What happens when someone insults you, mistreats you, or takes advantage of you? Our natural instinct is to strike back, defend our pride, and demand justice. But in Matthew 5:38–42, Jesus reveals a radically different way to live. In this message, we explore the powerful attribute of God known as longsuffering—the patient mercy by which God endures the rebellion and insults of sinners while calling them to repentance. Through the examples Jesus gives of turning the other cheek, giving more than what is demanded, and responding to injustice with generosity, we discover that kingdom people reflect the character of their Father. This sermon invites us to see how God’s patience toward us becomes the model for how we respond to others, and ultimately how Christ Himself embodied perfect longsuffering at the cross.
