Is it realistic to expect someone to go through life always being honest, and turning the other cheek?
What if people take advantage of us?
How can I ever get ahead in life if I live this way?

The sermon on the mount is both simple and profound. The message is simple enough, that even a child can easily understand it. The practical application of Jesus’ words, however, is something we will wrestle with our entire lives.

Be Honest

33 “Again you have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform your oaths to the Lord.’ 34 But I say to you, do not swear at all: neither by heaven, for it is God’s throne; 35 nor by the earth, for it is His footstool; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. 36 Nor shall you swear by your head, because you cannot make one hair white or black. 37 But let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ For whatever is more than these is from the evil one.
- Matthew 5:33-37 NKJV

These verses are straightforward. People ought to always be honest and never try to deceive anyone else. When you are always honest you do not need to try to convince someone that what you say is the truth. If you have to swear by something for someone to believe you it causes everything else you said outside the boundaries of the oath to be questioned.

Jesus taught that our conversation should be so honest, and our character so true, that we would not need “crutches” to get people to believe us. Words depend on character, and oaths cannot compensate for a poor character.
- Warren W. Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary, vol. 1 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1996), 24.

Jesus is not condemning the use of judicial oath. In Matthew 26:63-64 the High Priest places Jesus under oath and asks Him a question.

And the high priest answered and said to Him, “I put You under oath by the living God: Tell us if You are the Christ, the Son of God!”

Jesus answered the question and did not refuse to testify under oath.

The teaching is simple, but the application can be difficult. So many have a habit of lying, deceiving, and using half-truths, that it takes a special effort to be honest on a consistent basis. Commenting on Jesus’ words the book Thoughts from the Mount of Blessings says the following

These words condemn all those meaningless phrases and expletives that border on profanity. They condemn the deceptive compliments, the evasion of truth, the flattering phrases, the exaggerations, the misrepresentations in trade, that are current in society and in the business world. They teach that no one who tries to appear what he is not, or whose words do not convey the real sentiment of his heart, can be called truthful.
- Thoughts from the Mount of Blessings p.68

Some may consider this interpretation a bit extreme. But do you really want to argue that we should be less honest? Do you enjoy being on the receiving end of deception? How does it feel when you realize that you did not get what you thought you were getting and, due to a loophole somewhere in the fine print, you’re stuck with your acquisition? The person who sold you the product/service, who had the contract written up, probably felt it necessary to be less than honest in order to make a living. However, their dishonesty will eventually cost them, because word will get out and people will be less willing to do business with them.

Honesty may feel like it will cost you business and relationships, but in the long run, the benefits far outweigh the costs. Your relationships will be healthier and your business will increase in value. Honesty pays off in the long run. Lies might appear to benefit you in the short run, but it never lasts. Dishonesty will destroy your witness, and honesty and a solid character will reflect Jesus even if you don’t get the opportunity to say His name.

If you want your words to mean something you have to make sure they represent the truth, at least the truth to the best of your ability. You have complete control over how you use your words. Whether people can trust you or not is entirely up to you. Jesus is clear, you should not try to deceive others.

If these words of Christ were heeded, they would check the utterance of evil surmising and unkind criticism; for in commenting upon the actions and motives of another, who can be certain of speaking the exact truth? How often pride, passion, personal resentment, color the impression given! A glance, a word, even an intonation of the voice, may be vital with falsehood. Even facts may be so stated as to convey a false impression. And “whatsoever is more than” truth, “is of the evil one.”
- Thoughts from the Mount of Blessings p.68

“Oath-taking
is a pathetic confession
of our own dishonesty. ”

— John R. W. Stott (paraphrased)

Eye for an Eye

“You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’
- Matthew 5:38 NKJV

Jesus here is summarizing Exodus 21:24 and Deuteronomy 19:21. These verses deal with the law and were instructions to the judges of Israel to prevent disproportionate retaliation.

It expressed the lex talionis, the principle of an exact retribution, whose purpose was both to lay the foundation of justice, specifying the punishment which a wrongdoer deserved, and to limit the compensation of his victim to an exact equivalent and no more.
- John R. W. Stott and John R. W. Stott, The Message of the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7): Christian Counter-Culture, The Bible Speaks Today (Leicester; Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1985), 104.

Turn the other cheek?

Speaking of the coming verse John Stott says:

“Nowhere is the challenge of the Sermon greater. Nowhere is the distinctness of the Christian counter-culture more obvious. Nowhere is our need of the power of the Holy Spirit (whose first fruit is love) more compelling.”
-John R. W. Stott and John R. W. Stott, The Message of the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7): Christian Counter-Culture, The Bible Speaks Today (Leicester; Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1985), 103.

39 But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. 40 If anyone wants to sue you and take away your tunic, let him have your cloak also. 41 And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two. 42 Give to him who asks you, and from him who wants to borrow from you do not turn away.
- Matthew 5:39-42 NKJV

Doesn’t seem like a very good plan does it?

Jesus is decisively breaking the natural chain of evil action and reaction that characterizes human relationships. (Craig Blomberg, Matthew, vol. 22, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1992), 113. (paraphrased)

The idea of not avenging yourself is not new in the Bible.

You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the children of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord.
- Leviticus 19:18 NKJV
Do not say, “I will do to him just as he has done to me;
I will render to the man according to his work.”
- Proverbs 24:29 NKJV
Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord.
- Romans 12:19 NKJV
Vengeance is Mine, and recompense;
Their foot shall slip in due time;
For the day of their calamity is at hand,
And the things to come hasten upon them.’
- Deuteronomy 23:35 NKJV

Jesus is teaching His followers that though the principle of exact retribution exists, it pertains to the courts of law and to the judgment of God, but it is not applicable to our personal relationships. (John R. W. Stott, The Message of the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7) p. 105.)

By contrast, consider the words of Lamech, a descendant of Cain

23 Then Lamech said to his wives:
“Adah and Zillah, hear my voice;
Wives of Lamech, listen to my speech!
For I have killed a man for wounding me,
Even a young man for hurting me.
24 If Cain shall be avenged sevenfold,
Then Lamech seventy-sevenfold.”
- Genesis 4:23-24 NKJV

Jesus lived out this principle of not exacting revenge, though He did not literally invite additional injury.

22 And when He had said these things, one of the officers who stood by struck Jesus with the palm of his hand, saying, “Do You answer the high priest like that?”
23 Jesus answered him, “If I have spoken evil, bear witness of the evil; but if well, why do you strike Me?”
- John 18:22-23 NKJV

It was prophesied that Jesus would behave this way.

He was oppressed and He was afflicted,
Yet He opened not His mouth;
He was led as a lamb to the slaughter,
And as a sheep before its shearers is silent,
So He opened not His mouth.
- Isaiah 53:7 NKJV

On the cross, Jesus embodied this principle when He called upon the Father to forgive those who tormented Him (Luke 23:34). (Francis D. Nichol, ed., The Seventh-Day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 5 (Review and Herald Publishing Association, 1980), 339. (paraphrased)

Jesus teaches us to have a certain attitude. We should be willing to suffer loss rather than cause another to suffer. This may seem like a weakness to some, but Warren Wiersbe argues that it is the weak man who thinks only of himself and hurts others to protect himself. He hurts others and then runs away to protect himself. (Warren W. Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary, vol. 1 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1996), 24. (paraphrased)

Should a follower of Jesus speak out against injustice?

Paul, who lived by the same principles as Jesus also refrained from seeking vengeance but that did not keep him from speaking out against injustices.

But Paul said to them, “They have beaten us openly, uncondemned Romans, and have thrown us into prison. And now do they put us out secretly? No indeed! Let them come themselves and get us out.”
- Acts 16:37 NKJV
And as they bound him with thongs, Paul said to the centurion who stood by, “Is it lawful for you to scourge a man who is a Roman, and uncondemned?”
- Acts 22:25 NKJV
Then Paul said to him, “God will strike you, you whitewashed wall! For you sit to judge me according to the law, and do you command me to be struck contrary to the law?”
- Acts 23:3 NKJV
9 But Festus, wanting to do the Jews a favor, answered Paul and said, “Are you willing to go up to Jerusalem and there be judged before me concerning these things?”
10 So Paul said, “I stand at Caesar’s judgment seat, where I ought to be judged. To the Jews I have done no wrong, as you very well know.
- Acts 25:9-10 NKJV

Notice the words of John the Baptist, as he prepared the way for Jesus.

10 So the people asked him, saying, “What shall we do then?”
11 He answered and said to them, “He who has two tunics, let him give to him who has none; and he who has food, let him do likewise.”
12 Then tax collectors also came to be baptized, and said to him, “Teacher, what shall we do?”
13 And he said to them, “Collect no more than what is appointed for you.”
14 Likewise the soldiers asked him, saying, “And what shall we do?”
So he said to them, “Do not intimidate anyone or accuse falsely, and be content with your wages.”
- Luke 3:10-14 NKJV

Speaking out against oppression goes hand in hand with calling for generosity and service. There is no room for abuse in the kingdom of God.

Consider the words of Peter

21 For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps:
22 “Who committed no sin,
Nor was deceit found in His mouth”;
23 who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously; 24 who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed.
- 1 Peter 2:21-24 NKJV

On the cross Christ manifested the spirit of which He here spoke when He called upon the Father to forgive those who tormented Him (Luke 23:34). (Francis D. Nichol, ed., The Seventh-Day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 5 (Review and Herald Publishing Association, 1980), 339.)

Story Time

When I was young and living in the city of Salvador on the coast of Brazil. this took place in the early 1990s so the population had already reached surpassed 2 million. Salvador is a big and beautiful city. Sadly it could also be dangerous and violent. During this time my grandfather was working at the Seventh-day Adventist Conference and was one of the depositors. My mom did not like this and was always nervous about her father driving around the streets of Salvador with that much money.

I don’t remember all the details because I was young, under 10. What I remember is being over at my grandparent’s apartment and my grandmother, my mom, my dad, my sister, and I were all there. There were phone calls and nervous hushed talk. I believe we took turns praying and there was a knock on the door and much joy when my grandfather arrived home. There was jumping and hugging and tears and excited conversations.

I have heard the account retold and I now know that my grandfather had been robbed at gunpoint when he parked his car close to the bank and was about to make the deposit. Apparently, the thieves had kept an eye on him for a long time and figured out the route he took and the time he would arrive to make the deposit. It is unclear whether they followed him there or just waited for him by the bank, what is clear is that they knew he was coming and they were ready.

We were all happy that my grandfather was not hurt. They were angry that the bank had not provided enough security and I don’t remember what changed from that point on. I do remember as a child asking my grandfather why he had not used his pocket knife to defend himself. My grandfather used to carry a small pocket knife that looked like a pen when it was closed and he would clip it to his shirt pocket. I had seen him use it to open envelopes and peel oranges etc. He patiently explained to me that a knife is not much good when someone else has a gun. I asked him how come the criminal had a gun since guns were not allowed. He said he didn’t know how, but criminals did not really follow the laws.

But what stuck with me to this day about the events of that night is what my grandfather did after he came home and assured everyone he was okay. He went into his bedroom knelt down by his bed and spent time in prayer. We all assumed that he had been praying and thanking God for keeping him safe and I thought that perhaps he was also praying for God to strike the criminals who had robbed him with lightning or some terrible disease.

But what I found out later was that my grandfather was praying for the salvation of those criminals. My grandfather was also thanking God that he was the one who was robbed and not the one who had done the robbing. My grandfather had peace and assurance of salvation, he had a loving family and good health. He actually felt bad for the criminals who had turned to a life of violence and crime. He imagined those men must suffer and have suffered much growing up. My grandfather had forgiven those criminals and he prayed that they would come to know Jesus as their Lord and Savior.

I now understand that those criminals coming to Jesus is the best possible scenario. Only then would they realize all the pain they had caused. Only then could those hardened criminals repent and confess their sins. For many years I could not understand why my grandfather would want those men to be in heaven. Those men who had stolen money from the church, money that would go to help so many people, help with schools and hospitals, feed the hungry, and clothe the naked. Yet my grandfather understood that those men needed help. They needed Jesus.

I wonder if in heaven I will one day meet those men who robbed my grandfather at gunpoint. I wonder what happened in their lives as a result of my grandfather’s prayers for them. Beyond the impact the prayers of my grandfather had on the lives of those men I also wonder about the impact his attitude had on his life. When my grandfather freely chose to forgive those men and to pray for their salvation he released any anger, and all desire for retribution and revenge and put it all on God’s hands. He was alive, he had the assurance of eternal life, he knew and experienced love in his life, and he was at peace. My grandfather possesses a peace that surpasses all understanding, that is not human, that is a gift from God.

Not striking back is not about allowing evil to spread unhindered, but rather about ending the cycle of violence. I receive freedom when I allow God to deliver the judgment and the consequences. When I seek out justice by my own hands the chances are incredibly high that I will only make matters worse. Revenge does not undo the pain, it only causes more pain and suffering. There is enough suffering in the world.

Not only must the followers of Jesus reject all behavior motivated only by a desire for retaliation, but they also must positively work for the good of those with whom they would otherwise be at odds.
- Craig Blomberg, Matthew, vol. 22, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1992), 113. (paraphrased)

In conclusion

Jesus’ words may seem extreme, misguided, or even impossible, but as I read through the Bible I become convinced that God intends for us to fight evil with kindness and love and to allow Him to handle judgment, justice, and vengeance. Focus on doing good, and allow God to handle the rest.

21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
- Romans 12:21 NKJV

This is not a New Testament idea, it is also present in the Old Testament.

21 If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat;
And if he is thirsty, give him water to drink;
22 For so you will heap coals of fire on his head,
And the Lord will reward you.
- Proverbs 25:21-22 NKJV

This does not mean that you allow evil to spread unhindered. We should speak out against evil, fight against oppression, and defend the vulnerable. But we should not go down the path of vengeance, we should not take justice into our own hands.