“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:43-45)
[These devotional insights are from a conversation with Dr. Jerry Porter, General Superintendent Emeritus, Church of the Nazarene.]
The refusal to retaliate, turning the other cheek (Matthew 5:39) and loving one’s enemies are the very center of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. The Jewish law limited retaliation to the exact equivalent; one eye for one eye or one tooth for one tooth. Unlimited retaliation would be for us to knock out several teeth when only one of our teeth was knocked out. However, Jesus turned this Middle Eastern law on its head. He abolished retaliation altogether! An eye for eye is grounded in legal justice. To forgive injuries is grounded in love.
While the legal system would restrain the deed, Jesus constrains the doer of the deed. Retaliation always leads to a vicious cycle of blow for blow that creates hate. Jesus is not teaching passive resistance here but rather active resistance. Jesus did not say that if a person smites us on one cheek, we should let him smite us on the other. We are actually taught to “turn to him the other cheek.” This act of love toward a person who could break our head could actually break their heart. In so doing, as Christians, we assume moral charge of the situation. One cheek, one coat, and one mile is passive resistance that reveals moral weakness. But turning the other cheek, giving our other cloak, and going the second mile is active resistance which reveals both love and moral strength.
When Peter defended the Lord by cutting off the ear of the high priest’s servant (John 18:4-12), Jesus assumed moral command of the situation by restoring the ear. He did not do this as a helpless prisoner but as a powerful “giver of grace.” If Jesus had struck one blow in self-defense, it would have been the deathblow to his own gospel. Instead, as His followers we are called to a new warfare with new weapons.
Can we get the devil out of people by acting like the devil? No. We cannot let the actions of others determine how we react. We must be animated by invincible love and good will, no matter what other people do to us. It is not that we do not fight back – instead, we use new weapons of good will and Christ-like love. Jesus conquers evil, not by the quantity of muscle but by the quality of His spirit.
This always raises the question – what about protecting others? What if someone strikes my child or my neighbor? Do I turn the child’s other cheek? No. When an offense is personal against me, I bear it and conquer with other weapons. But when an offense is against someone else, I use force to protect the innocent. Since those around us are not able to use the weapons of love-restraint, force-restraint methods must be used to protect and help those who are weak (1 Thessalonians 5:14). Thanks for reflecting on this very important teaching of Jesus about when and how we love our enemies.
Also, thanks for all your church is doing to take positive steps forward by focusing on the basics of what the Lord has revealed to us for a healthy future:
Mobilizing everyone in unity
Blessing your community
Bringing people to Jesus
Becoming Christlike disciples
Also, thanks for serving so well on the Chicago Central District. Let’s continue to be Christ in Action. You are loved.
Larry McKain, Superintendent
Chicago Central District
Church of the Nazarene