Scripture Reading: Matthew 5:38-48
“But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also.”—Matthew 5:39
Years ago, I came across two boys in a scuffle downstairs in our church. After I broke them up and inquired what was going on, one lad pointed to the other and explained, “He hit me and my daddy told me, if someone hits me, hit them back!” It is the human inclination, even our determination to stand our ground, especially when our rights and honor are undermined. We refuse to be trod upon or allow anyone to take advantage of us. We teach our children to do likewise: stand up for and defend themselves. That’s what we’re supposed to do, right?
Today’s passage is counterintuitive for most humans. The seemingly pacifying nature of the text rails against our right to defend ourselves and stand up to those who would take advantage of us: Turn the other cheek when struck, give up our coat when asked for our shirt or jacket, go the extra mile without being asked, give and lend to any who ask, and love our enemies. Even people obedient to God in most other areas of life read this passage with reservation. When pushed, they retort, “I ain’t Jesus! Push me and I’ll push you back!”
We want to be like Jesus, but only when it is convenient and doesn’t infringe on our rights. We have our self-defined limitations.
Some view Jesus’ teaching here as requiring the Christian to accommodate evil, abuse and degradation. Why would Jesus command us to live in such a subservient way? Was this to be taken literally? Perhaps He was teaching us to avoid an escalation of hostilities? Maybe teaching us to live nonviolently in a violent world? Or was Jesus telling us something about how we respond to evil is a reflection on Him and who we claim to be?
Perhaps subservience to others is not the point of Jesus’ message. Instead, perhaps it is the command to master our own will, anger, hatred, greed, and lust for violence and power. Perhaps Jesus recognized those evils we see in others also lie under the surface in our own lives, waiting for an opportunity to pounce on others. It is impossible to demonstrate the love of Christ to others while inflicting the same evil on them they attempt to inflict on us.
The “‘I ain’t Jesus’ Defense” is embodied in those areas of our lives we find being Christ like is inconvenient, uncomfortable, restrictive and impractical. That is the challenge of Jesus, He requires us to be obedient on the very things we find most difficult to obey. The next time we are tempted to proclaim, “I ain’t Jesus!” perhaps the challenge before is to recognize those words are only an excuse to live as we want, and not as He would have us to live.
Lesson to Remember: It’s impossible to demonstrate the love of Christ while inflicting the same evil on others they attempt to inflict on us.
“Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”—Romans 12:21
