WHOEVER SLAPS YOU ON THE RIGHT CHEEK, TURN THE OTHER TO HIM ALSO 

Matthew 5:39(NKJV)

But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also.

This is a snippet from the sermon on the mount by our Lord Jesus Christ (Matthew 5–7).

Now what exactly was Jesus saying here? Was he really saying we should welcome a slap across the face with a gesture that shows we can still handle more? 

Well, that's not exactly what we find in the light of critical analysis. 

Jesus was correcting wrong usage of the law. Then at a point, he said:

Matthew 5:38(NKJV)

"You have heard that it was said, "An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.'

This was a popular law (Ex. 21:23–25; Lev. 24:19–20; Deut. 19:16–21) which gave the right to retaliate to the same length at which one gets hurt by someone else. 

Leviticus 24:19–20(NKJV)

19. "If a man causes disfigurement of his neighbor, as he has done, so shall it be done to him--

20. fracture for fracture, eye for eye, tooth for tooth; as he has caused disfigurement of a man, so shall it be done to him.

Deuteronomy 19:21(NKJV)

Your eye shall not pity: life shall be for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot.

In essence, this is the tit-for-tat rule. 

However, Jesus was here teaching otherwise, that we should never resort to such. 

Matthew 5:38–39(NKJV)

38. "You have heard that it was said, "An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.'

39. But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also.

“But I tell you not to resist an evil person.”

This means that, on the contrary, refuse to be violent or to seek to revenge on an enemy. In other words, do not reward evil for evil. 

He went ahead to buttress this by saying, “But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also.”

Jesus was not talking about a literal slap. Of course, in line with this teaching of our Lord, we are not to retaliate either in this case but turning the other cheek for a literal slap would be going overboard. 

Jesus was slapped on different occasions before his crucifixion, and he never turned the other cheek for more. 

Luke 22:64(NKJV)

And having blindfolded Him, they struck Him on the face and asked Him, saying, "Prophesy! Who is the one who struck You?"

John 18:22–23(NKJV)

22. And when He had said these things, one of the officers who stood by struck Jesus with the palm of his hand, saying, "Do You answer the high priest like that?"

23. Jesus answered him, "If I have spoken evil, bear witness of the evil; but if well, why do you strike Me?"

In the record by John above, not only did Jesus not turn the other cheek, he rebuked the assailant for slapping him undeservedly.

So it's important to understand that Jesus wasn't talking about a literal slap in his sermon on the mount. In understanding the teachings of Jesus, it is important to be able to distinguish between his use of direct words and figurative expressions. Jesus many a time made use of symbolic verbiage.

So what was Jesus teaching in our theme text above? 

If someone wrongfully hurts you, do not seek revenge. Rather, learn to tolerate such and even more. 

Matthew 5:38–41(NKJV)

38. "You have heard that it was said, "An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.'

39. But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also.

40. If anyone wants to sue you and take away your tunic, let him have your cloak also.

41. And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two.

“Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus.” 

1 Peter 2:21–23(NKJV)

21. For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps:

22. "Who committed no sin, Nor was deceit found in His mouth";

23. who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously.

Blessings. 

Victor Ibosiola © 2022