HOST: Michael Whitworth
“You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ 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. And if anyone would sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you.
“Turn the other cheek.” While it is still a popular cliché in our world today, it is a seldom-seen practice among the majority of people. Far too often, we instead tend to adopt the “eye for an eye” mentality that Jesus condemns. We focus on what we see as “fair,” what we deserve, or what our rights are. Have you ever considered what would happen if God approached us with that attitude? What is fair is for us to pay for our own sins. What we deserve is eternal condemnation. God’s right was to spare His own perfect Son and allow us to suffer instead. Aren’t you glad that God was willing to turn the other cheek—to treat us with mercy and grace, instead of an “eye for an eye” attitude. Though it may be difficult for us to turn the other cheek in our dealings with others, God is not asking us to do anything that He has not already done toward us. As we strive to take on the nature and image of God in our own lives, we are called to rise above the mentality of the world and our own selfish desires and to be people of kindness, mercy, and forgiveness. May God help us to become more like Him in all our ways.
Why do you think God wants us to treat others in the way this passage describes?
Don’t forget to pray and have a great day!