Matthew 5:25
Letting Go of Your “Rights”
Christ appears to go farther, and to exhort to reconciliation not only those who have injured their siblings, but those also who are unjustly treated. But I interpret the words as having been spoken with another view: to take away occasion for hatred and resentment, and to point out the way to cherish good-will.
For where do all injuries come from, but from this—that each person is too tenacious of her of his own rights, that is, each is too ready to consult his or her own convenience to the disadvantage of others? Almost all are so blinded by a wicked love of themselves that, even in the worst causes, they flatter themselves that they are in the right. To meet all hatred, hostility, fighting, and injustice, Christ rebukes that stubbornness which is the source of these evils and enjoins his own people to cultivate moderation and justice, and to stop short of pressing an argument as far as they could, so that by such an act of justice they may get for themselves peace and friendship.
It were to be wished, indeed, that no controversy of any kind should ever arise among Christians—and undoubtedly people would never break out into abuse or quarrelling if they possessed a due share of meekness. But, as it is scarcely possible that differences won’t sometimes happen, Christ points out the remedy by which they may be immediately settled: to put a restraint on our desires, and rather to act to our own disadvantage, than follow up our rights with unflinching rigor.
Readings taken from Day by Day With John Calvin
Letting Go of Your “Rights”
Christ appears to go farther, and to exhort to reconciliation not only those who have injured their siblings, but those also who are unjustly treated. But I interpret the words as having been spoken with another view: to take away occasion for hatred and resentment, and to point out the way to cherish good-will.
For where do all injuries come from, but from this—that each person is too tenacious of her of his own rights, that is, each is too ready to consult his or her own convenience to the disadvantage of others? Almost all are so blinded by a wicked love of themselves that, even in the worst causes, they flatter themselves that they are in the right. To meet all hatred, hostility, fighting, and injustice, Christ rebukes that stubbornness which is the source of these evils and enjoins his own people to cultivate moderation and justice, and to stop short of pressing an argument as far as they could, so that by such an act of justice they may get for themselves peace and friendship.
It were to be wished, indeed, that no controversy of any kind should ever arise among Christians—and undoubtedly people would never break out into abuse or quarrelling if they possessed a due share of meekness. But, as it is scarcely possible that differences won’t sometimes happen, Christ points out the remedy by which they may be immediately settled: to put a restraint on our desires, and rather to act to our own disadvantage, than follow up our rights with unflinching rigor.
Readings taken from Day by Day With John Calvin
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