MATTHEW 5:48
But you are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect.
Revenge
MATTHEW 5:38–42
“You have heard the law that says the punishment must match the injury: ‘An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I say, do not resist an evil person! If someone slaps you on the right cheek, offer the other cheek also. If you are sued in court and your shirt is taken from you, give your coat, too. If a soldier demands that you carry his gear for a mile, carry it two miles. Give to those who ask, and don’t turn away from those who want to borrow.”
REFLECTION
Verses 38–39 reference Deuteronomy 19:20–21, a law that God put in place to maintain justice and purge evil from his people. It was given to prevent inappropriate punishment (the punishment should fit the crime); this law was used by civil authorities and was not meant for individual use. Here, Jesus replaces a law with an attitude: be willing to suffer loss yourself rather than cause another to suffer—we should not personally seek revenge. Do not return an insult—in this case, pictured as an insulting slap—this would only incite violence and not peace. Now, Jesus is not saying you can’t defend yourself when necessary (Luke 12:11, 22:36–38). To turn the other cheek means we must stand in one spot and not run away from the conflict.3
When it comes to conflict, we all have the tendency to either fight or flee from it, but Jesus says that neither of these approaches reflects how he handles conflict—he does not return the insult, nor does he run from it. He faces it head on and with mercy in mind. Similarly, when it comes to helping those in need (v 42), he says not to fight or flee the situation, but to face the situation head on and with mercy and wisdom (Matthew 7:6).
We see here that we are not to return insults, but we are also not to run from conflict. What is your typical approach to conflict, and how has it affected you and others?