Turn the Other Cheek

In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus says: “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I say to you, do not resist one who is evil. But if anyone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.”

Jesus is not teaching that we should be a doormat and not defend ourselves.   

Jesus is teaching that we must have a radical commitment to forgiveness and a rejection of all sinful anger, hatred and vengeance.

We cannot solve evil with more evil.

As St. Paul tells us we must resist evil and overcome it with good.  (Romans 12:21)

When Jesus faced the evil going on in the Temple he became angry and drove out the money-changers with a whip.

And when He stood before the high priest at his trial and was struck in the face by a guard, He did not turn the other cheek, but defended himself saying: “If I have spoken wrongly, bear witness to the wrong; but if I have spoken rightly, why do you strike me?” (John 18, 23).

By His life and by his words Jesus shows us we have two options when we face evil: we must resist evil in the effort to change it; but when we have done all we can and can do no more; then we must be ready to endure evil patiently and even give up our life for the greater good.

However, we must never return evil with more evil.

For then we only become evil ourselves.