‘“You have heard the law that says the punishment must match the injury: ‘An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I say, do not resist an evil person! If someone slaps you on the right cheek, offer the other cheek also. If you are sued in court and your shirt is taken from you, give your coat, too. If a soldier demands that you carry his gear for a mile, carry it two miles. Give to those who ask, and don’t turn away from those who want to borrow.
Teaching about Love for Enemies
“You have heard the law that says, ‘Love your neighbor’ and hate your enemy. But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven. For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and the unjust alike. If you love only those who love you, what reward is there for that? Even corrupt tax collectors do that much. If you are kind only to your friends, how are you different from anyone else? Even pagans do that. But you are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect.’ Matthew 5:38-48(NLT)
Read: Matthew 5:38-48
Another illustration of the way Jesus clarifies the divine intention and deepest meaning of the law concerns Christian treatment of enemies. The examples do not advocate a passive submission to injustice, but a creative, nonviolent response. When insulted with a backhanded clap on the cheek, the disciple should turn and offer the other cheek, thereby shaming the antagonist and robbing him of the power to humiliate (v. 39). When a debtor is forced to give his inner garment as collateral for a debt, he should give his outer garment as well (v. 40). The naked debtor thus shames the creditor and exposes the injustices of the financial system.
These are simply two practical examples that Jesus offers in order to encourage his disciples to consider other imaginative ways to respond to violence. To follow the way of Jesus, we too must seek ways to break our tendency to respond to violence with more violence. Responding to insult with kindness and abuse with compassion breaks the cycle of violent revenge in a creative way, nudging the aggressor toward repentance and a cycle of generosity.
“Love your enemies” is perhaps the most difficult teaching of Jesus (v. 44 NABRE). Praying for persecutors and welcoming outsiders are striking demonstrations of love for them. The teachings of Jesus always transcend the typical human practice and call disciples to love without boundaries. The motivation for these loving actions is not just to receive reciprocal treatment; anyone can love those who love them in return. Rather, these actions imitate the way God loves, modeling the inclusive benevolence of the Father (v. 45). By trying to love as God loves, disciples model God’s very character and become increasingly perfect and complete (v. 48).
REFLECT: How might I respond in a creative, nonviolent way to someone who seeks to insult or do me harm?
PRAY: Heavenly Father, who has compassion on the just and the unjust, you call me to transcend the common and accepted responses of our society. Help me to set myself apart from the world by the completeness of my love.
from Into The Breach – How A Christian Man Loves