Read Matthew 5:38-42.
But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil…(Matthew 5:39).
Jesus is a revolutionary teacher. He turns the world upside down for those who accept his teaching. When once you have accepted the Jesus Christ message, all values change radically.
The old law was that whatever man did to man, he should himself be made to suffer by way of punishment. If he put out another man’s eye, his own was put out by the officers of justice; if he killed, he was killed.
The desire to “get even,” to get one’s own back, to level things up somehow or other, when we have been hurt or have suffered injustice, or witnessed things of which we did not approve, will remain with us until the time when we definitely take ourselves in hand and destroy it. “Revenge,” said Bacon, “is a kind of wild justice.”
Now Jesus reverses this and says that when someone injures you, you are to forgive him. No matter what the provocation may be, and no matter how many times it is repeated, you are to loose him and let him go, for thus only can you be freed yourself.
As strange as this sounds it makes perfect sense. Anger, judgement, resentment and revenge all take place in our minds, spirits and feelings. So, doesn’t it follow that the person allowing such thoughts and feelings is the one who would suffer from them, while the object of those thoughts does not suffer at all from them. Even more pronounced is the effect on us when we act to exact revenge, verbalize our judgements or punish those who have harmed us. In fact, we are the ones harmed most and are chained to our anger, judgement and yes, to the person who harmed us. If we are to avoid these negative consequences we must forgive the person and release our anger and judgement. This is the only way to free ourselves from this type of bondage.
For example, when we are driving and someone is discourteous, we can choose to be angry and fume for an hour while our attitudes and spirits suffer. Meanwhile the offending driver is going merrily on their way. Even worse, we could attempt to repay them by returning their behavior in kind or yelling and screaming about it. We are all too familiar with the results of road rage. Or, we can quietly forgive, try to understand that they may have and emergency or be running behind for an important appointment while simply moving aside. Then, we will be lifted up and our attitude and spirits can be positive and affirming. We will be freed from the offense and the negative spirit that the offense creates.
When we can return good for ill and forgiveness for judgment, then we have unlocked the Garden gate. Then we can leave that place East of Eden where our anger has taken us and enter the Eden God created for us.
In the Garden,
Z gardener
Good Morning Garden 
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