Turn the other cheek

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When we were moving through Exodus we came across the Old Testament law: “an eye for an eye.”  It limited the kind of retribution the injured party could pursue.  The law says you may exact only as much as it cost you.  There is to be no escalation of violence according to the law of Moses.

But here in Matthew, Jesus ‘fills full’ the law of reciprocity.  He doesn’t just seek to limit the payback we seek.  He tells us to pay back in a completely different way.  To answer evil with good:

“Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.”  (Matthew 5:38-39)

Here’s what Jesus is saying:

when you are struck…

don’t strike back, take the blow

don’t protect yourself, expose yourself

don’t lead with justice, lead with mercy

don’t retreat into safety, advance into danger

don’t retaliate with strength, retaliate with weakness

don’t shrink into self-pity, move out into self-giving

don’t insist on your rights, open yourself to wrong

don’t cower in defeat, hold fast in meekness

don’t stand on your dignity, stand on your shame

don’t harden into bitterness, soften into tenderness

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be defiantly peaceable

be immovably vulnerable

be steafastly gracious

be victoriously wounded

be like Jesus.

Who, when we lashed out at Him…

did not come in violence.  nor remain in indifference

did not strike back.  nor shrink back

did not retaliate.  nor harden

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He absorbed the blow

And He turned again to us.

He upheld His offer.

Arms outstretched, even to His killers.

Especially them

Only them

You, even.

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There is strength in this weakness.

Strength to redeem the world.

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It begins with surrender.

Laying down your arms.

Receiving His peace.

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It continues with service.

Following His way.

Absorbing your own blows.

Today. Every day.  Turning your cheek.

To this you are called.

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To be lower than a door-mat.  Far lower.

A door-mat is passive

But you thow yourself under the feet of your enemies.

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To be lower than a slave.  Far lower.

A slave walks his alotted mile grumbling in his heart.

You walk two miles with a glint in your eyes.

For you know the power of this weakness.

It reconciles the world.

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