Be at Peace

Matthew 5:38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ 39 But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.”
 
HERE is another eye-opening teaching Jesus uses to transform our minds into God’s truth. To fully understand our Lord’s lesson, we view this from both the physical and spiritual point of views.
   First, sometimes it is appropriate to bear the physical harm you may experience as a Christian. This kind of persecution often happens. People are abused and beaten, sometimes severely to the point of death as they confess Christ is Lord. Yet, when one turns the other cheek, the Christian displays the meekness and humility Jesus demonstrated toward those who verbally abused him and then physically tortured and killed him.  
   However, if you are attacked or physically abused in a crime against you, you surely can defend yourself. Persons and nations must defend themselves from aggression.
   To understand the spiritual point of view, it is important to know the right side is the primary side of a person. A slap on the right cheek in that culture was often to insult a person more than to hurt one. One who slapped another on the right check was demeaning the other as a slave.
   When this happens, Jesus is commanding us to not retaliate but to protect the abuser. That sounds a bit strange. Why would we want to protect someone who demeans and insults us? But consider, if we harshly respond to such insults, we will lose the ability to care for the person.
   Remember the Beatitude: “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.” Think of God’s command throughout Scripture to love your enemies. Jesus’ disciples are to bear the burden of insults in order to open the ears of a sinful heart. Your Spirit-empowered meekness is God’s key to unlocking a heart, so you can tell of Jesus’ true love. If you respond with insult upon insult, your words and actions will only tighten and firmly close the door of further communication. You will also lose the potential of fulfilling the command, “Love your neighbor as yourself”. (Matthew 19:19)
   Read the gospels and learn how Jesus lived into this teaching. He was constantly insulted and ridiculed. He may not have been slapped physically until his trial, but he was challenged, insulted and treated as a servant with no rights. The crowds of Jews threatened his life. Yet, he continued to teach us of mercy, forgiveness, love, joy and peace. Then he lived into all he said. Nowhere else is this teaching more real than the day Jesus died. Slapped, whipped and crucified, he still said, “Father forgive them.” (Luke 23:34) He turned the other cheek, so  his accusers and abusers might receive salvation one day. You are to do the same. One very common testimony from persecuted Christians is how God has worked through their meekness to turn their abusers’ hearts to Christ. The world needs to see the power of God’s forgiveness. Turning the cheek is one way to reveal his tender care.
 
1 Peter 2:20 But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God. 21 To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.