Mateus 5:39-42

Jesus gave four illustrations to clarify what He meant. In the first (Matthew 5:39 b), a disciple suffers an unjustified physical attack on his or her person. What is that one to do? He or she should not injure the aggressor in return but should absorb the injury and the insult. He should even be ready to accept the same attack again. In Jesus’ illustration the disciple gets slapped on the right cheek. Under normal conditions this would come from the back of a right-handed person’s right hand. Such a slap was an insult more than an injury. However, we should probably not make too much of that point. The point is that disciples should accept insult and injury without retaliating. In Jesus "honor shame" culture such a sacrifice was perhaps greater than it is for us today in the West.

Second, if someone wanted to extract as much as the disciple’s undergarment for some real or imagined offense, the disciple was to part with it willingly (Matthew 5:40). The disciple should not resist the evil antagonist’s action. Moreover he or she should be ready and willing to part with his or her outer garment as well. Under Mosaic Law, a person’s outer cloak was something he or she had an almost inalienable right to retain (Exodus 22:26-27; Deuteronomy 24:13). This is another example of hyperbole. Jesus did not intend His disciples to walk around naked but to be generous even toward enemies even if it meant parting with essential possessions.

The third illustration requires some background knowledge of customs in New Testament times to appreciate (Matthew 5:41). The Romans sometimes commandeered civilians to carry the luggage of military personnel, but the civilian did not have to carry the luggage for more than one Roman mile. [Note: W. Hatch, Essays in Biblical Greek, pp. 37-38.] This imposition exasperated and infuriated many a proud Jew. Again the disciple is not only to refrain from retaliating but even to refrain from resisting this personal injustice. Jesus advocated going an extra mile. The disciple is to respond to unjustified demands by giving even more than the adversary asks, and he or she is to return good for evil.

Fourth, Jesus told His disciples to give what others request of them, assuming it is within their power to do so (Matthew 5:41). This applies to loans as well as gifts (cf. Exodus 22:25; Leviticus 25:37; Deuteronomy 23:19). A willing and generous spirit is implicit in this command (cf. Deuteronomy 15:7-11; Psalms 37:26; Psalms 112:5). This does not mean we should give all our money away to individuals and institutions that ask for our financial assistance (cf. Proverbs 11:15; Proverbs 17:18; Proverbs 22:26). The scene in view in all these illustrations and in all of this teaching is one individual dealing with another individual. Personal wrongs are in view, not social or governmental crimes. [Note: See Hagner, p. 131.]

". . . Jesus is here talking to his disciples, and speaking of personal relations: he is not laying down moral directives for states and nations, and such issues as the work of police or the question of a defensive war are simply not in his mind." [Note: Hunter, A Pattern . . ., pp. 57-58.]

There is a progression in these illustrations from simply not resisting to giving generously to those who make demands that tempt us to retaliate against them. Love must be the disciple’s governing principle, not selfishness. [Note: See G. Campbell Morgan, The Gospel According to Matthew, p. 58.]

Some conscientious believers have taken Jesus’ instructions about resisting aggression literally and refuse to defend themselves in any situation either as pacifists or as advocates of non-resistance. However the spirit of the law, which Jesus clarified, did not advocate turning oneself into a doormat. It stressed meeting hatred with positive love rather than hatred. Though Jesus allowed His enemies to lead Him as a lamb to the slaughter, He did not cave in to every hostile attack from the scribes and Pharisees. Likewise, Paul claimed his Roman citizenship rather than suffering prolonged attack by the Jews. Disciples may stand up for their rights, but when we are taken advantage of we should always respond in love.