radical and revolutionary to the people of that day, and it has not been accepted by very many since that time.

“There was nevertheless a difference in the spirit of the prophets of the old covenant and Christians of the New Testament. The prophets prophesied revenge against their persecutors and enemies, whether brethren or strangers, and also prayed that God should let revenge come upon such ungodly men. This is the language and spirit of the law and prophets in reference to their own time. Jer. 20:4-12. The priests and high priests labored with Israel in this spirit of revenging sin in a lawful sense. In this spirit Elias prayed to God that He should consume the captains with their fifties with fire from heaven. 2 Kings 1:10-12. But when James and John . . . heard that the Samaritans would not receive Christ because He had turned to go to Jerusalem, and said: ‘Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elias did?’ Then Christ answered, ‘Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of.’ Luke 9:51-55. This reproof of Christ shows that the children of God in the Gospel dispensation, have a different spirit and nature, than had the children of the old covenant.” 2

It would seem that in the old dispensation the people of God dealt with transgressors in the spirit of the judgment of God. In the new dispensation, God’s people deal in mercy, just as God is merciful to his saints and bestows his grace upon the bride of Christ.

In the last verse of the lesson scripture, Jesus was teaching about perfection. Numerous times in the Bible, beginning with God speaking to Abraham, He instructs his people to be perfect. In Colossians 4:12 Paul wrote, “That ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God.” Being perfect and being complete are similar thoughts. Something or someone that is perfect will surely be complete. We find completeness in Christ Jesus. God is just in all his dealings with mankind. In today’s verses we are taught the way of peace in our relations with others. Just as God is merciful to us, we are instructed to be merciful to others. This is a mature and complete Christian spirit.

Practical Truths for Today

“We teach and acknowledge no other sword . . . than the sharp sword of the Spirit, God’s word.”

“To aid with the sword is forbidden to all true Christians.”

“The Prince of peace is Christ Jesus; His kingdom is the kingdom of peace, which is His church; His messengers are the messengers of peace; His word is the word of peace; His body is the body of peace; his children are the seed of peace; and His inheritance and reward are the inheritance and reward of peace. In short, with this king, and in His kingdom and reign, it is nothing but peace. Everything that is seen, heard, and done, is peace.” 3 These words of Menno Simons, as quoted from Keeping the Faith, are still practical truths for today.

Crime and violence are rampant. Most every day the news heralds some new atrocity. It will become increasingly challenging to keep a peaceful and nonresistant position as the world continues to decline. The doctrine of nonresistance is not an easy doctrine to embrace and practice, as it runs contrary to many aspects of human nature.

A true follower of Jesus and his teachings cannot take part in the election of government officials. It is not consistent to help elect people into positions of authority to do those things that we ourselves cannot conscientiously do. Additionally, initiating a lawsuit is contrary to the spirit of Christ (see 1983 General Conference, Article 9), along with being part of strikes, picketing, or other activities that use coercion to settle grievances or to recover personal losses. We believe it is consistent with the Word of God to suffer the spoiling of our goods and properties.

Insistence on our personal rights leads to resistance. Instead, it should be the attitude of all born-again people to offer assistance to our fellowman. The further teaching of Christ that we are to lay up treasure in heaven rather than amassing worldly wealth also helps us realize our goods are more for the benefit of helping others than strictly for our own state and condition; what we have is not really ours. In Romans 12:20 we read, “Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.” There are many things we can do and many ways we can help suffering humanity in times of peace and in times of war. In Galatians 6:10 we are instructed to “do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.”

Illustration

There are numerous accounts in the Old Testament where the way of peace was chosen. It always had God’s blessing on it, and the outcome was always good. In 1 Samuel we read of a man who was very hardhearted and foolish. However, his wife had a beautiful spirit and was a wise person. The Bible says, “She was a woman of good understanding” (1 Sam. 25:3).

This man, Nabal, was wealthy and owned many sheep. During David’s years of fleeing from Saul and while in the wilderness, he had occasion to give protection to Nabal’s sheep and shepherds. A time came when Nabal was shearing his sheep at Carmel. David sent ten of his young men to Nabal with a request for provisions. This request was met with a brusque reply. So “David said unto his men, Gird ye on every man his sword. And they girded on every man his sword; and David also girded on his sword: and there went up after David about four hundred men; and two hundred abode by the stuff” (1 Sam. 25:13).

All these things were told to Abigail, the wife of Nabal. She, being a wise woman, prepared two hundred loaves, two bottles of wine, five sheep already dressed, five measures of corn, an hundred clusters of raisins, and two hundred cakes of figs and took them to meet these men seeking revenge.

Upon meeting David and his men, she humbled herself before them. She fell before David on her face and bowed herself to the ground. Then she spoke saying, “Forgive the trespass of thine handmaid: for the Lord will certainly make my lord a sure house; because my lord fighteth the battles of the Lord, and evil hath not been found in thee all thy days” (v. 28). She took the trespasses of her husband as her own trespasses. This wise woman took the way of peace, and she and her household were saved. Later, upon the death of Nabal, Abigail became the wife of David.

Questions

1. Is deliberately violating traffic laws a violation of Jesus’s teaching on nonresistance?
2. How do we bless those who curse us? What are some practical ways of doing this?
3. Discuss Matthew 5:48: “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.”
4. What does the doctrine of nonresistance teach the world around us about God?
5. In Proverbs 15:1 we read, “A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.” Share an experience where this has happened.
6. 1 Bible Doctrine and Practice, p. 246
7. 2 John Holdeman, Mirror of Truth, pp. 381-382
8. 3 Ben Giesbrecht, Keeping the Faith, pp. 154-155
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Source: COGICM Daily Bible Readings (Daily Bible Readings, PO Box 124, Glenn, CA 95943).