He Turned the Other Cheek

Seventh Sunday after the Epiphany

February 23, 2014

Matthew 5:38-48

He Turned the Other Cheek

In the name of Jesus.

I.

He went the extra mile.

They demanded that He go a mile or two to stand trial. He choose to go with them to His death and our salvation.

On the other hand, His disciples ran an extra mile or two, as they deserted Him as fast as they could go.

He turned the other cheek.

They slapped Him on His face, and He didn't leave, but instead stayed and turned His precious face to endure more punches, slaps, and abuse.

On the other hand, His disciple took out a sword and cut off the ear of an enemy.

He gave them the shirt off His back.

He allowed His enemies to take His shirt and cloak, which they then divided amongst themselves.

On the other hand, they had given Him their cloaks onto the road He traveled by donkey just days earlier, but now no one offered Him anything, except sour vinegar wine and their gawking and shouts of abuse.

“You have heard that it was said, An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. But I tell you, don’t resist an evildoer. On the contrary, if anyone slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. As for the one who wants to sue you and take away your shirt, let him have your coat as well. And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two. Give to the one who asks you, and don’t turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you. 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, so that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. For He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. For if you love those who love you, what reward will you have? Don’t even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing out of the ordinary? Don’t even the Gentiles do the same? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” (Matthew 5:38-48)

II.

David loved his enemy. His enemy was King Saul. David had risked his life to defend Saul's life and reputation. He had helped Saul when Saul had been sick. Saul repaid David's love by trying to pin him to a wall with a spear (1 Samuel 18). He failed and David got away.

And so we get to this wild incident of David's nighttime raid of Saul's camp. Saul was encamped because he was hunting David. And then David sneaks into the camp and steals the king's spear and water jug. Huh?

David should have killed Saul. No one would have objected to this very rational way to end this conflict. In the first place, David was already the rightful king of Israel—Samuel had annointed David king ten chapters ago. But David (unlike all the patriarchs like Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob) refused to take any shortcuts as he followed the promises of Jesus.

And above all, David would have just been following the age-old counsel that lives in the heart of every human: “Eye for an eye.” Saul had tried to kill David more than once. David had every right to do unto Saul as Saul had done unto him. Abishai knew it. He's telling David, “Just let me at him!! I'll do it for you; your hands will be clean. And I'll even do it humanely. One stab and he's gone—he won't feel a thing!”

David said no. Abishai must have been in shock. Or angry, “Why did we risk our lives to steal his water bottle?!?” If John Wayne had snuck into Berlin in 1942, and found himself standing next to a sleeping Adolf Hitler, do think his trusty sidekick, Ward Bond, is going to be cool with him shaving off his mustache? I don't think so.

III.

We rarely hold the life of our mortal enemy in our hands, but we do live and work closely with some people that sure seem like they're out to get us. (Or maybe they really are.) Maybe it's your spouse or your kid. Maybe it's your professor or your project leader.

We know that we're supposed to turn the other cheek, but this fact doesn't help turn anything. It just kills us. That's what Jesus is doing here. He's killing you. He gets in close and takes a spear and is pinning you to the wall. You can't get away. The Law that demands that you be perfect won't let you get away. You were so sure that life was all about you, but Jesus killed that person. So now what happens?

The Savior Jesus who killed you with the Law is the one who gets down into the grave with you. He died.

And then He rose. And He made you alive, too. A new person. A new you who is alive in the joy that everything isn't about you; it's about Him.

Therefore we were buried with Him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too may walk in a new way of life. For if we have been joined with Him in the likeness of His death, we will certainly also be in the likeness of His resurrection. (Romans 6:4-5)

He went the extra mile.

He turned the other cheek.

He gave them the shirt off His back.

He loved His closest enemy—you.

He died for His closest enemy—you.

He rose for His closest enemy—you.

In the name of the Father

and of the † Son

and of the Holy Spirit.

Amen.