There is a popular verse in the Bible where Jesus spoke on retaliation in Matthew 5:39 which says, "But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also."
One thing we must understand is that Jesus didn't come to this world to raise timid people or people who would allow ill-treatment of themselves for the sake of not causing violence. No! For the kingdom of our Lord Jesus is not a kingdom of foolish people.
If you remember, Jesus on two occasions scattered the temple court of people who were buying and selling, rather than praying (ref.: Matthew 21:12-13; John 2:13-21). He always advocated the right thing, not for us to be hypocritical. Then why did He ask us to turn the other cheek when someone slaps us? What does this really mean?
The law of Moses says, "An eye for an eye", but Jesus came to express Himself in all He did. The new commandment by Jesus says we should love our neighbour as Christ loves us. That's a responsibility that we need the leading of the Holy Spirit. The lowest way we can understand this [which rests on loving your neighbour as yourself] is that we should do to others what we would want others to do to us. Also, means that we shouldn't do to others what we don't want them to do to us.
So, when someone treats us anyhow, our point of response shouldn't be evil for evil, but not to treat the person the way we won't want them to treat us.
As we live our lives this way, we bring about peace. Again, this doesn't mean being timid, but showing the person that I didn't retaliate because I would not want you to slap me. This would set the offender thinking, and eventually have a change of heart. So, when you read further in verse 40 of Matthew 5, Jesus said if a person compels you to go a mile, go with him two. This states that you would love the person to do likewise to you when it comes to your turn.
To turn the other cheek doesn't mean being gullible or foolish, but to establish the fact that rather than retaliating, I'd rather do to you what I'd want you to do to me. So, if you want a slap, then give a slap, but I know you don't want a slap, then do not give a slap. Bless and do not curse, because you only give what you would want others to do to you, and on like that as Jesus explained to us in Matthew 5. There is great wisdom in that.
Why not accept Jesus today if you haven’t. Pray out loud, “Jesus, I confess that You are my Lord and Saviour. I believe in my heart that God raised You from the dead. By faith in Your Word, I receive salvation now. Thank You for saving me!” Congratulations, you’re born again, you are now brand new!
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Unless otherwise stated, the following scriptures are obtained from New King James Version (NKJV)
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