Library
<< Matthew 5:39 Matthew 5:41 >>
Articles, Bible studies, and sermons that contain Matthew 5:40:
Matthew 5:38-41
Excerpted from: Taking an InsultIn verse 38, it says, "You have heard it said, an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth." Now here, Christ is quoting the law from back in Leviticus.
This is also covered in Exodus 21 and Deuteronomy 19, so it was Jesus Christ Himself that established this law. And again, we know this common term, "eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth." But the question is, did Christ literally mean that we were to go and knock out somebody's eye if they knocked out your eye? Or if someone accidentally knocked out your tooth, were you supposed to go and knock out their tooth as well?
No, that is not what this law meant. The purpose of this law was meant to bring fairness and stop the revenge and preventing more violence. There would be put a monetary value for that victim who had suffered that loss, much like our courts today will award a settlement to an injured party involved. And that is the way Christ intended. We must refuse to fight back.
Christ goes on to say, "But I tell you not to resist an evil person." Now the word resist means "to stand up against, rebel, or refusing to fight back." So, Christ is saying, "Don't fight back. Refuse to retaliate."
And by the way, one more thing. When it comes to someone slapping you on one cheek and then turning the other, Christ is not talking about being a punching bag. He is not talking about being willing to just take a physical attack. I mean, if someone takes a ball bat to one side of your head, He is not meaning to turn your head and let him take the ball bat to the other side of your head. That is not what that meant. You see, in the culture at that time to be slapped with the backhand was meant as a deep insult, not a physical attack. It was a way to dishonor a person. To slap the right cheek, it would have to be done with the backhand. If you are going to hit someone's right cheek, you have to be using the back of your right hand, not the palm of your hand. And as Ryan spoke about societies today, the left hand was often used for unclean tasks. And so the left hand was never used for this type of insult. So if someone is touching another person, especially in the face, a slap, it would always be done with the right hand.
Now, in the verse, it says, turn the other cheek. To turn the other cheek, to be hit on the other side would require that person to hit you with the open palm. Now, that would hurt a whole lot more and be much more painful than the backhanded slap, meaning to stand there and take it the first time and to stand there and then be willing to take it a second time, would be more painful for us personally, mentally. It would be an embarrassment. Christ said, let it happen.
Back in that time, this backhanded slap was commonly used for those of a lower position, meaning those that were servants or slaves. This is commonly done by those in authority. Again, it was a way of showing their superiority and a way of humbling the other person. So to slap a person on the cheek was a deliberate attempt to humiliate and degrade that person, not to hurt them. But again, to take that whack with the open hand, that is a different story altogether. And the aggressor, what Christ is saying, they may pull back a little bit if you open yourself up for another insult. And they may be apt to do it. We must be willing to take insult without retaliation.
I always thought this was a little bit more difficult verse to understand, but what Christ intends is the principle of non-retaliation beyond physical insults to a level of legal and material disputes. This instruction challenges our instinct to defend ourselves and our possessions. In this teaching, Jesus advises that if someone sues you for your tunic (and by the way, the tunic was an undergarment, like a shirt or t-shirt, something like that, and which is not of great value), but if you are willing to give up your cloak—this is your outer garment—this is worth far more. And in fact, the cloak for many would be used as a blanket when … . . .
Matthew 5:38-42
Excerpted from: Submitting (Part 2)Normally and customarily, self-defense is legally right in virtually every nation on earth. But in our case God says, "No, that's not a right. There's a better way to do things!" Notice especially verse 39: "whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn your left to them, as well." The picture here is of a slap, something which every culture views as insulting rather than damaging. It may do damage to the person's ego, but it is not something that is ordinarily intended to really harm. It is intended to put down. Not only does a person get a slap on the right cheek, even worse is to be back-handed on the left. So you go "whack" across the face this way; and then "whack" with the back of the hand which is even more insulting than the first slap with the open palm.
Jesus is trying to open our minds to something here. What He is describing are cases involving offense or insult. He is telling us here that an insult or offense may not come by means of an actual slap, but rather by us being the subject of gossip or maybe being taken advantage of at work. The boss finds out that you are a good worker so he piles more and more on you than you can actually handle. Then your good attitude begins to get sour because the boss is taking advantage of you and you begin to feel offended.
The first action (or reaction) in such cases is what? Our first impulse is usually to retaliate, or to get even in some way—to get some measure of satisfaction. "It's our natural right, isn't it?" Natural, yes; but spiritual, no! God says to submit because He is teaching a Christian to think in a certain way: to think of his duties, not his privileges; to think of his responsibilities. To whom are our duties and responsibilities? They are to God, not to the self. The first responsibility, the first duty is always to God. The first and great commandment is toward Him. The second one is toward us and toward others. And so He is telling us to submit to Him in cases where we are insulted.
Matthew 5:38-48
Excerpted from: Mercy Triumphs Over Judgment!Being merciful is part of a spiritual perfection or completeness. But the Pharisees believed perfection meant following only the letter of the law. And considering the inspired written Word of God as a whole, we are told to imitate our heavenly Father in all His attributes. Therefore, those who are merciful as God is merciful, even toward the evil and the unthankful, are living as God lives. We must be merciful as our Father in heaven is merciful. Christ sets the standard by commanding us to love our enemies.
The Jews despised the Romans because the Romans oppressed them, yet Jesus told them to love their enemies. Such words turned many away from Christ. But Jesus was not talking about affection for enemies. He was talking about an act of the will. You cannot fall into this kind of love. It takes conscious effort. Loving your enemies or loving our enemies means acting in their best interests. And we can pray for them and seek ways to help them.
Love means action, and one way to put love into practice is to take the initiative to meet specific needs, and this is easy with people we trust. But love means doing so even for those who dislike us or intend to hurt us.
A merciful and compassionate person overlooks wrongs done to him. He dutifully provides the offender with relief. He does not allow repeated ingratitude to deter him from doing good, even to the unfaithful and the unholy. The reason for this is that mercy is an expression of love. It is a form of love determined by the state or condition of those it is directed toward. Their state is one of suffering and need, yet they may be unworthy or undeserving.
Matthew 5:40-41
Excerpted from: Government (Part Four)His teaching is: generosity of spirit. Do not just do what is required; go above and beyond what is required! Generously sacrifice of yourself and give, even though it is unfair. Everybody seems to agree that what He was talking about here was a common practice. That is, the mail was generally carried by the army (in Roman times). The soldier would get tired of carrying the mail. So he would get some civilian and say, "Here. Carry this." And he [the civilian] would have to carry the mail, while the soldier walked along beside him—unburdened by the weight of the mail. So, Jesus said, "Go two miles." That is, go above and beyond. The point is: generosity of spirit—even in terms of sacrifice.
ArticlesEssays on Bible Study
Go the Extra Mile
Go the Extra Mile
Prepare to Meet Your God! (Part Three)
The Fruit of the Spirit: Patience
The Offerings of Leviticus (Part Seven): The Sin and Trespass Offerings
EssaysMissing the Mark (Part Two)
The Jewish Testament?
SermonsNew Covenant Priesthood (Part 12)
Offerings (Part Seven)
Biblical Principles of Justice (Part Three)
Biblical Principles of Justice (Part Two)
Matthew (Part Seven)
Matthew (Part Seven)
Themes of I Corinthians (Part 6)
Themes of I Corinthians (Part 6)
Acts (Part Twenty-Four)
Why We Tithe (Part 2)
We Give Our Heads and Hearts
'But I Say to You' (Part Six): Retaliation
'But I Say to You' (Part Six): Retaliation
Strategies for Escaping Babylon (Part Five)
Four Warnings (Part One)
Taking an Insult
<< Matthew 5:39 Matthew 5:41 >>
Join 138,258+ readers
A Verse and a Thought,
Every Morning
Consistent Bible study is hard to start.
The Berean gives you the starting point: one scripture and a focused commentary in your inbox each morning — read it in minutes, or go as deep as you like.
Free, daily, and spam-free. We never share your address. Unsubscribe anytime.