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Bible Reading Plan

Reading Plan: Matthew 5:38-48

Eye for Eye

“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.

Love for Enemies

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

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Daily Devotional: Take the High Road

 “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.”

Matthew 5:38-41

If you are a parent, chances are you have heard some version of: ‘He hit me!’ to which the other child replies, ‘He hit me first!’ The kids come to you for help because, while hitting back seems fair, no argument ends with, “You hit me back, and now we are even.” Instead, returning evil for evil escalates anger and resentment. As Martin Luther King Jr. said, “An eye for an eye leaves everyone blind.”

In today’s verses, Jesus corrects a misunderstanding of an eye-for-an-eye. God meant for these laws to make punishment equal to the crime, preventing escalation of revenge. An eye-for-an-eye acknowledged the need for justice and put guardrails around it. The problem was that people carried out an eye-for-an-eye with a vengeful heart. Justice and vengeance do not work well together. Justice and mercy do. Conflict will spiral out of control unless grace intervenes. In today’s language, the verse might go like this, “You have heard it said, do not get mad, get even. But I tell you, take the high road.”  

Slapping someone’s cheek was a public insult meant to humiliate the recipient. Turning the other cheek communicates the refusal to participate in the other person’s hatred. By offering the other cheek, you acknowledge the insult and signal that you do not intend to return it. Turning the other cheek is a refusal to be humiliated by the other person’s bad behavior, or to participate in it. Instead, you step back from the conflict, letting God’s light expose the darkness of the offender’s heart. Hopefully, they will regret their actions and make amends. Even if they do not, you can find satisfaction in doing right.

Choosing the high road is difficult because anger makes us feel strong. Powering up gives us the illusion of control. In contrast, grace feels dangerous because it requires vulnerability. However, Jesus took the perilous path of vulnerability. He turned the other cheek, enduring insults, torture, and crucifixion to conquer evil. Jesus calls us to follow His example of non-resistant grace. We can change the world one conflict at a time by embracing Romans 12:21, “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” 

Next Steps

Practice some responses to prepare you to turn the other cheek in your next conflict. Some examples are:  

“I could insult you back but I won’t.”

 “You seem very upset. What can I do to help?”

“Help me understand the problem from your point of view.”

Note: Turning the other cheek does not mean we should stay in an abusive relationship.