The Other Cheek
Are you quick to defend yourself?
Verse of the Day
‘But I say, do not resist an evil person! If someone slaps you on the right cheek, offer the other cheek also.’
Today’s Devotional
Let’s look at this entire section of Scripture and break it down.
“You have heard the law that says the punishment must match the injury: ‘An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I say, do not resist an evil person! If someone slaps you on the right cheek, offer the other cheek also. If you are sued in court and your shirt is taken from you, give your coat, too. If a soldier demands that you carry his gear for a mile, carry it two miles. Give to those who ask, and don’t turn away from those who want to borrow.” (Matthew 5:38-42)
Jesus is teaching me that retribution, an “eye for an eye”, isn’t His will for my life. In Jewish culture, a slap on the right cheek was a grave insult. Perhaps Jesus is teaching us that it is not our job to respond to any insult with more of the same kind of behavior. He is challenging us to allow God to be our defender. This is one of the hardest things to obey. Because in the moment, when we are insulted or hurt by someone, we are very quick to react. Overcoming our instinctual reaction requires us to pause, to breathe, to pray, to ask for God’s help to respond in a way that honors Him. This is the kind of obedience that requires a daily relationship with God and an invitation to the Holy Spirit to guide us in each encounter with others. And when we get it wrong, which we will…often, we acknowledge it and ask for forgiveness. Even if the other person does not apologize for the original attack.
What else is Jesus teaching here? Maybe that we should handle personal matters without involving the legal system. Perhaps be willing to give more than is required or asked when we owe financial or material restitution.
When Jesus spoke these words, the Jewish people were under Roman rule. By law, a Roman soldier could command a Jew to carry his gear for one mile. Jesus is teaching that when someone calls you to perform an “obligation”, you can turn that act into a freewill offering of love and service by willingly giving more than is required. This could be applied in my life in so many ways. Anything in my life that I see as an obligation could be turned into a freewill offering…if I’m willing to change my attitude and the posture of my heart. And our heart posture seems to be what Jesus is trying to get us to surrender to Him all along.
Journal Prompts
Answer only the questions that seem relevant to you today.
How have you lashed back at someone and how did that turn out?
How can you invite the Holy Spirit to help you to respond in obedience instead of reacting from emotion?
How could you give more than is required or expected today?
How can you turn one obligation you have today into a freewill offering of love?