"38Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: 39But 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: 38-39)
When Jesus delivered the Sermon on the Mount, we need to keep in mind that Jesus was preaching to His disciples.
Yet Jesus does not want to be our teacher, nor does He want to be our example, for God's ways are not our ways (Isaiah 55: 8).
He wants us to receive His life, and through His Spirit we become sons of God (1 John 3: 1; 4: 17)
Yet during His earthly ministry, Jesus encountered not just the religious leaders who wanted to trap Him, but also self-righteous types who saw Jesus as an example whom they could imitate.
Take a look at the first verses of Matthew 5:
"1And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him: 2And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying," (Matthew 5: 1-2)
Jesus taught His disciples, with the multitudes listening on.
Once again, Jesus is not looking for fans, or followers, but men and women who will allow Him to make them family:
"For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings." (Hebrews 2: 10)
When we read the words of Jesus in the Gospels through the Cross, many of the Scriptures which appearing puzzling or even harsh actually demonstrate that Jesus was trying to break through the hard hearts of religious adherents, that they would receive Him as Savior.
So, let us look again at Jesus' precepts and discover the grace which God so richly desires to give us through His Son.
""38Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: 39But 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: 38-39)
The word "smite" is also used to describe the beatings which Jesus took before His Crucifixion:
"Then did they spit in his face, and buffeted him; and others smote him with the palms of their hands," (Matthew 26: 67)
Jesus took the beating so that you no longer have to.
At first glance when we read what Jesus said to His disciples, our reaction should be confusion and even shock. What? Take the hit not just on one cheek, but the other as well?
Remember that Jesus is getting His wannabe disciples to realize that if they want to achieve righteousness, then they have to be willing to be beaten and beaten again.
Consider also this wonderful prophecy from Isaiah:
"I gave my back to the smiters, and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair: I hid not my face from shame and spitting." (Isaiah 50: 6)
This prophecy focuses on what Messiah Jesus would do for us, so that our shame would be taken away forever:
"4Fear not; for thou shalt not be ashamed: neither be thou confounded; for thou shalt not be put to shame: for thou shalt forget the shame of thy youth, and shalt not remember the reproach of thy widowhood any more." (Isaiah 54: 4)
Paul the apostle later explains what Jesus did for us:
"For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him." (2 Corinthians 5: 21)
We cannot achieve righteousness, but we receive it, and keep receiving it, as a gift which God paid for through the death and resurrection of His Son (Romans 5: 17)
Yet for the disciples during Jesus' earthly ministry, they needed to accept that there was no way for them to earn this righteousness.
Rejoice, Beloved, Jesus took the beating which we deserved so that we may receive His righteousness!
Oh, what a wonderful revelation this was for me! For a long time, I was frustrated by the abuse and self-righteousness of offensive people, as if I was supposed to submit to abuse.
Anyone who is enduring domestic violence, for example, should not assume that they should continue and submit to such evil conduct. Never! Jesus was not in any way telling people that they should be passive in the face of physical abuse and neglect, either.
Receive His gift of righteousness, and for in Christ you are not a lamb to be led to the slaughter, but rather you are more than a conqueror through Him who loves you! (Romans 8: 36-37)