YAHYA SINWAR – Can grace and hatred co-exist in the same heart?

17 October 2024 – Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, mastermind of the 7 October attack that triggered the Gaza war, is killed in Gaza.

Political leaders from across the globe hailed the killing as a moral victory against evil.

The first official hint that Sinwar had been killed came from Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant – using Scripture to break the news. “’You will pursue your enemies, and they will fall before you by the sword.’ – Leviticus 26.  Our enemies cannot hide”.  Gallant wrote on 𝕏.  “We will pursue and eliminate them.  The arch-murderer Yahya Sinwar, who is responsible for the massacre and atrocities of October 7, was killed today by IDF soldiers. This is a great military and moral achievement for Israel and a victory for the entire free world against the evil axis of extreme Islam led by Iran,” the message read.

Without exception, Western leaders declared their allegiance to Israel in their fight against evil and rejoiced over the death of Sinwar.  UK Defence Secretary John Healey summed it up as follows:

“I, for one, will not mourn the death of a terror leader like Sinwar, someone who was responsible for the terror attack on October the 7th, and I’m conscious like the UK Government is that that triggered not just the darkest, deadliest day for the Jewish people since the Second World War, but it’s triggered since more than a year of conflict and an intolerable level of civilian Palestinian casualties as well.”

This response from world leaders, untouched by the message of Grace, comes as no surprise.  But when Christian leaders echo these words, it reveals a spiritual world void of grace.

One Christian leader responded as follows:  “That evil little criminal will soon be in hell.  No worries about that.  May the people of Iran and Israel and the whole world be free of him!”

If we as Christians lose the ability to respond with a different spirit, as people who are eternally GRACE-dependant, we have nothing to contribute.  Nothing, except more hatred.  The answer is simple.  Grace received and hatred expressed, cannot exist in the same heart.

For those who express a continued hatred against Hamas, Hezbollah and Iran, the question to ask is if hatred can be justified.  Are we, as recipients of grace, ever in a position to rejoice at the death of a soul who never had the opportunity to be touched by the grace of Christ like we did?

Are we a John 1:16 follower or a John 1:17 believer

• John 1:16  For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.
• John 1:17  For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

VERSE 16

Of verse 16 Matthew Henry says the following:

Grace upon grace is grace for the promoting and advancing of grace. Grace to be exercised by ourselves; gracious habits for gracious acts. Grace to be ministered to others; gracious vouchsafement for gracious performances: grace is a talent to be traded with.

As beneficiaries of grace, the unmerited, unearned love and favour of God, can only be of value when it flows through us, not stops in us.  Grace is a conduit, not a cul-de-sac.

Like many topics, the Bible is not silent about hatred. It is the opposite emotion and behaviour that Jesus Christ epitomized when He came to die on the cross, paying the price for the sins of humanity. Hate is not just an emotion. It is a state of being that involves choices, behaviours, and thoughts. It separates people rather than brings them together because the one hating sets themselves away from another.

Therefore, if He that lives in us is the giver and perfector of Grace, then there should be no room left for feelings of hatred and rejoicing at the death of an untouched soul

VERSE 17

John 1:17 stands in contrast to verse 16.  According to the law of Moses hatred can be justified.  Retaliation can be justified

STEP INTO THE STORY

Imagine you step into the story of Matthew 5:38-42.  Jesus begins to speak. A strange silence descends like a dark cloud. This is not what you expected to hear from someone who has already and prematurely been declared the Messiah. It pierces your heart like a two-edged sword.  Out of the blue, this Jesus comes with this teaching: “You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also. And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well. If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles. Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.”

Outrageous! Absurd! What a shocker. Not just a ‘what-an-inspiring-sermon’ shocker but a completely ‘what-the-heck-was-he-thinking’ shocker. This is unbiblical, New Age, lovey-dovey and definitely offensive to someone as deeply rooted in scripture as you are. How dare he even consider compromising your nationalism and everything you hold dear, not least of all your religion, to accommodate these pagan murderers.

This is not what you were taught as a child and not what shaped your religion. This is different from what any religious leader has ever taught before. You remember well the teachings you grew up with.  This was the law you were taught. It was non-negotiable and uncompromisingly so. Moses said these exact words:  an “eye for eye”. He actually said a lot more than this Jesus. He also said to take life for life, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burn for burn, wound for wound, bruise for bruise (Exodus 21:25). He said it, you believed it, and that settled it. That’s what shaped your religion and your bubble. Who is this Jesus to come and contradict this teaching of your prophet, especially in a time of Roman occupation and terrorist attacks?

Even though the teaching seems contradictive to scripture, His words seem contradistinctive to the character of the God you serve. It distinctively confirms the longsuffering God who promised a Messiah who would fulfil the law. Could it be? Could this be the man? Oh, God, I need to keep on listening.

As Christians, we now live by verse 16 of Scripture.  The new “But I tell you” from Jesus.  The law of grace, uncontaminated by the toxic practice of judgment and hatred.

Because we are freed by grace, we are free to extend grace.  Let me repeat – or else we have nothing to offer.