Matthew 5:39
But 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.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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When Jesus says "do not resist the one who is evil," he's not just talking about personal retaliation. He's challenging the common understanding of justice, which focused on matching an injury for an injury, and calling his followers to a deeper, more radical patience that seeks to de-escalate conflict rather than mirror it.
Jesus is in the middle of his Sermon on the Mount, explaining how his followers should live a life of righteousness that surpasses that of the religious leaders. He's directly addressing and reinterpreting common understandings of the Old Testament Law, contrasting "you have heard it said" with his own authoritative teaching. This section specifically challenges the common practice of seeking retaliation, demonstrating a radical shift from the principle of "an eye for an eye."
Jesus doesn't just tweak the rules; He rewrites the script for human interaction. Discover how His words shatter the cycle of revenge.
Jesus directly confronts the common understanding of "an eye for an eye." This wasn't just a call for equal punishment; it had become a justification for personal vengeance.
The Law vs. Its Misuse
Christ's Counter-Cultural Command
Jesus calls His followers to a completely different path:
Jesus' commands seem impossible in the face of real-world conflict. What's the deeper principle behind turning the other cheek and giving up your cloak?
Jesus uses vivid, escalating examples to illustrate a profound inner disposition. This isn't just about physical altercations; it's about our entire attitude towards those who wrong us.
The Principle of Non-Retaliation
Understand the original words
anthistēmi · Greek Verb
To set oneself against, withstand, or oppose. In a legal or personal sense, it refers to standing against an adversary or taking up a defensive position.
rhapizō · Greek Verb
To strike with the palm of the hand. Culturally, this was often an act of personal insult, social shaming, or contempt rather than an attempt to cause severe physical injury.
siagōn · Greek Noun
Part of the face; being struck on the cheek in the ancient world was a profound symbol of public humiliation and the loss of personal honor.
Jesus' radical teaching on non-retaliation, delivered during Roman occupation, challenged the prevailing desire for a Messiah who would violently overthrow oppressors. It called followers to a higher ethic of sacrificial love, even when facing injustice.
c. 200 BC - AD 27
Intertestamental Period & Roman Rule
The period between the Old and New Testaments saw Jewish communities living under various foreign empires, including the Seleucids and then the Romans. This led to diverse interpretations of Jewish law and Messianic expectations.
c. 27 BC - AD 30— this verse
Jesus' Ministry in Roman Judea
Jesus began his public ministry, teaching and performing miracles in Galilee and Judea during a time of Roman occupation and significant Jewish religious and political ferment.
c. AD 30-33
Jesus' Crucifixion
Jesus was arrested, tried, and crucified by Roman authorities under Pontius Pilate, a pivotal event in Christian theology.
c. AD 40s - 60s
Early Church Expansion & Apostolic Teaching
The apostles, like Paul, spread the teachings of Jesus throughout the Roman Empire, establishing churches and writing letters that further interpreted Jesus' teachings.
This passage directly echoes Jesus' teaching by calling believers to overcome evil with good, offering a powerful parallel to the non-retaliatory stance in Matthew 5:39.
1 Peter 2:20-23Peter speaks about suffering unjustly and the example of Christ, who did not retaliate when insulted or struck, aligning with Jesus' command not to resist evil.
Luke 6:29-30Luke provides a parallel account of Jesus' teaching on non-resistance, including turning the other cheek and giving to those who ask, reinforcing the principle of radical generosity and patience.
Matthew 5:43-48This passage immediately follows, expanding on the theme by commanding love for enemies and praying for persecutors, illustrating the depth of the non-retaliatory principle Jesus is expounding.
Exodus 22:26-27This Old Testament passage addresses the laws concerning pledges, which Jesus is reinterpreting; by contrasting the law's provision for restitution with Jesus' teaching, it highlights the shift from legal recourse to radical personal trust in God.
calvinMatthew 5:38-41: "Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth:"
You have heard that it was said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth. 39. But I say to you, Do not resist evil: but whoever, shall inflict a blow on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also: 40. And to him who wishes to enter into a law-suit with thee, and to take away thy coat, allow him thy cloak also: 41. And whoever shall constrain thee to one mile, go with him two.
To him…
meyerMatthew 5:39: "But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also."
Matthew 5:39-40 . Τῷ πονηρῷ ] is neither to be understood of the devil (Chrysostom, Theophylact), nor, as neuter (Augustine, Luther, Castalio, Calvin, Ewald, and others), of injustice; but, in accordance with the antithesis ἀλλʼ ὅστις σε ῥαπίζει , etc., and with Matthew 5:40-41 : homini maligno . Christ names first the right cheek, although the blow most na…
When Jesus says "do not resist the one who is evil," he's not just talking about personal retaliation. He's challenging the common understanding of justice, which focused on matching an injury for an injury, and calling his followers to a deeper, more radical patience that seeks to de-escalate conflict rather than mirror it.
Jesus is in the middle of his Sermon on the Mount, explaining how his followers should live a life of righteousness that surpasses that of the religious leaders. He's directly addressing and reinterpreting common understandings of the Old Testament Law, contrasting "you have heard it said" with his own authoritative teaching. This section specifically challenges the common practice of seeking retaliation, demonstrating a radical shift from the principle of "an eye for an eye."
Jesus is in the middle of his Sermon on the Mount, explaining how his followers should live a life of righteousness that surpasses that of the religious leaders. He's directly addressing and reinterpreting common understandings of the Old Testament Law, contrasting "you have heard it said" with his own authoritative teaching. This section specifically challenges the common practice of seeking retaliation, demonstrating a radical shift from the principle of "an eye for an eye."
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The Heart of the Matter
The core of Jesus' teaching is about transforming our motives and disposition:
Is Jesus asking us to be doormats? Explore the wisdom behind His seemingly foolish commands and how they align with God's purposes.
Some might dismiss Jesus' words as impractical or even dangerous, suggesting they would lead to societal chaos. However, Jesus offers a divine strategy, not a recipe for anarchy.
Resisting Evil vs. Resisting the Evil-Doer
The Ultimate Goal
Jesus' command is rooted in a long-term, Kingdom perspective:
"But 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." — When Jesus says "do not resist the one who is evil," he's not just talking about personal retaliation. He's challenging the common understanding of justice, which focused on matching an injury for an…
