Living In The Kingdom 11 Series

Living in the Kingdom 11

Scripture: Matthew 5:38-42; Exodus 21:23-24; Romans 12:17

This morning we are going to talk about what it means to turn the other cheek – in other words, we will be talking about not getting revenge or doing unto others as they “do” unto you. This is part eleven of my series “Living in the Kingdom” and this morning we are going to examine a topic that goes against the grain for a lot of parents – Christians and non-Christians alike, especially if they have sons. So let me open with a scenario that I think will set the stage for this message. As you listen to this scenario, I want you to think your feelings as it relates to “doing unto others as they do unto you” which is different that “doing unto others as you “would” have them do unto you.” In the former it is giving back exactly what you receive. In the latter, it’s giving “despite” what you are receiving.

We have been taught that we must defend ourselves at all cost – doing unto others as they do unto us. If someone hits you, you have the right to and “should” hit them back in self-defense. Likewise, if someone borrows something from you, you have the right to expect them to return what they borrowed. We have been taught that we have rights! We have the right to defend ourselves and the right to have possessions without them being taken from us. So here is the scenario involving a son. He goes to school and someone picks a fight with him for whatever reason. Maybe he looked at the other person the wrong way or the other person was just in a bad mood. For whatever reason, the other person starts a fight and punches him, leaving him with a black eye. The son comes home, his father sees that he has a black eye and asks him how he got it. So, he tells his father what happened. When the father asks him if he defended himself, the son replied “No sir. I didn’t fight back because the Bible says I was supposed to turn the other cheek.” Now what if this was your son? What would have been your reaction? Would you be proud of your son at that moment because he turned the other cheek like the Bible says? How would you feel around other fathers who heard that your son didn’t defend himself? How would you respond if they asked you if your son was scared to fight? Now think about flipside: your son comes home with a black eye and when you ask him if he fought back, he tells you that he laid into the other kid and gave him a severe beat down. Would you be proud of your son at that moment even though he did not turn the other cheek like the Bible says?

I gave you this scenario because oftentimes, especially for proud fathers, they push their sons to fight because it is a reflection on them, as if their reputations are in danger if their sons were thought to be weak. But if you notice in the scenario, the reason the son gave for not fighting back was because he believed what the Bible says about turning the other cheek. He believed, as a child of God, that he was supposed to obey what Jesus said. He believed and accepted Jesus words as being applicable to him in that specific situation. I am going to ask the question again: would you be proud of your son for doing what Jesus said or would you be embarrassed because your son did what Jesus said? This morning we are going to examine what it means to turn the other cheek and to go the extra mile even when you are not asked to do so. You will find that both are linked together with a thread relating to doing the opposite of what the world teaches us about our rights, as Christians, to respond.

Please turn in your Bibles to Matthew 5:38-42. Jesus says, “You have heard that it has been said, ‘An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.’ 39But I say unto you, that you resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite you on your right cheek, turn to him the other also. 40 And if any man will sue you at the law, and take away your coat, let him have your cloak also. 41And whosoever shall compel you to go a mile, go with him two. 42Give to him that asks you, and from him that would borrow of you turn not away.” (Matthew 5:38-42) In verse 38, Jesus reminds them again of what they had been taught through the Mosaic Law. Each time Jesus uses the phrase, “You have heard that it has been said…,” He is about to contrast the “laws of the kingdom of heaven” with the Mosaic Law and one of those commands called for a form of revenge. Exodus 21:23-24 says, “And if any mischief follows, then you shall give life for life, 24eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot.” With this commandment in practice (life for life) not only reduced the need for jails, but actually cut crime to a minimum. Can you imagine what our crime rates would be today if we lived under this law? The religious leaders strictly enforced this law, but Jesus again examined the heart of the issue – the heart of the law.