FRIDAY, AUGUST 17
Scripture: Matthew 5:38,48, Matthew 10:5-8

When we decide to balance Matthew 5:38 and 48 it has a single unique application to evangelism. Jesus prepared the twelve and the seventy to be sent to very specific audiences. Matthew 10:5-8 says, “These twelve Jesus sent out and commanded them, saying: ‘Do not go into the way of the Gentiles, and do not enter a city of the Samaritans. But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. And as you go, preach, saying, “The kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.’” They were told not to go to the Gentiles or to a city of the Samaritans. They were only sent to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. They were told precisely what to preach and what to do. “Do not resist an evil person” has definite limitations and those limitations are that you are only supposed to do it when the Spirit leads you in an evangelistic mode. When you are presenting the Gospel to a person, you are not rebuking them about their lifestyle. You are not resisting their evil. You are offering them Savior Jesus and overlooking everything else. Even though they have many hostile mindsets, we cannot deliver them until they accept Jesus. This is the place where “Do not resist evil” fits and it may well be the only place. When it is taken out of context, when it is applied to every situation, it turns the church into a vessel of passivity. That is not acceptable to the Lord.