Punitive damages.
It’s a legal term that means we intend to get someone’s attention. We want to hit them where it hurts, in their pocketbook. They’ll know our anger, because we’ve impacted their bottom line.
We’ve done some damage, and we’ve taken control. We won’t be wronged again.
How does that work with Matthew 5:39?
“But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.”
Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers tells us this is about avoiding private retaliation.
MacLaren’s Expositions says that if turning the other cheek makes the situation worse for us or others, then in love, we must stand up to our abuser. The key? We mustn’t let vengeance be our motivation.
See this exemplified in Romans 13:4:
“For he is God's servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God's wrath on the wrongdoer.”
This passage is about respect for secular authority, but there’s no doubt it’s also about keeping abusive people under control.
Proverbs is one of the most loved books of the Bible, giving us small vignettes of truth, concisely summed up in a line or two. Let’s view our proffered cheek from the eyes of this insightful book using Proverbs 25:26:
“Like a muddied spring or a polluted fountain is a righteous man who gives way before the wicked.”
Barnes’ Notes on the Bible reinforces that in matters of life or family, we are right to pursue wrongdoing through our court system. Our cheek-turning is for private matters, those day-to-day bumps against each other that we can hardly avoid. Let them slide off our shoulders, the chips gone; and let a renewing love fill the empty space.
It boils down to Luke 10:27:
“And he answered, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.’ ”
God’s love levels the playing field, and we no longer consider ourselves better than anyone else.
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Code: FGO.H.04.16b.vp.esv