The Back-handed Compliment
But I say to you, do not resist him who is evil; but whoever slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. Matthew 5:39
Right Cheek – Stand in front of a friend. Go through the motion of slapping him on the right cheek. What did you discover? If you are right-handed, the natural way of slapping on the right cheek of another person is with the back of your hand. Yeshua’s illustration intends us to realize that this is a back-handed slap. Why? Because a slap with the back of the hand was considered a much more grievous insult. The point of Yeshua’s remark is not just about non-resistance. It is about refusing to seek reciprocity even in the face of abusive and insulting behavior. The Greek expression here (dexios siagon) is calculated to bring an instant emotional response, not simply a protective reflex.
This passage is often used to support Christian non-retaliation. In fact, on the surface it goes much further. It advocates non-resistance. This is very difficult to accept since it is quite clear that the offending party is a bad, even deliberately harmful, person. In a culture where “face” was extremely important, Yeshua’s demand must have seemed impossible. Does He really mean that we are to offer no resistance to evil? Are we to allow any injury to ourselves or others without even the slightest attempt to forestall such atrocities? Stripped of its context, this verse seems to uphold a standard no reasonable man could accept.
What is the context? The teaching begins in verse 17. The entire section is typically rabbinic. Yeshua, the great rabbi, is explaining principles from the Torah. He is giving commentary on the words delivered to Moses. But His commentary isn’t designed to provide a history of the insights of past rabbis. His commentary is intended to take his disciples right back to the original. In other words, Yeshua is not commenting on specific ethical applications. He is directing us to think about they way the world – God’s world – is supposed to work, and how we are to exhibit that Kingdom view here and now. The topic here is injustice in the world. Injustice is slap in God’s face. It is an affront to His hesed and His creative sovereignty. Every act of injustice calls into question the benevolence and the authority of God. Evil is not found simply in acts of aggression. It is found in the metaphysical implications behind the aggression. Yeshua’s commentary addresses these implications. Unless we see the true nature of the problem, we will not be able to execute a principled solution. We don’t want a list of prescribed ethical actions. We don’t need a “if this happens, then do this” ethics. We want to know how to apply the underlying principle in any situation. Yeshua engages us in an insight into the principle by imagining a situation that is both harmful and insulting. So, the principle must meet both attempted injury and damage to pride.
What is the underlying principle here? The principle is not about taking a stand for good. The principle is about taking a stand for myself. Torah clearly calls us to defend what is right and just. God is the God of justice. God is good. Nothing Yeshua says can be understood as an endorsement that allows evil to reign. What is at stake here is not resistance to evil but rather defending my pride. Yeshua is not calling His disciples to refuse resistance against evil. He is calling His disciples to refuse resistance on the basis of protecting my self-image. What He says is that turning the other cheek is a back-handed compliment to God. Turning the other cheek defends God’s honor by refusing to take the question of honor in our own hands.
Topical Index: turn the other cheek, honor, Matthew 5:39
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“What is at stake here is not resistance to evil but rather defending my pride.”
Thank you Skip for illustrating through your lesson the real culprit ‘pride.’ Earlier this A.M. before reading this, while on my knees before the throne of grace, ADONAI showed me in no uncertain terms where I have allowed pride to rear its ugly head in past relationships in my home church. Because of this, and your illustrative teachings on sacrificial practice from the book of Leviticus, my intentions this morning will be to make right what has been wrong. Blessings in the name of Yeshua Ha’Mashiach.
Your actions are a lesson to us all, Fred. Thank you for being part of this community. Believe me when I say that every Today’s Word is a personal journey – and just as much an indictment to the writer as to any reader.
Slap!!- Sometimes, we need a good “slap across the face” -(it’s better than a cup of coffee, but I prefer coffee). Ever been stuck by a hatpin? That works pretty good too..
For the light is making everything visible. That is why it says, “Wake up, O sleeper! Arise from the dead, and the Messiah will shine on you.” (Ephesians 5.14)
Wake up call!- not my preferred method of “waking up”, but very effective nonetheless. Ever had one “upside the head?” (Remember the “story” of the perfect mule?) Yes, there is “according to the will of YHWH a “reason” for the slap. Either we ask- “what was that all about?” or we already know- “thanks, I needed that.”
A good slap across the head will elicit some form of response. (again- I prefer coffee.., but sometimes..remember G-d (always) gives us what we need- when we need it-and his “grace” is sufficient.
Faith is our response to what G-d says. He has spoken. Our (right) response of course is obedience. My “choice” is to agree (confess) with what is written in the Lamb’s book of life. I don’t exactly know why (of course) but Colossians 3.3 has been echoing in my head today- “For you are dead and your life is hid with Christ in G-d.” (Not how is anyone going to bother a dead man?- go ahead and slap him, he ain’t gonna feel nothin’, stick him with a hat pin and call him dirty names- he’s dead!)
We might do some good brother Skip to camp out here awhile and get a firm grip on this “enemy within”, known in biblical terms as “the flesh”. The apostle Paul stated emphatically in Romans 7.18 “For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,ergo ego-Edge G-d Out) dwelleth no good thing:” -and of course we are familiar with the big three- the world, the flesh, and HaSatan, our ever present “challenges”. I would “confess” or agree-my biggest enemy is the dude I shave everyday. HaSatan- “the accuser” is the Prince of Posers- his teeth were pulled at Calvary. Gotta lotta bark, (and some foul-smelling breath), but no bite. The world?- lust (wrongful desire) of the flesh, lust (misplaced desire) of the eyes, and of course the pride (ego) of life. Doing, having,and being- we are slammed from every direction! (Almost, thou persuadest me to be a Christian!-lol!) The flesh, as far as I can determine (and I promise I’ve got scads to learn!) is who I am apart from or without Christ. The “natural” man. Without G-d, I am self-centered, self-absorbed, self-protective.. shall the list go on?- it could. Self anything. Any form of “self”. Looking out for old numero uno! “me-ism”- after all the world centers around me doesn’t it? Self-centeredness is “eccentric” or off-center and out of balance. Christ is the center, Christ is the circumference and Christ is the compass. Google “thirty-one kings” by A.B.Simpson. It was a great help to me to I.D. the “enemy within”. Meanwhile “back at the ranch”, “who shall deliver me”, as was Paul’s plea, can be and should be ours as well. “Ask” and you shall receive is the promise we have from the “peace-speaker”. Whose very name is “Deliverance” (salvation)?
Reply
Shalom brethren,
“Turning the other cheek” is not a change in YHWH’s justice. By the principle of “eye for eye”, the transgression rightfully deserves a slap back. That is the right of a free-man! :-O
However, it is not the right of a bond-servant! The bond-servant must restrain vengence and allow his Master to recompense. This then frees us from the need to expend emotion, energy, and time involved in seeking our own recompense. This allows us to extend grace, recognizing that our Master is truely just and He can work all things to His glory. Baruch HaShem! 😀
“The bond-servant must restrain vengence and allow his Master to recompense. This then frees us from the need to expend emotion, energy, and time involved in seeking our own recompense.”
Hi Tom,
I’m not sure what you are saying. We are slaves in relation to God, but not to other men…correct?
Aren’t bond-servants real slaves? In any case, this issue has never been clear to me.
If thy brother . . . be waxen poor, and be sold unto thee; thou shalt not compel him to serve as a bond servant: but as an hired servant.
– Lev. 25: 40.
A bond-servant is a slave; one who is bound to service without wages.
BTW we spelled vengeance incorrectly.
Michael, the teaching of the bond servant is one of the most profound in scripture, regarding our relationship to God. It comes from Deuteronomy 15:12-18 and Exodus 21:2-6. It works like this.
Let’s imagine that a person owes another a debt he is unable to pay (it could be a monetary debt or it could be that the other has saved his life from mortal danger). That person would enter the service of the one to whom the debt is owed in order to “work off” the debt. That person was not treated like a foreigner who was purchased as a slave, however. They effectively become as part of the family, eating at the family table and being looked after as one of the natural family members.
Every 7 years, in the “shmittah” or sabbath year, all Hebrew slaves (i.e. those who had entered service for this reason, as this was the only way a Hebrew could be “enslaved” by another Hebrew) were to be released from service and went out as free men. The debt was considered paid, whether they had served 6 years, one year or part of a year.
However, if whilst in the service of the master, the servant decided that life was good, or maybe he had fallen in love with and been given as a wife a female servant or even a daughter of the master and/or had fathered children whilst in the master’s service, the wife and children belonged to the master and did not go out with him – he had to leave them behind (unless he was married prior to entering the master’s service, in which case his wife did go out with him.
In this case, he had a choice. He could choose to remain in the master’s service and not go out as a free man. If he chose thus, he and the master would go out to the city gates to the elders of the city – he would proclaim, “I love my master, I love my wife and children, and I will not go out as a free man”. The master would then pierce his ear with an awl, and put a ring in it, and he would then remain in the master’s service as a bond-servant for the rest of his life.
You see – a bond servant is a servant by choice. Is it any coincidence that the apostles introduced themselves as “…a bond-servant of the Lord Jesus Christ…”?
Does it now become clearer why Yeshua was giving instructions to his talmidiym that applied to bond servants and not free men? In the sermon on the mount, Yeshua contrasts the commandments and rights of free men with those of the bond-servants. “You have heard it said…but I say to you…”
Truly, it should be the testimony of every man who joins himself to and serves the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (and it is indeed my testimony) that “I love my wife and my children whom my master have given me. I love my master. I choose not to go out as a free man”.
Brother Michael,
Brother Rodney wrote a wonderful piece on the ‘principle of the bond-servant’. B-) It is very interesting that the Almighty’s first instructions after the giving of the Ten Words was His teaching on the ‘bond-servant’.
When we choose to serve HaShem because of what He has done for us, and because we love Him, then we give up certain rights- one of which is the right to seek justice for ourselves. In a real sense we die to ourselves (and our right for any vengeance our flesh desires) and live to what glorifies our Master. o/o/o/
Sorry for my misspellings… and for any future ones. Spelling has never been one of my strong suites. 😉
Hi Tom and Rodney,
Thank you for the very interesting explanations; the concept is new to me and rather complicated 🙂
Regarding the misspelling, I mentioned it only because I misspelled the same word the same way the other day and then noticed it again today after the fact again.
Nice to see you back, Tom. I look forward to your comments.
Shalom,
Skip … an excellent commentary on another often times misunderstood convention in The Word!
What I really enjoyed is the truth of how Yeshua takes us right back to the very principle …the very root of the matter and does not teach in terms of a specific or current cultural issue. This is teaching with authority … unlike the leaders of the establishment.
Indeed … Mashiach’s delivery of the Torah was revolutionary and as Isaiah revealed … it is glorious!