Matthew 5:38 - 42
38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’[a] 39 But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also. 40 And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well. 41 If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles. 42 Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you. http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%205:%2038%20-42&version=NIV1984
How many of us really want to live by these words? It is so difficult to practice this when we are being attacked and when life just doesn’t seem fair. It makes us look like wimps, sets us up to be trampled over, and yet Christ commands this of us.
How many of you would describe Christ as a wimp? I doubt anyone reading this would describe Him that way, yet He practiced this when He was being persecuted, all the way to the cross. Even though He had the power to call down the angels to save Him, He did as His enemies requested and He went with them. Let’s take a look at the Bible verses that describe this to us. First of all when Jesus was arrested, the account as found in Matthew 26: 47 – 56:
47 While he was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, arrived. With him was a large crowd armed with swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests and the elders of the people. 48 Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: “The one I kiss is the man; arrest him.” 49 Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” and kissed him.
50 Jesus replied, “Friend, do what you came for.”[a]
Then the men stepped forward, seized Jesus and arrested him. 51 With that, one of Jesus’ companions reached for his sword, drew it out and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear.
52 “Put your sword back in its place,” Jesus said to him, “for all who draw the sword will die by the sword. 53 Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels? 54 But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen in this way?”
55 At that time Jesus said to the crowd, “Am I leading a rebellion, that you have come out with swords and clubs to capture me? Every day I sat in the temple courts teaching, and you did not arrest me. 56 But this has all taken place that the writings of the prophets might be fulfilled.” Then all the disciples deserted him and fled.
The account in Luke even shows that Jesus not only rebuked the ear being cut off but healed the man by touching his. Luke 22:51 51 But Jesus answered, “No more of this!” And he touched the man’s ear and healed him. Would this not be an example of turning the other cheek? (http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%2022:51&version=NIV1984)
Jesus did as they asked all the while being mocked and ridiculed. He carried His cross as they asked but after being beaten the cross became heavy but there is no recorded word that He complained. At one point they had to have a man by the name of Simon carry the cross because it became so heavy for Jesus. Read Matthew 27: 27 – 44 and imagine how you may have reacted if you had been in this situation.
27 Then the governor’s soldiers took Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered the whole company of soldiers around him. 28 They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, 29 and then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on his head. They put a staff in his right hand and knelt in front of him and mocked him. “Hail, king of the Jews!” they said. 30 They spit on him, and took the staff and struck him on the head again and again. 31 After they had mocked him, they took off the robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him away to crucify him.
32 As they were going out, they met a man from Cyrene, named Simon, and they forced him to carry the cross. 33 They came to a place called Golgotha (which means The Place of the Skull). 34 There they offered Jesus wine to drink, mixed with gall; but after tasting it, he refused to drink it. 35 When they had crucified him, they divided up his clothes by casting lots.[a] 36 And sitting down, they kept watch over him there. 37 Above his head they placed the written charge against him: THIS IS JESUS, THE KING OF THE JEWS. 38 Two robbers were crucified with him, one on his right and one on his left. 39 Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads 40 and saying, “You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself! Come down from the cross, if you are the Son of God!” 41 In the same way the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders mocked him. 42 “He saved others,” they said, “but he can’t save himself! He’s the King of Israel! Let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him. 43 He trusts in God. Let God rescue him now if he wants him, for he said, ‘I am the Son of God.’” http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2027:%2027%20-%2044&version=NIV1984
But look how Jesus responded, as recorded in Luke 23:34
34 Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”[a] And they divided up his clothes by casting lots. http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%2023:%2034&version=NIV1984
If you have ever been ridiculed or falsely accused, you know that these are not easy words to say and even harder to really mean but Jesus demonstrated to us how we must respond. He was not a coward, He was an obedient Son who sought more to glorify God than to glorify Himself. As the account goes on in Matthew we find that others did believe after His death. Read on in Matthew 27: 45 – 54
45 From the sixth hour until the ninth hour darkness came over all the land. 46 About the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi,[a] lama sabachthani?”—which means, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”[b]
47 When some of those standing there heard this, they said, “He’s calling Elijah.”
48 Immediately one of them ran and got a sponge. He filled it with wine vinegar, put it on a stick, and offered it to Jesus to drink. 49 The rest said, “Now leave him alone. Let’s see if Elijah comes to save him.” 50 And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit.
51 At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook and the rocks split. 52 The tombs broke open and the bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. 53 They came out of the tombs, and after Jesus’ resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many people.
54 When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, “Surely he was the Son[c] of God!”
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2027:%2045%20–%2054&version=NIV1984
How many times do we miss spreading the Gospel message because we do not turn the other cheek, we react in ways that don’t bring glory to our God. Jesus lived the example that we are to follow. Jesus not only spoke the words but He lived them out.
As you seek Him today, take up His cross and follow Him wherever it may lead you. Glorify God through your trials and give Him the honor and praise that He so rightly deserves.
Seeking Him with all my heart,
Sheila
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