Hello brothers and sisters, I have come across several threads lately concerning the topic of turning the other cheek and loving your enemy. Let's take a look at the Scriptures and come to a conclusion on what the Bible actually teaches dealing with all the relating texts.
I believe that the two passages above do not contradict. People often mistake the verses.
The Pharisees took the passage from exodus to mean, "If you hit me then I am entitled to hitting you back," but according to Jesus' words, that's not what the text means. Jesus was upholding the Law. He corrected His disciples from the poison of the Pharisees to the true meaning of the text.
Jesus wasn't teaching against civil justice for assault, He was merely teaching an old truth of the Law, to love your enemy. As the Law of Exodus also said:
Thus Jesus upheld this by teaching us to love our enemies. So what was Jesus forbidding in the fifth chapter of Matthew? He was forbidding personal retaliation done in wrath, in lieu of civil justice. It is perfectly fine to demand justice when someone does something wrong, but it is sinful to take matters into your own hands, hold grudges, and seek revenge (Matt 18:21-35; Romans 12:19).
As Jesus said, the Pharisees often neglected one of the most important aspects of the Law: Justice (Matt 23:23-24).
It all comes down to love and hate. Do we love everyone? This is getting deeper, but let's take a look:
Atheists for example: In what way do I love them? As a brother? Certainly not! As a fellow human? Of course!
King David, a man after God's own heart, said: "Lord, don’t I hate those who hate You, and detest those who rebel against You? I hate them with extreme hatred; I consider them my enemies," (Psalm 139:21-22 HCSB).
And Jesus said:, "But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you."
Does God hate them? Yes: "The boastful cannot stand in Your presence; You hate all evildoers," (Psalm 5:5 HCSB).
Does God love them? Yes: "...For He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous," (Matthew 5:45 HCSB).
We cannot deny that God does hate sinners; the Bible says that outright. The Bible also says that God does have a common love for all people (known as the doctrine of common grace), but has a special love for only His believers that He set on them in eternity past (called foreknowledge: means fore-love cf. Romans 8:29-30).
With what type of hatred do we hate them? A hatred that denies fellowship. This does not permit Christians to hate them with personal malice, but to merely reject close friendships with them. The Bible forbids close relationships with anyone who is not born again (2 Corinthians 6:14). We should show them love by showing them the Gospel, God's grace and by just being genuinely nice to them. This is to turn the other cheek: To not retaliate because of personal malice for the one who struck you, but to demand civil justice and mercy.
Scripture quotations marked HCSB are taken from the Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Holman CSB®, and HCSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers.
38 “You have heard that it was said, An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. 39 But I tell you, don’t resist an evildoer. On the contrary, if anyone slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. 40 As for the one who wants to sue you and take away your shirt, let him have your coat as well. 41 And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two. 42 Give to the one who asks you, and don’t turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.
43 “You have heard that it was said, Love your neighbor and hate your enemy. 44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. For He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward will you have? Don’t even the tax collectors do the same? 47 And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing out of the ordinary? Don’t even the Gentiles do the same? 48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect. (Matthew 5:38-48 HCSB)
22 “When men get in a fight and hit a pregnant woman so that her children are born prematurely but there is no injury, the one who hit her must be fined as the woman’s husband demands from him, and he must pay according to judicial assessment. 23 If there is an injury, then you must give life for life, 24 eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, 25 burn for burn, bruise for bruise, wound for wound. (Exodus 21:22-25 HCSB)
43 “You have heard that it was said, Love your neighbor and hate your enemy. 44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. For He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward will you have? Don’t even the tax collectors do the same? 47 And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing out of the ordinary? Don’t even the Gentiles do the same? 48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect. (Matthew 5:38-48 HCSB)
22 “When men get in a fight and hit a pregnant woman so that her children are born prematurely but there is no injury, the one who hit her must be fined as the woman’s husband demands from him, and he must pay according to judicial assessment. 23 If there is an injury, then you must give life for life, 24 eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, 25 burn for burn, bruise for bruise, wound for wound. (Exodus 21:22-25 HCSB)
I believe that the two passages above do not contradict. People often mistake the verses.
The Pharisees took the passage from exodus to mean, "If you hit me then I am entitled to hitting you back," but according to Jesus' words, that's not what the text means. Jesus was upholding the Law. He corrected His disciples from the poison of the Pharisees to the true meaning of the text.
Jesus wasn't teaching against civil justice for assault, He was merely teaching an old truth of the Law, to love your enemy. As the Law of Exodus also said:
If you come across your enemy’s stray ox or donkey, you must return it to him. If you see the donkey of someone who hates you lying helpless under its load, and you want to refrain from helping it, you must help with it. (Exodus 23:4-5 HCSB)
Thus Jesus upheld this by teaching us to love our enemies. So what was Jesus forbidding in the fifth chapter of Matthew? He was forbidding personal retaliation done in wrath, in lieu of civil justice. It is perfectly fine to demand justice when someone does something wrong, but it is sinful to take matters into your own hands, hold grudges, and seek revenge (Matt 18:21-35; Romans 12:19).
As Jesus said, the Pharisees often neglected one of the most important aspects of the Law: Justice (Matt 23:23-24).
It all comes down to love and hate. Do we love everyone? This is getting deeper, but let's take a look:
Atheists for example: In what way do I love them? As a brother? Certainly not! As a fellow human? Of course!
King David, a man after God's own heart, said: "Lord, don’t I hate those who hate You, and detest those who rebel against You? I hate them with extreme hatred; I consider them my enemies," (Psalm 139:21-22 HCSB).
And Jesus said:, "But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you."
Does God hate them? Yes: "The boastful cannot stand in Your presence; You hate all evildoers," (Psalm 5:5 HCSB).
Does God love them? Yes: "...For He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous," (Matthew 5:45 HCSB).
We cannot deny that God does hate sinners; the Bible says that outright. The Bible also says that God does have a common love for all people (known as the doctrine of common grace), but has a special love for only His believers that He set on them in eternity past (called foreknowledge: means fore-love cf. Romans 8:29-30).
With what type of hatred do we hate them? A hatred that denies fellowship. This does not permit Christians to hate them with personal malice, but to merely reject close friendships with them. The Bible forbids close relationships with anyone who is not born again (2 Corinthians 6:14). We should show them love by showing them the Gospel, God's grace and by just being genuinely nice to them. This is to turn the other cheek: To not retaliate because of personal malice for the one who struck you, but to demand civil justice and mercy.
Scripture quotations marked HCSB are taken from the Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Holman CSB®, and HCSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers.
