Matthew 5:39

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.

But {G1161} I {G1473} say {G3004} unto you {G5213}, That ye resist {G436} not {G3361} evil {G4190}: but {G235} whosoever {G3748} shall smite {G4474} thee {G4571} on {G1909} thy {G4675} right {G1188} cheek {G4600}, turn {G4762} to him {G846} the other {G243} also {G2532}.

But I tell you not to stand up against someone who does you wrong. On the contrary, if someone hits you on the right cheek, let him hit you on the left cheek too!

But I tell you not to resist an evil person. If someone slaps you on your right cheek, turn to him the other also;

but I say unto you, Resist not him that is evil: but whosoever smiteth thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.

Matthew 5:39 presents one of Jesus's most challenging and transformative teachings from the Sermon on the Mount, calling His followers to a radical ethic of non-retaliation. It contrasts sharply with the prevailing understanding of justice and personal rights, urging a response to insult and injury that transcends human instinct for vengeance.

Context

This verse is part of a series of "antitheses" (contrasting statements) in Jesus's Sermon on the Mount, where He reinterprets and deepens the understanding of the Mosaic Law. Immediately preceding this, Jesus addresses the principle of "an eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth" (lex talionis), which was originally intended to limit vengeance to proportionate retribution. Jesus moves beyond this legalistic principle, calling His disciples to a higher standard of righteousness and love that goes beyond mere justice.

Key Themes

  • Non-Retaliation: The core message is to refrain from personal vengeance and retaliatory actions. Instead of striking back when wronged, believers are called to absorb the injury and break the cycle of escalating conflict.
  • Radical Love: This teaching is an extension of Jesus's command to love your enemies. Turning the other cheek demonstrates a love that seeks the good of the aggressor, even at personal cost, and refuses to be drawn into their pattern of hostility.
  • Humility and Self-Control: It requires profound humility to endure an insult without striking back and immense self-control to choose a passive, non-violent response over a defensive or aggressive one.
  • Reliance on God's Justice: By relinquishing the right to personal retribution, believers entrust justice to God, recognizing that vengeance belongs to the Lord.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "resist not evil" uses the Greek word anthistēmi (ἀνθίστημι), which means to set oneself against, oppose, or withstand. This is not a blanket command to be passive in the face of all forms of evil or injustice (e.g., systemic oppression), but specifically concerns personal retaliation for personal insult or injury. The term "evil" (ponēros, πονηρός) can refer to evil itself or, as often interpreted in this context, to an evil person or one who commits an evil act.

The instruction to "smite thee on thy right cheek" is particularly significant. A blow to the right cheek would most likely be a backhanded slap by a right-handed assailant. This was not merely a physical attack but a profound insult, designed to humiliate and demean the recipient, far more than a direct punch. Jesus's command to "turn to him the other also" is a call to absorb the insult and refuse to play the aggressor's game, thereby disarming the power of the insult itself.

Related Scriptures

  • The parallel teaching is found in Luke 6:29, reinforcing its importance in Jesus's message.
  • Paul echoes this principle in Romans 12:17-21, urging believers not to repay evil for evil but to overcome evil with good.
  • The example of Christ himself, who "when he was reviled, reviled not again," is presented in 1 Peter 2:23 as the ultimate illustration of this principle.

Practical Application

Matthew 5:39 challenges believers to adopt a counter-cultural approach to personal injury and insult. It does not advocate for passivity in the face of genuine threats to safety or for condoning injustice, but rather for a personal disposition that renounces vengeance. In practice, this means choosing to respond to personal attacks with grace, patience, and a desire for reconciliation rather than immediate retaliation. It calls for a spiritual strength that trusts God to handle wrongs and seeks to break cycles of animosity, reflecting the transformative love of Christ in a broken world.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • 1 Thessalonians 5:15

    See that none render evil for evil unto any [man]; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all [men].

  • 1 Peter 3:9

    Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing.

  • Romans 12:17

    Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men.

  • Romans 12:19

    Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but [rather] give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance [is] mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.

  • Proverbs 20:22

    ¶ Say not thou, I will recompense evil; [but] wait on the LORD, and he shall save thee.

  • Luke 6:29

    And unto him that smiteth thee on the [one] cheek offer also the other; and him that taketh away thy cloke forbid not [to take thy] coat also.

  • Luke 6:30

    Give to every man that asketh of thee; and of him that taketh away thy goods ask [them] not again.

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