nothing is yet in its true form

I must confess that the topic on which I have been meditating recently is probably my greatest weakness in my own life. I do not write this as a condemnation of others, but rather as a humble confession. My hope is that people who struggle with my habits would hear truth and would repent in the way I am repenting. I feel much like Paul in Romans 7:15 when he writes, “I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate.” With that said, I want to discuss the subject of resisting evil.

In Matthew 5:38, Jesus teaches His disciples saying, “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’“ Jesus is referring to Torah’s answer to crime (Exodus 21:24), but he is not discrediting it outright. I know quite a few skeptics who would say that Jesus has a very low view of the Hebrew Bible (Old Testament), but those people forget that it was the only scripture, which Jesus knew. When Jesus quotes Torah and expounds upon it, He does so with the highest authority because the scriptures “bear witness about” Jesus (John 5:39). So let’s do away with the nonsense that Jesus was trying to do away with the Hebrew Bible; Jesus himself is its fulfillment (Matthew 5:17).

Getting back to the point, Jesus does quote Exodus saying, “An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.” He quotes this because this God’s word and it is truth. Matthew 16:27 tells us that, “the Son of Man is going to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay each person according to what he has done.” In Revelation 22:12 Jesus declares: “Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay everyone for what he has done.” These are absolute realities and Jesus knew this. Jesus is going to teach something that sounds like it is in direct contradiction to the Old Testament, but it is not. Jesus never disputes the “eye for an eye” line, but his teaching for His followers is different because He wants them to remember that, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord” (Romans 12:19). Some recent Christians want us to believe that God is not angry with sinners, but they forget that God “hates the wicked and the one who loves violence” (Psalm 11:5). God is still angry with sinners, let there be no question there. The only hope sinners have is Jesus, the one who intercedes on our behalf (Romans 8:34).

So that is where Jesus begins, “an eye for an eye.” But, He has something for His followers that is going to be a sign of the gospel among the whole world. He tells them:

“But I say to you, do not resist the one who is evil. 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. Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you” (Matthew 5:39-42).

Like I said before, Jesus seems to be contradicting what He previously said, but in fact, He is not. Jesus is teaching his disciples to act out His gospel. “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23). Sinners still deserve death, but God chooses to spare some from His wrath. The method He accomplishes this with is by sacrificing His son. Jesus’ followers are called to do the same. Now don’t misunderstand, Jesus does not intend for you to turn the other cheek because you will save people from their sins. But your obedience in turning the other cheek might be the sign that God uses to point people towards His Son, who “humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross” (Philippians 2:8). By not resisting evil, we are able to say as Jesus said to the woman caught in adultery, “Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more.” As I meditate over these ideas, I am hugely convicted because they are possibly the clearest expressions of the gospel, but they are the practices most absent in my own life.

Another misconception we need avoid is that we are communicating Jesus’ permission of sin. Make no mistake, Jesus not condemning the woman caught in adultery was high on His list of priorities, but so was repentance. Romans 2:4 tells us, “that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance.” This is my biggest qualm with street preachers who scream at people on busy sidewalks. They forget that, “he who is forgiven little, loves little” (Luke 7:47). Maybe these people have not embraced their own forgiveness enough. If God’s kindness is meant to lead people to repentance, then not resisting evildoers might be the missing piece of the gospel proclamation.

Some may protest that this is not a practical way to live one’s life. Turning the other cheek doesn’t seem like a good survival strategy. Well, what crazy heretic told you that Christianity is about survival strategies? “Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it” (Matthew 10:39). The problem with Jesus’ methods isn’t that they aren’t practical; it’s that aren’t comfortable. They are problematic when comfort comes before conviction and entitlement comes before humility. This is part of Jesus’ plan for loving our enemies, and if we do not take part in His plan we are no different from anyone else (Matthew 5:46-47). This is the plan for peace. The only way to stop violence is with non-violence. The only way to combat hate is with purposeful love. In this way we might “be called sons of God” (Matthew 5:9). In a world where the circle of violence reigns supreme, this is our only hope.