What Benefit Is There in Practicing What Is Difficult?

One of the most difficult verses in the Bible to submit to is what Jesus instructs in Matthew 5:39: “Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other cheek as well.” Receiving a slap in the face is extremely rare, so what is the broader application Jesus is trying to convey?

How should you respond to Jesus’ instructions?  First, suppress the urge to viciously retaliate. Refuse to be forced into silence by shame. Be willing to accept the truth of the criticism or insult. By owning the truth and accepting the criticism, you have, in effect, “turned the other cheek”.

What Jesus instructs in Luke 6:27 is also difficult: “Do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, and pray for those who mistreat you.” The value of behaving as Jesus instructs is that you grow in maturity by practicing maturity, just as you grow spiritually by putting into action your faith in Jesus Christ.  

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Don’t repay evil for evil. Don’t snap back at those who say unkind things about you. Instead, pray for God’s help for them, for we are to be kind to others, and God will bless us for it.

~1 Peter 3:9 The Living Bible

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Can You Refrain from Attacking Self-esteem and Character?

It would be unusual to go through life and never experience criticism or be insulted. Getting into fights, either physically or verbally, is almost impossible to avoid, especially during childhood. The most natural response is to strike back because criticism and insults attack some aspect of a person's character and self-esteem.

Criticism rarely produces positive results. Children growing up under these conditions seldom respect the parent and may become vengeful, angry adults. Correcting behavior in children through teaching acceptable boundaries has positive results, however, because it doesn’t attack their self-esteem or character.

How can you turn the other cheek when experiencing criticism? One way to deal with disapproval or rejection is to look for the truth in the criticism. When you accept the truth, then you are emotionally and spiritually turning the other cheek. Jesus tells you to do what is unnatural and difficult because that’s what he did for you.           

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Jesus said, "To you who are ready for the truth, I say this: Love your enemies. Let them bring out the best in you, not the worst. When someone gives you a hard time, respond with the energies of prayer for that person. If someone slaps you in the face, stand there and take it. If someone grabs your shirt, giftwrap your best coat and make a present of it. If someone takes unfair advantage of you, use the occasion to practice the servant life. No more tit-for-tat stuff."  

~Luke 6:27-30 The Message

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What Does It Mean to Turn the Other Cheek?

Any act of vengeance is evil, regardless of the justifications used for seeking it. If you suffered wounds from another person’s aggression or betrayal, it might be impossible to agree that seeking revenge is evil. The biblical admonition to "turn the other cheek" is in opposition to retaliation.

Turning the other cheek is an unnatural response. The natural reaction is to defend oneself or strike back. In truth, we would like to inflict more pain than was received, and it’s at this juncture where evil makes its appearance. When revenge becomes an all-consuming drive, nothing else matters.

What did Jesus mean in Matthew 5:39 when he taught that if someone hurts you or sins against you, try first to understand the situation? What motivated this person’s anger? Did you by your own actions or attitude invite this criticism? Turning the other cheek includes responding with kindness and mercy and forgiveness as God has forgiven you. 

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Let there be no more bitter resentment or anger, no more shouting or slander, and let there be no bad feeling of any kind among you. Be kind to each other, be compassionate. Be as ready to forgive others as God for Christ’s sake has forgiven you.

~Ephesians 4:31-32 Phillips – The New Testament in Modern English 

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