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.
Under the Mosaic Law, when an individual harmed another person, the punishment for the offender was that the injured person could cause the same harm to them. While this was originally observed literally, it was later softened to payment of money. So in practice, the old law directed judges to inflict penalties precisely equivalent to offences – an eye for an eye. Now let’s examine how this played out in their lives. If someone was injured because of the intentional actions of another person, the injured party could demand recompense under the law that the person causing the harm could receive the same as their punishment (before it was allowed to offer monetary payment instead.) So this law forced the people to think twice before they physically harmed another person, especially if they did not have the money available to pay the person harmed. Again, the law looked at the physical act, but Jesus had a different explanation for how the law should be applied in practice.
Jesus said, “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.” Jesus sweeps away entirely the requirement for restitution, and goes much further than even its nullification. When we read what Jesus said it becomes apparent that He not only forbids retaliation, but also the very resistance. This is a hard message for many Christians to hear because, to put this teaching into practice, the world would think that we are weak and allow anyone to walk all over us. But is that truly the case? Are we truly being weak when we live according to the Kingdom principles?
So what did Jesus mean when He said, “resist not evil”? Jesus gives us three concrete illustrations of what He commands; the first of which refers to our being struck on the cheek (physical assault), which is the hardest of the three not to respond to in like fashion. The second refers to the assaults on our property, such as an attempt at legally rob a person their possessions. Finally, the third refers to forced labor, such as impressing a peasant to carry military or official baggage or documents. This was a form of oppression only too well known in Christ’s days under Roman rule. In regard to all three cases, Jesus tells His disciples to submit to the indignity, yield the possession, and go the extra mile. But please understand that such yielding without resistance is not to be all and this is where it gets difficult for Christians.
Jesus said the other cheek is to be offered to the one who smites them; the more costly and ample outer garment is to be yielded up if someone tries to take their clothes; and if they were asked to carry a load one mile, they were to carry it two miles instead. The disciples (and each of us) were to meet evil with a manifestation, not of anger, hatred, or intent to inflict retribution, but of readiness, a willingness, to submit to more. I know this is a hard lesson to hear, but again, as Jesus taught with the other commandments, the focus is not on the outward action, but on the disposition of His disciples and the outcome of their actions. If the other cheek is turned, or the cloak yielded, or the second mile trudged with resentment, resulting in hate or anger boiling in the heart, the commandment is broken. If the inner man rises in hot, righteous indignation against the evil and the evil doer, we are resisting evil more harmfully to ourselves because we are not responding the way that Jesus said we should. I am speaking from some experience on this when I tell you that we have to dig deep into our souls before we understand the meaning of non-resistance.
Remember what was recorded in Leviticus 19:18? It says “You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the sons of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself; I am the Lord.” We will talk more about love next week, but I want you to see the level of forgiveness that is represented in this verse. Being able to forgive is grounded in love and love is the root of non-resistance because it looks at the long-term outcome of the action versus the immediate satisfaction of getting revenge or striking back. One example that comes to mind for me is the non-violent protests back in the sixties led by Rev. Dr. Martin L. King. He believed the best approach was a non-violent one and there were many who disagreed with him and actually fought against him. If you know your history, you understand that had he not taken that approach we might not be where we are today as a nation. He did not give them a reason to continue in hate. He did not give them a reason to justify their hatred. What he showed them was love in the most difficult of circumstances. When Christians take revenge, when we act the exact same ways as those who are operating in hatred, it not only justifies their hatred, it also increases ours. We shift from love to hatred and ultimately, we shift into sin because of our disobedience. I am reminded of what Paul wrote in Colossians 3:17. “And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.” The “whatever you do” means “everything you do” because it represents Jesus and the Father. The world will only see Jesus if they see Him through us!
I want to read to you what Paul says in Romans 12:17-21. What he says captures the essence of what Jesus said about turning the other cheek, giving up your cloak and going the extra mile. Remember, in each of these situations Jesus described, it could be said that we are being harmed physically, financially, or emotionally and we were not to resist the evil. This is what Paul wrote, “Never pay back evil for evil to anyone. Respect what is right in the sight of all men. 18If it be possible, as much as lies in you, live peaceably with all men. 19Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, ‘Vengeance is mine; I will repay, says the Lord.’ 20Therefore if your enemy hungers, feed him; if he thirsts, give him drink: for in so doing you shall heap coals of fire on his head. 21Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.” We must remember that we have been called to a higher calling and sometimes that means the choices that we make may not always be popular.
In these verses Paul said that we should “Never pay back evil for evil to anyone.” This statement ties in with what Jesus taught about turning the other cheek and someone attempting to take something that belongs to us. We are not to respond in kind to those who do evil towards us. Colossians 3:13 says, “Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do you.” Remember, Jesus forgets as well as forgives as stated in Hebrews 8:12, “For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.” Paul said in verse eighteen that “If it be possible, as much as lies in you, live peaceably with all men.” We know it is not always possible for a Christian to be at peace with all men, but we can be a peace-lover; a peace-liver; and often a peace-maker, among men. In doing these we will not avenge ourselves, but give place unto the coming wrath of God if you believe what the Bible says. Remember what James said in James 1:20? He said, “For the anger of man works not the righteousness of God.” Our anger in these situations does not allow the righteousness of God to operate, in fact, our anger hinders what God wants to do!
Finally Paul instructs us on how to treat our enemies which goes hand in hand with what Jesus said. He said, “Therefore if your enemy hungers, feed him; if he thirsts, give him drink: for in so doing you shall heap coals of fire on his head. 21Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.” We are to treat our enemies with the same care that we would give to someone that we love. Do you see this? This cannot be done without the love of Christ existing and operating in our hearts. We must be in love with Christ! Jesus says in John 14:15, “If you love me, keep My commandments.” And He drives the point home later in the chapter in verse 21. “He that has My commandments, and keeps them, he it is that loves Me: and he that loves Me shall be loved of My Father, and I will love him, and will manifest Myself to him.” It is the love of Christ that lives within us that allows us to love our enemies and do things for them when they are in need. Nothing else will do this!
Every day we have many opportunities to live and act according to our rules and regulations – our wills – or God’s will. The times in which we live are extremely different from the times Jesus lived in. Yet His teachings, which are timeless, are as applicable today as they were when He walked the earth. Think about this: if you teach your child to fight back in school, what will your response be when they are expelled for fighting with the current no tolerance rules in schools? What will your response be when they are arrested for fighting and now they could possibly not qualify for some college scholarships? What will your response be when they get so angry that they take one of your kitchen knives to school “just in case” they need it; then pull it out when the bully picks on them; and the bully ends up on the ground with a knife wound? What will you say to the judge after your child is arrested for attempted murder? What will you say to your child when they are sentenced to prison and your child tells you they were only defending themselves as you taught them to do? These situations are happening daily because we, as parents, are teaching our kids to “defend” themselves at all cost versus being a tattletale. But some of you have grown kids so your teachings are already established within them. So let me shift to you as an adult. Do you turn the other cheek? When someone borrows something from you and fail to return it, do you threaten them with legal action until you get it back? When someone asks you to take them to the store because they do not have transportation, do you get irritated because of the cost of gas and the requirement of your time? How are you living out this commandment? How do you feel about turning the other cheek; about getting revenge? Jesus said that part of living in His kingdom is our ability to turn the other cheek. So what are you willing to endure that you may be a light for Christ?
Jesus said “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid.” (Matthew 5:14) What makes us light? Living by His Word! Doing the things the way He would have us do them! Being a light is turning the other cheek. Being a light is not seeking revenge. Being a light is going two miles when you have only been asked to go one. Being a light is loving your enemy and feeding them when they are hungry. Giving them water when they are thirsty; giving them clothes when they are naked. All of these things are being a light in a dark world. And, this is important, when we choose not to do these things and respond the way the world responds, then not only are we not being light, we are actively being and promoting darkness. This will become clearer next week when we look at what Jesus told the people after He told them to turn the other cheek.
Until next time, “The Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you. May the Lord lift up His countenance on you and give you peace.” (Numbers 6:24-26)
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