Turn The Other Cheek?

We have all heard this phrase, but what does it mean? Does it mean we are to let someone beat us up, become like sheep headed for slaughter? The only time this phrase is mentioned is when Jesus is teaching on the Sermon on the Mount.

In Matthew 5:38 we read, “You have heard it said, an eye for an eye and tooth for a tooth. But I say to you do not resist an evil person; but whoever slaps you on the right cheek, turn the other also. If anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt let him have your coat also. Whoever forces you to go one mile go with him two. Give to him who asks of you, and do not turn away from who wants to borrow from you” (Matthew 5:38-42).

When Jesus mentions the phrase eye for an eye and tooth for tooth, He is making reference to the Law of Moses (Exodus 21:23-25). This law was set forth not so that someone could injure someone personally for injuring them; it was put in motion as a system of checks and balances.

In other words, the law was saying the punishment must fit the crime. For example, it would be horribly unjust to give a drunk driver who kills an entire family a traffic ticket and send them on their way without arresting and incarcerating them. The punishment obviously does not fit the crime. For vehicular manslaughter one should at the very least receive jail time, and at the very worst the death penalty; life for life. That gives the law balance.

Conversely, you don’t give someone the death penalty for jaywalking. You cite them accordingly, they pay the appropriate fees so the law's intended purpose is upheld for jaywalking; nothing more.

So again, when we hear the term eye for an eye, it doesn’t mean if someone injures my eye, I have to hurt their eye. The phrase is an expression to say that whatever crime someone commits, and congruent punishment will follow so that the violator is not punished more or less than the law required.

Now back to turning the other cheek. Why did Jesus parallel the Mosaic law and this phrase together?

Jesus was not violating the law; rather He was providing more illumination to it. He not only wanted all to obey the letter of the law, but the Spirit of the law as well.

  

The purpose of Jesus making this statement was to reveal a higher understanding of the law; a law of compassion, self sacrifice, and love. These behaviors would be the only way all (including our enemies) would know that we belong to the Heavenly Father (Matthew 5:43-45).

It is natural for all us to want to retaliate when someone does something wrong to us; whether it is slander, theft, lying and the like. Jesus is calling for us to do what is unnatural, that is to love our enemies, and do good to them that mistreat us. A very very hard call! Turning the other cheek is not advocating pacifism, but rather a personal surrender of one’s rights for the kingdom of God’s sake. It could be by us not returning evil for evil, but good for evil, that an open door is made for us to share the love of God and the truth of the gospel that is in Jesus Christ (Romans 12:19-21).

Turning the other cheek also does not mean that we are not to defend ourselves if we are in personal peril or danger from an evil person. Vengeful retaliation and protecting oneself are two different things.

For instance if someone steals money out of your purse or wallet and you turn around and flatten the tires on their car, you have returned evil for evil; you have taken matters in your own hands and gained personal vengeance. God is displeased by your behavior. Jesus is commanding us to take the high ground commanding us to love and pray along with doing good for that person. That is the essence of turning the other cheek after they have struck you on the first one.

The time to turn the other cheek is not when someone is trying to invade your home and kill your family. You are all in imminent danger at the point, and you must protect your family or else all of you will die.  We have a human and constitutional right to bear arms. Use it!

Even Jesus commanded the disciples to protect themselves knowing soon he was going to be crucified (Luke 22:36).

Times of war would also be a time when turning the other cheek would not apply. Military aggression and Pacifism cannot co-exist.

  

Jesus was and is the perfect example of one turning the other cheek. When Jesus had been arrested and interrogated, not only did He take personal insults, he endured unjust physical abuse by his enemies (John 18:22).

I Peter 2:22-23 said regarding Jesus, “Who committed no sin, nor was guile found in mouth; and He was being reviled, He did not revile in return; while suffering, He uttered no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously.”

Lastly turning the other cheek does not mean we do not have the right to question our accuser and abusers. Jesus questioned the man who initially hit him. He said, “If I have spoken wrongly, testify of the wrong; but if right, why do you strike me" (John 18:23)?

Jesus knew He had a right to a fair trial of the charges against him, but also knew He would not receive one.

When Paul and Silas were beaten publicly and imprisoned in Acts 16 without a trial because they were Roman Citizens, they demanded that the magistrates release them from prison publicly since they were humiliated publicly (vs.37).

Concluding turning the other cheek does call for a higher law to obey; not to seek personal retaliation for evil committed against us which the Old Testament law advocated. But, to go beyond the statues of the law; if someone asks something of you, meet that need and go beyond what they ask.  Why? So that you prove to the watching world you are children of the Most High God of heaven and earth.