Get Right Not Even

“You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. ” (Matthew 5:38-40, ESV)

The fifth principle of the Law that Jesus presented in the Sermon on the Mount was that which dealt with justice and one’s proper response to mistreatment. His point was to get right not even.

The purpose of the law of “an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth” was not for individual retribution. Rather, it was to ensure fair punishment and the proper maintenance of an orderly society. The principle was that the punishment was to be equal to the crime. This put a cap on the weight of punishment and prevented escalation of hostilities.

This was the prescribed judicial standard to be used by the instituted government. However, it seems that people had used this precept to bring personal retribution against another for wrongs done. This is always problematic as it will inevitably lead to escalation. A prime example in our nation’s history is that of the feud between the Hatfields and the McCoys. A dispute over ownership of a pig escalated existing tensions between the two families, that rekindled hostilities, which over time left a dozen people dead.

Dale Carnegie, in his book “How to Win Friends and Influence People,” indicated that it is impossible to win an argument. If you think about it, he was right. A person may think he has won the barrage of words but in the heart and mind of the other person the war still is raging. He is still thinking derogatory things about the one who thinks he is the winner.

The most severe insult in Jesus’ day was that of a slap on the cheek. This was an extreme action of provocation. Yet even in this extreme instance Jesus tells us that true citizens of the Kingdom of Heaven are to respond differently. We are not to retaliate. Rather, Jesus tells us “to turn to him the other (cheek) also.” In other words, we are to open ourselves up to be doubly insulted.

How does this provocation to retribution typically happen today? In general, these things mostly happen through words of criticism, gossip, ridicule, etc. The person receiving the words then retaliates with his own barrage of words. This is a defensive posture that then becomes offensive. Retaliatory words, by nature, will escalate. In short order you can have two adults acting like two children having a schoolyard argument.

However, retaliation is not limited to a war of words. This can involve other things, such as property, money, legal action, physical conflict, etc. True citizens of the Kingdom must respond differently to situations of provocation and prevent an escalation of hostility.

Turning the other cheek is not easy. It does not mean opening oneself to abuse but it also does not mean retaliation. It takes great strength to turn the other cheek since our flesh naturally seeks retaliation. While we, as citizens of Heaven, have a new nature that wants to do things the way Jesus states, our old flesh desires retribution when confronted. To combat this fleshly desire for retaliation we first must endeavor to “walk by the Spirit” (Galatians 5:16). Only the control of the Spirit will keep the flesh in check.

Secondly, in this battle, it is helpful to remember that the Lord walks with us and knows the injustices that we endure. He is our advocate. He is our defense. He is the one to exact vengeance and not us. In these situations, rather than exacting retribution, we need to work at turning the situation over to the Lord.