Turning the Other Cheek

Photo: Young Adults Bible Study Small Group.

At a recent gathering, an individual asked if "turning one's cheek" is Jesus' command for forgiveness. This is a great question, as it comes from a desire to better apply the truths of the Bible in our daily living. So we dig into the Scriptures to see what what the context is and exactly what Jesus is teaching in Matthew 5:38–39:

[38] “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ [39] 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.

Get Your Facts Straight

There are two levels to the context here. First, in this broader section, Jesus is speaking against the harmful practice in the religious community of that time in which they created their own traditions based on false interpretations of God’s Word. So whenever Jesus says, “You have heard that it was said”, he will follow with a correction of their established tradition and give the correct interpretation of God’s Word. 

In this case, the people were misinterpreting and misapplying Exodus 21:23-25:

[23] But if there is harm, then you shall pay life for life, [24] eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, [25] burn for burn, wound for wound, stripe for stripe.

In this section of Exodus, God was establishing guidelines and laws by which this new community would live as God’s people. Things to specifically make note of in Exodus 21:23-25 include:

1) This passage was a guide for the authorities, not the general public.

2) When a crime is committed, the leaders must ensure that justice is carried out, and the one committing the crime must be punished. (Protect the victim)

3) The punishment must be just and proportionate to the crime. (Fairness to the perpetrator)

Overall, these laws were meant to be a deterrent. It said to potential criminals, "you better watch yourself, because there are serious consequences to your crimes." It also held leaders accountable by saying, "God's justice must not be dealt carelessly and cruelly according to your whim, and your authority is not to be abused." So God gave clear guidelines on how justice was to be applied. As to implementation, punishment must be consistent; as to scope, punishment must be fair.

But somewhere along the way, this passage had been twisted and mis-applied by the Jewish community to justify vigilante-ism and personal revenge. 

Therefore, Jesus not only corrected this misinterpretation, but He also taught them that God desires His people to show love and mercy even to their enemies. “Love your enemies” was not only a New Testament teaching. God taught in the Old Testament that His people were to be good to their neighbors, even their enemies. Here are a couple of examples:

Leviticus 19:18

[18] You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the sons of your own people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the LORD. 

Exodus 23:4–5

[4] “If you meet your enemy’s ox or his donkey going astray, you shall bring it back to him. [5] If you see the donkey of one who hates you lying down under its burden, you shall refrain from leaving him with it; you shall rescue it with him. 

Instruments of the Redeemer

Second, the main theme of this section in Matthew 5 is not forgiveness. (Read this post to learn what Jesus says about forgiveness in Matthew 18.) When Jesus Jesus commands the disciples to turn the other cheek (v.38-39) or to give more to the one who steals from you (v.40), he is teaching then that they should live differently from the world because of their new life in Christ. By showing God's grace even to those who wrong them, they can be instruments through which Jesus opens people's hearts to Him. Paul teaches this powerfully in Romans 12:17–21:

[17] Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. [18] If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. [19] Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” [20] To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” [21] Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

The image of someone with coals or ashes on their head depicts them repenting or mourning. The way of the world says that when someone means to do evil to us, we have the right to do harm back. But in Christ, by turning the other cheek by choice (not as a victim), we are saying:

“Even though you mean to do me harm, I do not fear you because the one who can destroy both body and soul loves me and is on my side. Therefore, I will love you because of Christ’s love in me.”

“Even though you mean to steal from me, I will not hate you, because my treasure is in heaven and I will even give you more because I love you with the love of Christ.”  

As we live out His commands in this way, may God win the hearts of our friends, strangers, and even our enemies to believe in Christ as Lord and Savior.