Background:
Jesus says He has come not to abolish the Law but to fulfill it, and to bring a proper interpretation of the true spiritual intent and application of God’s Law. This week we have already heard Him speak about anger, lust, adultery and oaths. Now His is moving on to a rather explosive and controversial topic, one that is especially important for us living in a violence-infested world today.
Personal Revenge & Retaliation
First Jesus quoted the Old Testament Law: “An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.” He was referring to Exodus 21:21-24 ,”But if there is harm, then you shall pay life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burn for burn, wound for wound, stripe for stripe.”
Woe! What a vengeful and fighting words! Some of you might be raising your power fists right now and roar, “Yeah, baby! An eye for an eye!” My own reaction when I read this was, “No, I would and could never do that!”
“Not so fast, Jackson,” I could almost hear Pastor Mike stopping me on my tracks. “Is this how you have always felt when someone hurt you?”
“Guilty as charged,” I confess.
If I look beneath the “fighting” actions in that verse, I can see what it is all about: Revenge and Retaliation! I have to admit that the retaliatory response to an injustice is somewhat appealing to me, especially if I am the one who has been wronged. But the mere fact that I could harbor such thoughts convicts me and brings me to my knees.
In the world today, our culture endorses, if not applauds, revenge: One must “get even,” “strike back” and “do to them what they do to you.” Many people abuse the intention of the biblical law designed to dissuade personal retaliation in order to justify it.
But Jesus emphatically says “No” to using “an eye for an eye” to justify personal revenge!
“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.” (5:38-42 ESV)
Instead, He says to “turn to him the other cheek,” “go the extra mile,” “give both of your garments if sued for one.” He uses the needs of our daily life to illustrate Christ-like response to attack, oppression and conflict. He wants us to put actions of personal revenge out of our hands into God’s, and if appropriate, turn to the authorities.
Let’s examine how Jesus lived out His teaching on non-retaliation:
- As Judas led the Roman soldiers to arrest Jesus, Jesus did not call Judas traitor or other dirty names. Instead, “Jesus said to him, “Friend, do what you came to do.” (Matt. 26:50)
- On the cross at His crucifixion, “the soldiers took His garments and divided them into four parts, one part for each soldier; also His tunic.” (John 19:23)
What about Self-Defense?
The Apostle Paul said in Romans 12:19, “Beloved, never avenge ourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.”
Does it mean we can’t have self-defense when others try to harm us? Are there any circumstances in which violence is approved by God? Under what circumstances is self-defense appropriate?
Without careful study, the Bible can seem to give conflicting instructions on self-defense. There are many passages that talk about war and violence that God approves of, such as David slaying Goliath (1 Samuel 17). Not to mention the fact that God commanded the Israelites to completely destroy everyone and everything in the Promised Land!
As with many situations in life, self-defense must be tempered with wisdom, understanding, and biblical discernment.
For instance, during the last supper, Jesus told His disciples to get a sword (Luke 22:36): “But now let the one who has a moneybag take it, and likewise a knapsack. And let the one who has no sword sell his cloak and buy one.” Jesus knew that the time had come when He would be arrested and later killed, and his followers would be threatened as well. Jesus was giving approval that one has the right to self-defense. Yet not long after when Peter tried to resist Jesus’ arrest and cut off the ear of the high priest’s servant with his sword, Jesus said to him, “Put your sword back into its place. For all who take the sword will perish by the sword.” (Matt. 26:52)
So, does God approve violence?
Once again, the proper use of self-defense must be tempered with wisdom, understanding, and discernment of God’s will.
Gichin Funakoshi, a Karate master, said, “Karate is a way of life that teaches one to be the best he or she can be, in spite of and because of the worst situations that one faces. Karate is a code of conduct that avoids conflict; its level of force is only stepped up if absolutely necessary. In this way, karate may be used to defend oneself and others without striking a single blow.” This is my interpretation of what Funakoshi-san said: Just because one has the ability to break someone’s arm doesn’t mean one needs to use it!
Jesus says, “… do not resist the one who is evil” (5:39)
Resist or Flee?
If we flee, does this make us a "coward"?
There are a number of instances in the Bible when God’s people chose to flee from those who sought to harm or kill them. Saul attacked David and tried to kill him by pinning him to the wall with his spear; but David fled and escaped (1 Samuel 19:10). The Hellenists sought to kill Paul in Jerusalem for disputing against them; but Paul’s friends helped him escaped to Caesarea and sent Him off to Tarsus (Acts 9:30). Even Jesus Himself sometimes “retreated” and disappeared among the crowd to avoid further confrontations because His time was not yet.
Who is the “evil one” according to Jesus here?
It would be incorrect to think that Jesus is referring to Satan here because it would be totally contradictory to Scriptures everywhere in the Bible. By the “evil one”, Jesus means the “evil person” who slaps us on the cheek, sues us to take our possessions, forces us to do something against our will, or asks us for money when he/she is not in need. (A clarification is needed here: Jesus does not mean that someone who asks us for money is the “evil one,” only if the motive is for personal gain but not for need.)
SO WHAT? (What will I do with what I have read today?)
What distinguishes a Christian from everyone else?It is grace -- treating others as God treats us, and as God wishes for them to be treated, deserving or not – with mercy and kindness. When we encounter hostile situations such as insults, offense and attacks from others, we have two choices:
- We can escalate the conflict with retaliation; or
- We can be a peacemaker.
Remember the Beatitude #7: “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called the sons of God.” (Matt. 5:9)
We are a peacemaker when we turn the other cheek; forgo the lawsuit; go the extra mile; and give to the one in need.
Is it hard to be a peacemaker? You bet it is. But that’s what we, followers of Christ, must strive to be. And by the grace of God indwelling in us, we are each called to become peacemakers in this violent-prone world.
What about you? Will you seek the power of Christ’s redeeming love, mercy and peace to be a peacemaker?
Pauline Lo Alker
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