Imagine this. Someone has insulted you publicly. They've humiliated you in front of everyone. What's your first reaction? Are you angry? Are you defensive? Maybe there's a desire inside of you to retaliate. Most people would agree that some reaction or maybe even retaliation would be warranted. This is because it's human nature to want justice when someone has hurt us or mistreated us. It's natural for us to want retribution in some way.
And yet, Jesus redefines justice in one of the most radical teachings of the New Testament. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. This teaching feels counterintuitive in a world where standing your ground is celebrated as a strength. Allowing someone to harm you again after being physically assaulted would be viewed as a sign of weakness. It seems crazy. And yet, Jesus' teaching to turn the other cheek points to the heart condition of unconditional forgiveness. Of course, this type of forgiveness feels completely foreign to human nature. But if we take it seriously and put it into practice, it can radically deepen our faith and transform our relationships. This is the first of 14 tough teachings of Jesus that we'll be exploring over the next three months. And it's all part of a new series titled, That Thing Jesus Said, Understanding Jesus' Tough Teachings.
We'll discover how Jesus challenges our instincts and invites us to a higher calling and a better way of living. But first, allow me to welcome you to Mountain View Church. My name's Jeremy. If this is your first online gathering, a special welcome to you. To get connected, visit mountainview.church slash connect or text connect to the number on the screen, which is 867-322-8001. If you're a parent of young children, we offer a children's program called Base Camp every Sunday at 9.30 or 11 a.m. with downloadable video lessons and activities available at mountainview.church slash children or by texting children to the number on the screen. That's 867-322-8001.
If you have teenagers or happen to be a teenager, we host a youth program every Sunday evening from 6 to 8 p.m. It's a great way for students to meet people their own age and grow in their faith. Before we jump back into today's content, I want to make sure everyone has a Bible. You can visit Bible.com or download a Bible app on your mobile device. If you'd like a physical copy, text Bible to the number on the screen. And if you happen to be in our church building, you'll find a Bible under the seats in front of you. Feel free to take it as our gift to you. My name is Nicole. I'll be reading Matthew 5, 38 through 42. 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 the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if anyone would sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. Give to the one who begs from you and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you. Jesus begins his teaching by referencing the Torah or the law of Moses, which is the first five books of the Old Testament.
This law that he references would have been very well known to the people at that time, as it appears in three of the five books of Torah. The first in Exodus 21 verses 23 and 25, which reads, But if there is harm, then you shall pay life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burn for burn, wound for wound, stripe for stripe. The second found in Leviticus 24 verses 19 and 20 reads, if anyone injures his neighbor and he has done it shall be done to him. Fracture for fracture, eye for an eye, tooth for tooth. Whatever injury he has given to a person shall be given to him. And finally, in Deuteronomy 19, 21, we read, your eye shall not pity. It shall be life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot.
Let's pause here. For some of you, this eye for an eye standard that we read about in the Old Testament, it might seem harsh, but it's been a common understanding for most of human existence. The purpose was to limit revenge and prevent escalation. It provided a clear framework for justice under the guidance of leaders who had been given the authority to oversee such consequences. Now, the fact that this law feels harsh for some of you is kind of proof of Jesus' impact on history and our world as we know it. Because Christianity is the faith position based in Jesus that shifted culture.
And there's been a level of grace that's been embedded into our modern Western culture. That's why we feel that that feels harsh, but we're getting ahead of ourselves. Let's come back. Coming back to that original audience, the people of Israel lived under this law and others like it for 1400 years before Jesus arrived and introduced this new way of thinking and teaching. In the first century, a slap on the right cheek was more than just a physical assault. It was a public insult. It was like a shaming meant to diminish one's dignity. By instructing the people to turn the other cheek, Jesus wasn't advocating for passivity or tolerance. Instead, he was inviting them to respond with a new level of dignity that refused to perpetuate cycles of violence and retaliation. It was a crazy teaching, and he was challenging their heart condition and thought process. This new rabbi, Jesus, seemingly abandons justice.
Instead of eye for an eye, tooth for tooth, if someone slaps you on the right cheek, you should turn to him the other also. This is crazy. Instead of their cheek being slapped, you actually give them your other cheek. In Luke's gospel account, the teaching reads, to one who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also. And from one who takes away your cloak, do not withhold your tunic either. You see, Jesus was calling God's people to embrace a radically different standard of faith, to trust God for justice and oversight.
even over the outcome of an offense. To his first century audience, this teaching would have sounded outrageous, even impossible. And coming back to us, it might be easy for us to not physically retaliate. But what about refusing other forms of retaliation in word or deed or even in our thoughts? Maybe passive aggression? It's kind of the Canadian way, kind of the Western culture way. It now seems very outrageous, doesn't it? Especially if we choose to make turning the other cheek a daily practice to live by.
You see, Jesus is challenging us to choose grace over justice. He's challenging us to choose forgiveness over retribution. He's calling us to practice forgiveness, even when every instinct tells us to fight back or retaliate, even in the moment it happens. You see, at this point, there's likely some of you that are pushing back. There's pushback forming in your minds, and I get it. Perhaps the thought has crossed your mind that if I turn the other cheek, I'll be turning myself into a doormat for abuse. And we do need to pause on this point because that pushback is valid and it needs to be addressed.
I need to make sure that we are so clear that in cases of repeated abuse, such as domestic violence, the situation extends beyond a one-time offense. That's not what we're talking about here. The offender has now become an abuser, subjecting the victim to continuous cycles of harm and control. That is not what we're referring to in this message. And so I want to be clear, if you or someone you know is experiencing abuse, please understand that Jesus' teaching is not a call to tolerate or ignore repeated abusive behavior. In these situations, it's essential to notify the proper authorities immediately and take protective action. I hope that's very clear.
So with that caveat in place, let's come back to our message and let's unpack some of the deeper context of this passage. You see, Jesus is challenging societal norms and human instincts with this teaching, both then and now. For us, our culture often glorifies revenge. Just think about the movies we watch where the hero triumphs by avenging a wrong that's been committed. But Jesus introduces a different kind of strength. There's a greater hero who is restrained in behavior, who shows humility in action, and who trusts God for the ultimate outcome and justice.
This teaching is a radical departure from the human instinct where our knee-jerk reaction is almost always, always retaliation. When we choose to turn the other cheek as a regular practice in life, five theological outcomes begin to take shape, and I want to walk through them. These outcomes end up having relational, mental, and emotional benefits. So again, for the next few minutes, I want to walk through these five outcomes, looking at some commentary evidence to provide further, deeper understanding to each one. All right, let's get started. First, when we turn the other cheek, we display a restoration over retaliation.
Remember that phrase, eye for an eye, was originally intended to limit retaliation, ensuring that punishment was fitting to the offense. Jesus calls instead for an unselfish attitude, which not only refuses to retaliate, but does not resist, even when it would be legally right to do so. Such an attitude subordinates one's own rights to the benefit of the others. This teaching isn't about passive acceptance. It's a deliberate choice to reject retaliation in favor for reconciliation down the road. Let's move on to the second one.
we display a trust in God's justice. As followers of Jesus, we're called to relinquish our grievances to God, recognizing that ultimate justice belongs to him. By turning the other cheek, we demonstrate a higher level of trust in God's sovereignty and timing. Theologian Matthew Henry stated that Christians should suffer any injury that can be borne for the sake of peace, committing your concerns to the Lord's keeping. Jesus asks us to trust that God sees the injustice and will address it according to his will. When we release our desire for revenge, we proclaim our faith in God's sovereign hand to bring about the desired outcome in his perfect timing. It's not easy. It's actually quite difficult, but that's the call. Let's move on to the third. We display a call to active grace, not passivity.
Turning the other cheek demonstrates a willingness to absorb the offense while breaking the cycle of hostility. It's not an opportunity to be passive aggressive. That's not it. It's a deliberate and powerful act of restraint. Jameson Fawcett in Brown explains it this way. It is the preparedness after one indignity, not to invite, but to submit meekly to another without retaliation, which this strong language is meant to convey.
Jesus invites us to model grace in the face of hostility, not as an endorsement of poor behavior. That's not it. But as a demonstration of the transformative power of forgiveness that's wrapped up in his grace. The fourth, when we turn the other cheek, we display a resistance to evil. You see, patience in the face of hostility isn't passive endurance. It's an active witness to God's transformative power. Theologian John Calvin highlights the spiritual growth that comes from Jesus' teaching.
He wrote, the amount of the whole admonition is that believers should learn to forget the wrongs that have been done to them, that they should not, when injured, break out into hatred or ill will, but that the more the obstinacy and rage of wicked men has excited and inflamed, they should be the more fully disposed to exercise patience. Calvin emphasized the spiritual growth that comes from choosing grace over vengeance. Turning the other cheek challenges the oppressor's intentions and exposes the futility of their violence. It's a pushback without a pushback. But let's get to our final reason. And the most important is that we display a gospel-driven humility. When we choose to turn the other cheek, we reflect the redemptive power of the gospel of Jesus. In a small yet practical way, we're presenting a compelling vision of the good news of Christ. As one author noted, a righteous man would be characterized by humility and selflessness and would also commit his case to the Lord, who will one day set all things in order. This was seen to its greatest extent in the life of the Lord Jesus himself.
This perspective shifts the focus from immediate personal justice to the broader vision of God's redemptive work. We're thinking big picture, not small personal matters. Through our humility and peacekeeping efforts, we can practically display the gospel message to the person offending and to those that might be looking on. This last outcome, this fifth outcome, points to the reason behind Jesus' life and all his teachings, but this one in particular, it reminds us that forgiveness is at the heart of the gospel. We have a savior who willingly endured injustice, and yet he chose to forgive his oppressors.
Remember that on the cross, as Jesus endured mocking and torture, he never retaliated, even though he had divine power and he could have done it. In his greatest moment of suffering, he chose to forgive and proclaimed it. We read that he said, Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing. Luke's gospel, chapter 23, verse 34. This sacrificial love didn't just reflect the gospel, it defined it. We're empowered to forgive because Jesus, because Jesus ultimately forgave us.
He showed the ultimate act of forgiveness. And by following his example in Little Things, we demonstrate the radical countercultural grace that transforms hearts and restores relationships and points others to the redemptive power and the redemptive work of Jesus Christ that can happen in their life, even after they've committed an offense that's out of nowhere sometimes. Okay, now we have unpacked the theology of this teaching, of this principle of Jesus, but we need to get practical before we close things out. And so we still need to answer two big questions. Why and how?
Let's deal with the why first. The main reason is simple. When we forgive, we reflect God's love and show the transformative power of Christ. That's the ultimate goal. But honestly, although it should be enough to motivate us, there is a bonus reason that I need to unpack. And that's that forgiveness and being quick to forgive and slow to react and turning the other cheek, it's actually good for us. You heard that right.
Remember that turning the other cheek is the basis for forgiveness as a greater theological topic, but the actions related to forgiveness and not holding wrongs against us. They benefit us greatly. In a study on forgiveness, stress, and health completed in 2016, it revealed that individuals who actively practiced forgiveness, they experienced a significant reduction in stress and improvements overall to mental health, and they actually experienced increased emotional stability throughout their daily lives. The study showed that increases in forgiveness were associated with decreases in perceptions of stress, which were in turn related to decreases in mental health symptoms. This suggests that forgiveness acts as a coping mechanism.
breaking the harmful cycle of stress and its detrimental effects on well-being. The study also revealed that forgiveness is a cognitive, motivational, emotional experience of decreasing negativity and increasing positivity toward an offender in the face of adversity, offering a pathway to both relational peace and personal healing. As you can see, forgiveness breaks the harmful cycle of stress and anger, and it replaces it with peace and emotional resilience. This aligns perfectly with what Jesus is teaching, what he's calling us to. This call to turn the other cheek, to start forgiving right at the moment of offense. It's proving that it's not just an act of passivity or passive aggression. That's not it. Just not doing anything isn't the answer. But radically choosing to forgive, radically choosing to allow the offense, it changes the atmosphere. It fosters healing for both the offended and the offender. It seems crazy in our culture, and yet it can work.
But now let's unpack how. How does this work, Jeremy? How can we actually live this out? It just feels so wrong, so crazy. It just feels so unnatural. And it is. So let's answer the question, how can we put into practice this hard teaching of Jesus?
The call to turn the other cheek, it isn't easy. So I'll be the first to admit it. I have not mastered this. And yet I have researched enough and practiced it from time to time in my own life and journeyed long enough with great mentors and leaders that there are three steps that can help us to live out this teaching. Let's walk through them now. So the first is to pause before reacting. Seems simple, but that's the start. In moments of conflict, take a breath and pray. Pray for wisdom and self-control before responding to the offense.
Next, choose forgiveness first and daily. Choose forgiveness first and daily. Forgiveness isn't a one-time action. It's a continually ongoing behavior. It's a behavioral decision to release resentment immediately after the offense and to practice this cycle in our daily life. And the third is probably the most important, to trust God's justice. And this might be the most difficult, to be honest.
We choose to surrender our need to retaliate, even though we feel it in the core of who we are. We want you so bad, it almost feels right. But instead, we believe that God sees our pain and that he's the one who will bring ultimate justice. As we close, remember, our human instinct and culture calls us to retaliate or choose passive aggression when we've been hurt, wronged, or offended. Jesus is calling us to something greater, to choose grace, trust in God's justice, and reflect his love in every interaction, even the tough ones.
In this next season of life, I'm encouraging you, try it. Commit to practicing automatic forgiveness by turning the other cheek. If you're willing to do that, let's pray for God's strength to make that happen as we walk through this next part of our journey. Let's pray. Dear Father, forgiveness isn't easy, but you've shown us a better way through Jesus. Thank you for his example of grace, even in the face of pain and suffering. Help us to pause when we've been wronged, to choose forgiveness over resentment.
and to trust your justice instead of seeking our own. Change our hearts, Lord. Let our willingness to turn the other cheek, reflect your love, and point others to you. Use us to bring peace and healing in a world that needs your grace. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen. Thank you so much for joining us today. Before we close, as always, we have a few updates and then our discussion, question, and prayer focus for this week.
Here we go. First, community groups are back. This year, I'll be overseeing our community groups program while Pastor Aaron focuses on his national chaplaincy designation. Over the next two weeks, we'll be having seven community groups returning or launching. Community groups are a fantastic way to connect with others, grow in your faith, and live out the teachings of Jesus. Whether you're new to Mountain View or you've been here for years, there is a group for you. Simply visit mountainview.church slash groups to find a group that fits your schedule and your interests. Also, if you're interested in starting a new group,
please let me know. I'm specifically looking for a group facilitator who'd be willing to host a group that follows our sermon series, giving people an opportunity for a deeper dive into each week's theme and text. And to make it easier, I'm willing to provide the discussion questions for you each week if you'd be willing to facilitate and host the group. So if you're interested, please let me know. Whether it be hosting a new group and a new idea or the sermon series group, let me know. Just drop me an email at jeremy at mountainview.church. That's jeremy at mountainview.church.
Hi, this is an update that our prayer group for the Middle East is starting up this coming Monday, January 6th. We'll be meeting at the MacArthur Home from 7 to 8 p.m. to pray for the Cedar Home Ministry in Beirut, Lebanon. If you want to join us, be there on Monday, January 6th from 7 to 8 p.m. Hi, young adults. My name is Haley, and this is my husband, Alex, and we're here to invite you to the first young adults gathering of the year. Tell them what's happening. Pizza and board games. Where? In the church basement. And when? 7 p.m., January 18th. So that's a Saturday, so make sure to mark that in your calendars. Feel free to bring a friend and bring a board game if you like, and we'll see you there.
Last but not least, we have our discussion and prayer focus. Drop some comments in the feed or gather around with the people that you're watching with or listening with now and ask each other this question. How can you practice turning the other cheek in a relationship this week? How can you practice turning the other cheek in a relationship this week? After you've chatted about that, take some time to pray for each other. Pray for a heart of forgiveness and the strength to trust God's justice. Pray for a heart of forgiveness and the strength to trust in God's justice.
Again, thank you. Please come back next week. We'll be unpacking Jesus' tough teaching on loving your enemies. That's right. How do we love our enemies? So difficult. And we're going to try to figure it out. How can we show compassion in a harsh and divided world? Invite a friend and let's find out together. See you then.
If you prayed to receive Jesus today or would like to connect with our church community, visit mountainview.church and click the connect link. If this podcast and radio ministry has been a blessing to you, please consider partnering with us or making a tax-deductible donation at mountainview.church. Thanks for listening to Mountain View Church Audio. Join us next week for more Christ-centered teaching from the Wilderness City of Whitehorse UConn.