Tradition Versus Truth
Personal Retaliation

Of all the subjects Jesus uses to contrast the tradition of the Jews with the truth of God in Matthew 5:21-48, this one on personal retaliation is probably the one that most have heard quoted, especially by those who oppose war and/or capital punishment. This and the rest of the subjects in this section of the Sermon on the Mount show a stark contrast between tradition and truth. What they “heard...by them of old time” (5:21, 27, 33, 38, 43) was not what God through Moses taught. Jesus sets the record straight with His “But I say unto you” (5:22, 28, 34, 39, 44). In so doing, He cuts through centuries of tradition that blinded His contemporaries and replaces the tradition with the truth.

Tradition: Personal Retaliation Is Acceptable

Jesus begins this section by stating, “Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth” (Mt. 5:38). Again, what they heard seems to be correct because the old law did give the “eye for an eye” regulation (cf. Ex. 21:24-25; Lev. 24:20; Deut. 19:21). In fact, the principle of proportionate retribution is older and more widely recognized than Mosaic law. The principle is found in the Code of Hammurabi, which dates back to the eighteenth century BC. The purpose for the “eye for an eye” regulation was not in order to sanction personal retaliation, but to prevent unjust punishment and to assure that justice would be rendered without partiality. The person who was wronged or harmed was not the one authorized to carry out the “eye for an eye” punishment. The execution of the “eye for an eye” was to be in the hands of an “objective” third party such as “judges” (Ex. 21:22), “Moses” (Lev. 24:11), or “priests and judges” (Deut. 19:17). The person who was wronged or harmed is not in a position to render justice impartially. If one has his eye put out by another, the tendency of the victim would be to put out the other person’s eye and then add something else. However, with the “eye for an eye” rule, the third party is emotionally detached and can be much more impartial.

Truth: Giving Up Personal Rights Is Better Than Personal Retaliation

As with the other subjects in Matthew 5:21-48, the way we know what tradition taught is by examining Jesus’ response. His “But I say unto you” introduces the truth of how they should act, which tells us that they were not practicing what truth taught. In this case, Jesus first says, “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” (Mt. 5:39). The word “resist” means to set oneself against (same word in Acts 6:10; 13:8; Rom. 9:19; 13:2; Gal. 2:11). “Evil” refers to an “evil person” (NKJ). Thus, Jesus is here saying that we should not as individuals personally retaliate against those who do us evil. Paul said, “Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves...Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord” (Rom. 12:19). The example Jesus uses is when we are insulted we should not retaliate. “Smite [slaps, NKJ]” refers to a slap, which was more of an insult than a physically damaging blow (cf. Mt. 26:67; Isa. 50:6). Thus, when insulted, we must not insult back (Pr. 26:4), but we must turn the other cheek. This does not mean to be a total pacifist—Jesus wasn’t (Jn. 18:22-23)—nor does it mean we are to keep on taking abuse if at all possible to avoid, even if we have to appeal to civil law (cf. Acts 16:37; 22:25; 25:8-12). What it does mean is that we are not to stop the insults by personal retaliation! It is better to keep on enduring insults.

Even the most severe oppression must be endured without seeking personal retaliation. Jesus adds, “And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloke also” (Mt. 5:40). “Take away” is from a Greek word that can involve taking by force (cf. Mt. 21:35, 39). Here, the one who sues uses the law to force the issue. The “coat [tunic, NKJ; shirt, NAS]” was the shirt, or inner garment, and the “cloak” was the outer garment that even the poor had a right to keep, for it also served as a covering at night (cf. Ex. 22:26-27; Deut. 24:12-13). The point of this is to show that some things are not worth fighting for, especially when fighting for these rights will lead us to personal retaliation and/or an abandonment of the character that makes us citizens of the kingdom of God (cf. Mt. 5:3-10).

Truth teaches that we are to go well beyond what is required by law. Jesus continues, “And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain” (Mt. 5:41). Roman law allowed for soldiers to commandeer civilians to carry their luggage or equipment a prescribed distance of one mile. The word “compel [forces, NAS]” is also used in the requisition of Simon of Cyrene, who was compelled to carry the cross of Jesus (Mt. 27:32; Mk. 15:21). Both lawsuits and mandatory, spur of the moment, forced labor evoke outrage, which leads to personal retaliation, but Jesus’ answer is to carry the burden a second mile! Going beyond what is required shows a cooperative spirit.

Truth teaches that this cooperative spirit must carry over into a free and unselfish attitude toward property. Jesus concludes, “Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away” (Mt. 5:42). Obviously, this does not mean that we indiscriminately give to just anybody. Jesus says later, “Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine” (Mt. 7:6). Even the Golden Rule is qualified by “for this is the law and the prophets” (Mt. 7:12). The verb tense of “give” points to a definite occasion.

Conclusion

The relinquishing of our rights is immitating Christ, not personal retaliation (cf. 1 Pet. 2:21-23). God does have an entity that is to distribute justice on this earth, and it is not the church. Rather, civil government is “the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil” (Rom. 13:1-7). A Christian may serve in a civil state’s law enforcement (cf. Acts 10:1-2, 48), but truth teaches that Christians (or others) are not authorized to take matters into their own hands and personally retaliate!