Although there are times for literally turning the other cheek, Jesus was speaking of a spiritual reality that transcends the physical act. He did not give a literal obedience to the precept Himself! When He was smitten on the face in the High Priest’s hall, He did not turn the other cheek, He gently but firmly rebuked the smiter for his injustice and violence. And besides, a literal obedience would sometimes defeat the very object at which Christ was aiming. To do this literally to an angry man would in some instances so infuriate him that it would bring even harsher recriminations against you. The “letter” in this case “killeth.” We must get at the “spirit” of the command, and the spirit is just this: that we must meet rage and violence not with rage and violence, but with meekness, compassion, and forgiveness. Retaliation and revenge are the practice of the world — forgiveness even until seventy times seven is the practice of the sons of God
Posted on: Sun, 07 Jul 2013 01:08:25 +0000
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