Matthew 5:38-42
"You have heard that it was said, 'Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.' But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also. And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well. If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles. Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.
The Lord said, "Do not resist an evil person'. It doesn't mean that we shall not proclaim righteousness, nor fail to distinguish right from wrong. Rather, we shall harvest no vengeance, or grievance that make us do evil things. Christians should do more than right things. We do not defraud others on the outside, nor in our hearts.
It is very easy for us not to defraud others on the outside, but harvest a vengeance against others in our hearts. We secretly feel happy because of others' sufferings. It is as if through others' suffering our righteousness get manifest. If so, there is no difference between us and an evil person. Because of vengeance, our spirit can not be released freely. The Lord explained this truth with four things. Be careful, these are not laws. If you follow them as they were laws, you will suffer greatly. These four things are the natural manifestation of life of Jesus Christ. When you do likewise, others naturally feel the love of Jesus Christ in you.
First, 'If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.' This is the most misunderstood verse. What the Lord emphasized in the sermon on the mount is our inner attitude, not external behavior. When our Lord was in trial, he didn't turn the other cheek when others stroke his right cheek. When Paul was in trial, he vigorously defended himself. He didn't turn his cheek and let it be hit by others. What's important is not whether you let others strike your left cheek, but rather whether or not you forgave others wholeheartedly. Lord reminded us not to over value our face, more than the life of the Lord. Nor shall we value our humiliation more than the humiliation we added to the Lord.
Second, 'And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. ' In the times of Jesus, cloak represents a person's dignity. Others may take your tunic. But your cloak is your rightful privilege, and no one can take it away. This means that for our Lord, we can forgo our privilege.
Third, 'If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles.' In Roman times, whenever a Roman soldier need a labor, he had the power to force anyone to walk one mile. That's why people say that the first mile is responsibility, and the second mile is love.
Fourth, 'give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.' The Lord doesn't mean that we should give randomly, but with mercy. When we see people in need, we shall not tightly hang on to what we own, but rather happily share them with others. May God help us to live the way of the Lord every day!
Pray with Pastor Tong Liu
Lord, may you pour the love of Jesus Christ in our lives. Let us put down our own privileges when we see others in need, and make others also enjoy the love of Jesus Christ. May you personally strengthen our wisdom and power. Thanks and prayer in the victorious name of Jesus Christ, Amen!
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