5: TURN THE OTHER CHEEK (Mat 5:38-48)

05892805: TURN THE OTHER CHEEK (Mat 5:38-48)Everyone has heard the phrase, “Turn the other cheek.” Most people can even tell you who said it. But what was Jesus meaning when He said that? Today we are challenged to love our friends - family - ENEMIES.5: TURN THE OTHER CHEEK (Mat 5:38-48)Everyone has heard the phrase, “Turn the other cheek.” Most people can even tell you who said it. But what was Jesus meaning when He said that? Today we are challenged to love our friends - family - ENEMIES.5: TURN THE OTHER CHEEK (Mat 5:38-48)Everyone has heard the phrase, “Turn the other cheek.” Most people can even tell you who said it. But what was Jesus meaning when He said that? Today we are challenged to love our friends - family - ENEMIES.5: TURN THE OTHER CHEEK (Mat 5:38-48)Everyone has heard the phrase, “Turn the other cheek.” Most people can even tell you who said it. But what was Jesus meaning when He said that? Today we are challenged to love our friends - family - ENEMIES.

Some people have the words of Jesus to push pacifism, claiming that Christians should never respond to force with force. As such, some object to military service altogether.

People on the other side of the aisle say Christians should be able to defend themselves from physical or verbal attack.

Others take a more compromised view:

Hacksaw Ridge was an incredible movie based on the true story about Desmond Doss during WWII. Doss was an army medic who refused to fire a weapon, based on his religious convictions. Without ever firing a shot, Doss rescued 75 men - including enemies - during the battle of Okinawa. For his incredible actions, Doss earned the Congressional Medal of Honor.

Why didn’t Doss fire a weapon? Where did Doss get that idea from, you ask? It was based on his misunderstanding of the 4th Commandment - “Do not murder.” which the King James Version mistranslates, “Thou shalt not kill.”

It is interesting that God - in the same writing (Deuteronomy) - tells the same people to go to war and kill their enemies. God didn’t say, “Thou shalt not kill.” Instead, He said we are not to murder - not to take the life of another except for war or in self-defense.

So…should you never defend yourself nor others? Should we condemn war heroes rather than applaud them? Good questions. Now let’s open the Scriptures IN CONTEXT to see what Jesus said and what Jesus meant.

Matthew 5:38–48 (NET) 38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’39 But I say to you, do not resist the evildoer. But whoever strikes you on the right cheek, turn the other to him as well. 40 And if someone wants to sue you and to take your tunic, give him your coat also. 41 And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two.

42 Give to the one who asks you, and do not reject the one who wants to borrow from you.

43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor’ and ‘hate your enemy.’ 44 But I say to you, love your enemy and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may be like your Father in heaven, since he causes the sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Even the tax collectors do the same, don’t they? 47 And if you only greet your brothers, what more do you do? Even the Gentiles do the same, don’t they? 48 So then, be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

Here’s the BIG TRUTH for today’s teaching.

Jesus commands us to love those who don’t love us.

First, we must understand what this love IS and ISN’T. This ISN’T warm, affectionate feelings and a longing to hang out with and hug our enemies. Instead…

Love is action that demonstrates you have another person’s best interest in mind.

Obviously, this means we must be kind to our enemies. But, as we’ve just read, there’s a lot more to it than that. Let’s dive in to this DEEP WATER!!!!

The Law of Retaliation

Matthew 5:38–39a (NET) 38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’39 But I say to you, do not resist the evildoer…

As we have seen in other cases, Jesus quotes Scripture along with countering the implied interpretation by other leaders. “You have heard that it was said…but I say to you.”

In this case Jesus deals with a quotation found in 3 OT passages (Ex. 21:24; Lev. 24:20; Deut. 19:21). This phrase, "an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth" is known as the law of retaliation. This phrase is not only biblical, but historical, being found in other documents (e.g. Code of Hammurabi dated back to about 1754 BC).

But far from being a savage response, this was actually a law that limited the response. If someone damaged your eye or knocked out your tooth, you couldn't saw off their arm or take their life. The wrongdoer had to pay, but the judgment had to fit the crime.

Further, this response was NOT meant to be applied by individuals seeking revenge, but was meant for courts to settle disputes (Deut. 19:16–21).

John MacArthur notes, ”In no instance did the Old Testament allow an individual to take the law into his own hands and apply it personally."

Problem is, Jewish tradition had now turned what was intended to be a restriction for civil courts into personal license for revenge."

But now Jesus does something strange. He takes this law of retaliation that protects basic human rights and illustrates the higher principle of non-retaliation when it comes to our dignity, security, liberty, & property.

And, I’ve got to tell you, what Jesus has to say will STUN most Americans.

Matthew 5:39-42 (NET) 39 But I say to you, do not resist the evildoer. But whoever strikes you on the right cheek, turn the other to him as well. 40 And if someone wants to sue you and to take your tunic, give him your coat also. 41 And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two. 42 Give to the one who asks you, and do not reject the one who wants to borrow from you.

In other words…

Jesus commands us to love those who don’t love us.

Let’s see what that really looks like.

Matthew 5:39a (NET) 39 But I say to you, do not resist the evildoer.

Does this mean the follower of Jesus should NEVER resist an evildoer? After all,

The believer is commanded to resist the devil (James 4:7), so this can't mean we NEVER resist evil.

Second, this can’t mean we never defend the innocent from evil. God was upset with his leaders who didn't protect the orphans and defend the rights of the widows (Is.1:17, 23).

What about protecting your family from someone who wants to harm them? What about going to war to protect the innocent?

Much more could be said and we don’t have the time. We should quickly note that Jesus had several military men approach Him, yet he told NONE of them to quit their jobs. Further, Paul writes that government is given by God to protect the innocent & punish the evildoer (Rom. 13:1-7).

So…this is NOT a blanket statement that would allow the evildoers to take over our world. Instead, it is a command for individual followers of Jesus never to take justice into their own hands & never to return INSULT for INSULT.

Matthew 5:39 (NET) 39 But I say to you, do not resist the evildoer. But whoever strikes you on the right cheek, turn the other to him as well.

For a right handed person to strike/slap a person on the right cheek likely means a backhanded connection - a tremendous INSULT in that culture. It wasn't meant to wound physically as much as it was to wound emotionally, what Craig Keener calls "the severest public affront to a person’s dignity." (See Lam. 3:30)

In other words, to strike the cheek was more about INSULT than ASSAULT.

When Jesus was actually struck on the face, Jesus did NOT turn the other cheek, but instead demanded an reason for being struck. (Jn 18:22–23)

John 18:22–23 (NET) 22 When Jesus had said this, one of the high priest’s officers who stood nearby struck him on the face and said, “Is that the way you answer the high priest?” 23 Jesus replied, “If I have said something wrong, confirm what is wrong. But if I spoke correctly, why strike me?”

So, either Jesus didn't practice what He was preaching OR Jesus was talking about how believers are to respond to INSULT, not ASSAULT. No eye for eye or insult for insult. Instead, you turn the other cheek. Paul agrees when he writes these words,

Romans 12:14, 19-21 (NET) Bless those who persecute you, bless and do not curse… 19 Do not avenge yourselves, dear friends, but give place to God’s wrath, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. 20 Rather, if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in doing this you will be heaping burning coals on his head.21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

This is NOT a command to never protect yourself nor others in either a fight or flight response.

But rather than respond to the insult with insult, the follower of Jesus is to turn the other cheek to him as well. Rather than seek personal revenge, we would allow the governing authorities that God has put in place to bring justice. We recognize that…

Jesus commands us to love those who don’t love us.

Jesus continues…

Matthew 5:40 (NET) 40 And if someone wants to sue you and to take your tunic, give him your coat also.

Ken Hughes "Wrongly applied, this would do away with the possibility of law or legal redress."

Surely it is not Jesus' desire to do away with all the legal protection HE AUTHORED in the Scriptures given to Moses.

Jesus is raising the bar of LOVE above the bar of LAW. Rather than scheming how to retaliate against our enemies, followers of Jesus are to consider how we might resuscitate our enemies; that they might see our love and think…WHY would they do that!

In Jewish society it was legal to sue for the shirt off their back (aka tunic). But it was illegal to take someone's outer coat for a permanent possession since it doubled as a blanket during the chilly evenings. Biblical law permitted no one to take it even as a pledge overnight (Ex 22:26–27; Deut 24:12–13).

This coat was the one possession your enemy could not take a keep, yet Jesus tells His followers to offer it as well.

Imagine that you HAVE WRONGED someone. The court finds this to be true and demands your tunic as payment. You then offer to give MORE - your coat!

If you have wronged another, this would communicate your genuine regret. If you have not wronged them, but been found guilty, it shows incredible generosity.

Matthew 5:41 (NET) 41 And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two.

The Jewish person hearing Jesus would have immediately thought of their greatest enemies - the Romans occupying their land. The Roman military had the right to force civilians to carry their equipment for one mile. Yet Jesus tells his followers to take another lap! WHY? After all, these were pagan Romans!

The follower of Jesus could carry the equipment like most would, with a scowl...or with a smile. "Jesus calls for a revolutionary response in a difficult situation—cheerfulness." Which will WE be known for - our RIGHTS or our RIGHTEOUSNESS - our LIBERTY or our LOVE?

Imagine the Roman soldiers response when he tells the follower of Jesus to drop the stuff. The believer looks up and says, “Sir, if it’s okay with you, I’d like to go further.” Some soldiers might have treated these people as foolish slaves, but I wonder how many soldiers came to see these followers of Jesus as…different…sincere…gracious. And I wonder how many soldiers ultimately asked the question….WHY?

Matthew 5:42 (NET) 42 Give to the one who asks you, and do not reject the one who wants to borrow from you.

The OT precedent can be found in Deuteronomy 15.

Deuteronomy 15:7–11 (NET) 7 If a fellow Israelite from one of your villages in the land that the Lord your God is giving you should be poor, you must not harden your heart or be insensitive to his impoverished condition.8 Instead, you must be sure to open your hand to him and generously lend him whatever he needs.9 Be careful lest you entertain the wicked thought that the seventh year, the year of cancellation of debts, has almost arrived, and your attitude be wrong toward your impoverished fellow Israelite and you do not lend him anything; he will cry out to the Lord against you and you will be regarded as having sinned.10 You must by all means lend to him and not be upset by doing it, for because of this the Lord your God will bless you in all your work and in everything you attempt. 11 There will never cease to be some poor people in the land; therefore, I am commanding you to make sure you open your hand to your fellow Israelites who are needy and poor in your land.

Rather than worrying about whether they can repay what we give them to survive, we should be generous. Jesus is speaking to genuine needs when he says:

Matthew 5:42 (NET) 42 Give to the one who asks you, and do not reject the one who wants to borrow from you.

I do not for one minute think that Jesus wants us to give money to a person who is using their funds for alcohol or other drugs. We are to use wisdom & discernment in ALL that we do.

We often have people calling here wanting us to give them money for electrical bills or something else. We use discernment in who we give to. We will NOT give to a person who is using the system or has no desire to work.

But here’s the wild part. Jesus again raises the bar. Jesus was not just talking about how we respond to FRIENDS and even ENEMIES who, to our knowledge, have legitimate needs. Followers of Jesus should be known for our generosity - giving to help others with no expectation of repayment.

Matthew 5:43–48 (NET) 43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor’ and ‘hate your enemy.’ 44 But I say to you, love your enemy and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may be like your Father in heaven, since he causes the sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Even the tax collectors do the same, don’t they? 47 And if you only greet your brothers, what more do you do? Even the Gentiles do the same, don’t they? 48 So then, be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

As we’ve talked about before, love your neighbor, is at Old Testament teaching (Lev. 19:18) but hate your enemy is nowhere to be found. This is a tradition of men that got attached to the biblical teaching to love your neighbor.

Now Jesus counters:

Matthew 5:43–45 (NET) 43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor’ and ‘hate your enemy.’ 44 But I say to you, love your enemy and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may be like your Father in heaven, since he causes the sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.

Before we get to HOW we can love our enemies, let’s look at WHY we should love our enemies, so that you may be like your Father in heaven, providing for the needs of His friends & enemies. God doesn’t withhold life, sun, rain, & food from His enemies.

So just HOW can we love our enemy?

Obviously, this means we must be kind to our enemies. As already mentioned, we don’t return insult for insult, give more than what we owe, go the extra mile, & provide for physical needs - even for our ENEMIES.

Matthew 5:44 (NET) But I say to you, love your enemy and pray for those who persecute you…

One of the ways we love our enemies is to pray for those who persecute you - to lift them before our gracious God - with their best interest in mind. “God save them. God help them. God use ME to save them & help them.”

Matthew 5:46-48 (NET) 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Even the tax collectors do the same, don’t they? 47 And if you only greet your brothers, what more do you do? Even the Gentiles do the same, don’t they? 48 So then, be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

Some of the meanest people you know love their friends & families. Anybody can do that - even tax collectors and Gentiles - those who cheat their own people or those who are pagans following false Gods - nobody worse than them…yet they know how to love those who love them back.

Jesus commands us to love those who don’t love us.

Love is action that demonstrates you have another person’s best interest in mind. - including our enemies.

I am indebted John MacArthur’s writing noting OT examples that demonstrate the Spirit-led love Jesus commands to show:

Abraham allowed his nephew Lot to choose the best land, instead of keeping it for himself.

Love for enemies is seen when Joseph embraced, kissed, & wept over the brothers who had sold him into slavery.

Caring for an enemies best interest is demonstrated by David when he refused to kill king Saul, who had attempted to kill him several times.

Giving to enemies in need was seen when Elisha fed the enemy Assyrian army.

It is by the Holy Spirit that led Stephen to pray for those who were stoning him to death.

It is the spirit of every believer who, by the Holy Spirit’s power, seeks to be perfect even as our heavenly Father is perfect (v. 48). God is our moral standard. He is perfect and we are not. Yet, HE enables us to be righteous and empowers us to walk in purity.

Of course, in every way, Jesus is our ultimate example of all this teaching.

1 Peter 2:21–23 (CSB) 21 For you were called to this, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. 22 He did not commit sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth; 23 when he was insulted, he did not insult in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten but entrusted himself to the one who judges justly.

Think about WHO wrote this! It’s Peter, the one who denied Jesus and then WEPT over it. It’s Peter; the one who ached for 3 days after his King was killed. It’s Peter; who SAW Jesus rise to from the dead!

And one more thing to consider: The Father sent Jesus sent Jesus to the cross ”to demonstrate His love for us while we were still sinners.” (Rom. 5:8) - that means He loved us…BEFORE we deserved it.

Vision Casting: So what if, instead of insulting our enemies, we starting blessing them, praying for them, and demonstrating that we have our enemies’ best interest in mind.

Who are you PRAYING for? Who is God calling you to LOVE? (before they deserve it)

Jesus commands us to love those who don’t love us.