“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 someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also” (Matt 5:38-39).
I don’t know if I can adequately communicate just how much I wish this passage wasn’t in the Bible.
The Law of Moses contained instructions for how to run Israel’s legal system. One of those rules was to take “eye for eye and tooth for tooth” when someone was injured (as opposed to head for eye and arm for tooth). People had apparently taken that as an individual instruction, using this command as justification for personal revenge. Jesus’ people are not to take personal revenge. More than that, they are to cooperate when people try to abuse them.
“If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.”
This has often been taken as an instruction for pacifism, but today most commentators seem to agree that Jesus was talking about a blow that is a personal insult. We aren’t being told to let people assault us (the scriptures do allow self-defense, eg, Ex 22:2-3), but we are expected to absorb an insult, even to offer them the other cheek — as if to say, “Do it again if you like.”
“And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well” (v40).
This is from the legal system, an abusive lawsuit. The Jews weren’t supposed to keep a poor man’s cloak, but here someone is trying to take the very shirt off his back, so Jesus says to not only let him have it but give him that cloak, too.
“If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles” (v41).
This is basically government oppression. Someone is put to forced labor. Jesus says to volunteer for more. "Thank you, sir, may I have another!"
Turn the other cheek, give them your cloak, and go the extra mile. Don’t take revenge. Let them get away with it. Even go above and beyond to help them out.
The apostles continue with this line of thinking. “Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: ‘It is mine to avenge; I will repay,’ says the Lord” (Rom 12:19). “Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing” (1Pet 3:9).
“Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you” (v42).
Then Jesus adds this. “Just give them the money.” Ouch. St. Augustine pointed out that this says to give to those who ask, not necessarily give them what they ask for, but still, this is asking a lot. Jesus was telling poor people to be generous even if the person asking was not in real need. (Though there seems to be an exception for those you know are simply lazy, cf, 2Thes 3:10).
Basically, let people abuse you. Let them take advantage of you. Let them wrong you. All of this offends my modern American sensibilities. I have rights! And Jesus just does. not. care.
Why? Because it’s not about me. All of this comes under being salt and light:
“You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matt 5:13-16).
I'm tempted to think cracked pepper may be a better metaphor than salt for this command; you get the aroma and flavor only after you've abused the peppercorn. Let people abuse you because it’s not about you. Shine your light so they can see your Father in heaven. As NT Wright put it, “The Sermon on the Mount isn’t just about how to behave. It’s about discovering the living God in the loving, and dying, Jesus, and learning to reflect that love ourselves into the world that needs it so badly.”
Jesus is our example. He could be servant to all because he was secure in who he was and whose he was. He didn’t have anything to prove; his Father would take care of vindicating him. He was just focused on saving the lost.
So what about you? Are you secure enough to turn the other cheek?
Image via Pixabay
Part of Christianity 102
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