Christ Turned the Other Cheek for You

Seventh Sunday after the Epiphany

February 19, 2017

Matthew 5:38-42

Christ Turned the Other Cheek for You

In the name of the Father and of the ☩ Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen!

When Jesus teaches, sometimes His words are hard to understand, and sometimes they are a bit more clear to us. Today’s section of Jesus’ sermon on the mount is one of the more challenging bits.

“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 an evil person; but whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. ⁴⁰If anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, let him have your coat also. ⁴¹Whoever forces you to go one mile, go with him two. ⁴²Give to him who asks of you, and do not turn away from him who wants to borrow from you.

MATTHEW 5:38-42 HCSB

To help us understand Jesus better, remember His opening words, “You have heard that it was said.” Often Jesus began quotations from Moses or other Old Testament prophets with, “It is written.” But not here. Here He said, “You have heard that it was said.” Why the difference?

Perhaps it is because the people the words of the Bible out of their intended context. In Leviticus it is written,

Whoever takes a human life shall surely be put to death.

LEVITICUS 24:17

This law was not for vigilantes and those on a revenge kick. This law was for the government of the people of Israel from the time of Moses (1500 years before Christ) until Christ came. But these words intended for the civil authorities had been twisted into permission to get your own back when you felt wronged.

Jesus calls us to go above and beyond our grievances and to show mercy. This is what we tell our little ones, to turn the other cheek. Two kids are fighting and as adults we have no problem telling them to stop it. One kids always accuses the other of starting it and what do you say? I don’t care who started it.

What we easily tell others, is painful for ourselves. Consider our heavenly Father as He watching His believers engaging in back-biting and gossip because they were wronged.

His Son says turn the other cheek. Is He being literal? Yes and more! We could easily try to twist His words so that we limit them to the literal items that Jesus mentions here: cheeks, shirts, coats, one mile. Someone asks us for three miles? Someone kicks you in the shin? Ha! Jesus didn’t say anything about that. Wrong! Jesus is being more than literal here; He takes it all seriously.

Give to him who asks of you, and do not turn away from him who wants to borrow from you.

MATTHEW 5:42 HCSB

Here’s what Jesus is getting at. We Christians live in two kingdoms. We live in the secular or earthly world and we also belong to the kingdom of heaven. Christ is our King of kings and we belong to no other. We owe nothing to our parents, to our children, to our spouse, to our government, to our company, to anyone.

But according to the fact that we have bodies and property, we are also in the secular world. And here we do have obligations to our spouse, our parents, our children, the government, and so forth. As people who live in the secular world we are called to protect others. If an evil person tries to kidnap your kids, you should stop them, using force if you have to, though if you can, call the police.

But what if it’s just you? Most of the time the attack will be with words. What should you do? Don’t strike back. Don’t try and get an eye for an eye. If they insult your mother, don’t insult theirs.

See the example of Christ Himself. When He was under trial through false accusations, someone hit Him in the face.

Meanwhile, the high priest questioned Jesus about his disciples and his teaching. “I have spoken openly to the world,” Jesus replied. “I always taught in synagogues or at the temple, where all the Jews come together. I said nothing in secret. Why question me? Ask those who heard me. Surely they know what I said.” When Jesus said this, one of the officials nearby slapped him in the face. “Is this the way you answer the high priest?” he demanded. “If I said something wrong,” Jesus replied, “testify as to what is wrong. But if I spoke the truth, why did you strike me?”

JOHN 18:19-23

Jesus didn’t strike back, but He did speak up and point out the sinfulness of this act. But then what did He do? He turned the other cheek, and indeed His whole body and went to the cross to die. He hung on the cross and gave up His precious body and life as the restitution demanded by His heavenly Father as the punishment for our sins. And Jesus’ cheek-turning, body-turning sacrifice forgives us for all of our revenge-seeking, hurtful words, and even for the violence we have committed against others. His blood sends all our sin far away, never to condemn us again. 

For even the Son of Man did not come to be Served, but to Serve, and to Give His Life as a Ransom for Many. Amen.

For a Great Commentary on This Text, Check out Ken Schurb on Issues, Etc.

http://issuesetc.org/2016/12/02/3373-martin-luther-and-the-reformation-part-45-luthers-treatment-of-the-sermon-on-the-mount-matthew-538-42-dr-ken-schurb-12216/