TURN THE OTHER CHEEK
38“You have
heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ 39But 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.
40And if anyone
would sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well.
41And if anyone
forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles.
42Give to the
one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you.’ ”
MATTHEW
5:38-42
COMMENTARY
This is one of
the golden rules of Christianity.
Until then, all
religious books in Mesopotamia, invocated the execution of justice, equal
punishment or compensation for the offence committed, ‘eye of an eye, tooth for
a tooth’.
This was also
the rule in Babylon long before Moses received the commandments.
But this time,
JESUS brings something else into play. A change of heart. A merciful and understanding
heart for all humanity.
There was
nothing wrong with the TALIONIS Law principle. It was a guarantee of justice
for everyone, and our LORD GOD YHWH perpetuated this through the mosaic law.
However, this stopped only in giving satisfaction or reparation to the offended
party, but did not stop the problem. Crimes still were committed and
resentfulness and desire of revenge continued in the hearts of men, until compensation
according to ‘eye for an eye’ was executed.
Here JESUS gives
humanity the solution to the problem of social evil. To STOP EVIL THROUGH LOVE
AND PATIENCE IN GOD.
Jesus makes symbolic
illustrations of how to perform in front of different problems we may encounter,
If we are hit, sued or coerced, do not resist evil, meaning, do not seek
revenge, but let it happen, and do not react in anger, knowing that GOD is
watching and He will bring about Justice
(Romans 12:19;
Leviticus 19:18; Deuteronomy 32:35).
Our passive reaction
will eventually make the offenders wonder about it, since it is not the natural
human reaction, but eventually would bring into them an irresistible sense of
guilt and eventual repentance, stopping forever a focus of evil in our world.
Of course for those who are hard enough to refuse repentance, justice will come
over them eventually, directly from GOD, through other means, but not through
us, being our reaction held against them at the time of judgement.
JESUS taught the
way of faithful patience in GOD, not an empty one. He did not command us let ourselves
be abused, but to exercise faith in GOD who is watching everything from above.
And of course, this does not include, as it is obvious in the text, to let our
lives be taken, or to not protect the life of another. Only in material things,
since the life of the offender is more valuable than anything material we could
lose. But to protect our lives or the lives of others, we are allowed to.
Do not take
revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written:
“It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord.”
Romans 12:19
Omar Flores.
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