“Do not retaliate? What? Are you talking to me?” Yes, I’m talking to you. And Bob the bloodhound is barking at both you and me. Here is what Jesus said about non-retaliation:
“You have heard that it was said, An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth (Exodus 21:24; Leviticus 24:20; Deuteronomy 19:21). But I say to you that you must not oppose those who want to hurt you. If people slap you on your right cheek, you must turn the left cheek to them as well. When they wish to haul you to court and take your shirt, let them have your coat too. When they force you to go one mile, go with them two. Give to those who ask, and don’t refuse those who wish to borrow from you. (Matthew 5:38-42, Common English Bible)
We might read these words of Jesus and think he’s off his rocker. This is non-sense. “People don’t really live that way,” we believe, “and if they did, they would be stepped on and have their rights trampled!”
We need to take these words of non-retaliation to heart and live by them. That’s because living this way brings Christ to the world and embodies the gospel of Jesus as salt and light – it is the way of grace.
Jesus Didn’t Retaliate, Neither Did George
There was once a man, George (not his real name) who left work one chilly night in February. He headed toward the subway, not noticing the teenager lurking in the shadows. The young man stepped out with a knife in hand and demanded money. George pulled out his wallet and handed it over. As the teen began walking away, George did something extraordinary. He hollered after the boy, “Hey, wait a minute. You forgot something. If you’re going to be robbing people for the rest of the night, you might as well take my coat to keep you warm.”
The awestruck teenager couldn’t believe his ears. And a few minutes later the two of them were sharing a warm meal together at George’s favorite diner. The youngster not only returned George’s wallet but handed him his holdup knife as well. The conversation was dominated by the young man’s questions as to why George was so nice to everyone. The answer is that George is a follower of Christ who takes the do not retaliate of Jesus to heart.
Jesus upholds the moral and ethical intent of the Old Testament by communicating that retaliation is not an option for his followers. Instead, Christians are to demonstrate grace through peace and peacemaking. Christians are not to work toward advancing their own rights in their own petty earthly kingdom. No, they work toward serving the interests of King Jesus in the kingdom of God. That means clothing ourselves with love and grace, not retaliation and judgment.
An Eye for an Eye
“If people are fighting and hit a pregnant woman and she gives birth prematurely but there is no serious injury, the offender must be fined whatever the woman’s husband demands and the court allows. But if there is serious injury, you are to take life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burn for burn, wound for wound, bruise for bruise.” (Exodus 21:22-25, New International Version)
This legislation is not meant to be interpreted as a literal giving back to someone what he did to you, as if it were all about retaliation or revenge. The passage continues with an example of what is meant by the “eye for eye” legislation:
“An owner who hits a male or female slave in the eye and destroys it must let the slave go free to compensate for the eye. And an owner who knocks out the tooth of a male or female slave must let the slave go free to compensate for the tooth.” (Exodus 21:26-27, New International Version)
This calls for proper justice to occur. The punishment must fit the crime. This prevents an escalation where two parties get back at each other. The principle guiding this law was restitution rather than retaliation. The law was given to eliminate retaliatory practices such as blood-feuds and tribal warfare, in which groups of people seek revenge for a wrong done.
Do Not Resist an Evil Person
In other words, do not retaliate when you’re personally insulted or degraded. Instead, be a peacemaker.
Jesus is not saying we stand back and be passive in the face of exploitation, oppression, or injustice. Nor is he saying we should have no police force, army, or judicial system. Pacifism isn’t the point (although Bob and I respect those who take such a stance).
People who perpetrate sexual assault, murder, and break the law need to come to justice by the laws of the land. The point, however, Jesus made is this: Do not take the law into your own hands through vengeance when you are insulted or violated. Don’t try to get even. Do not retaliate. There are times we need to confront another. Yet, its not our job to mete out the punishment. That is God’s job. The New Testament is clear:
Don’t hit back; discover beauty in everyone. If you’ve got it in you, get along with everybody. Don’t insist on getting even; that’s not for you to do. “I’ll do the judging,” says God. “I’ll take care of it.” Our Scriptures tell us that if you see your enemy hungry, go buy that person lunch, or if he’s thirsty, get him a drink. Your generosity will surprise him with goodness. Don’t let evil get the best of you; get the best of evil by doing good. (Romans 12:17-21, The Message)
Do Not Retaliate: 4 Examples
First Example
“If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.” A slap in the face is a gesture of insult. When we are personally insulted, avoid focusing on a perceived right to vengeance. Sins of the tongue (malice, lying, backbiting, arrogant whispering, false accusations, gossip, flattery) are ways of getting back at someone for something they said which offended me. Turning the other cheek is Christ’s way of saying to both refrain from vengeance and give back with something good.
“A gentle answer deflects anger, but harsh words make tempers flare.” (Proverbs 15:1, New Living Translation)
Second Example
“If someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well.” The tunic and the cloak were what people wore in the ancient world. They didn’t have several outfits and changes of clothes. To take those two items was to leave most people naked. Jesus says it is better to go around with no clothes than to retaliate. He is saying that peacemaking is more important than possessions. So, how do you want to be remembered?
“A good reputation and respect are worth much more than silver and gold.” (Proverbs 22:1, Contemporary English Version)
Third Example
“If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles.” Roman law allowed soldiers to conscript Jews to carry their pack and walk one mile. Jesus is saying to not only do this for a soldier without retaliation, but to go ahead and walk another mile. This was a terrible degradation to Jews, but Jesus says it is better to go than say “no.” For us, we are not to walk the first mile repeatedly with a bad attitude. Instead, we are to relinquish our perceived rights to our time. When someone doesn’t help another, it is typically because they don’t have time. Jesus wants personal retaliation to be replaced with personal sacrifice. People are not interruptions; they are providentially brought our way by God for us to extend our time and attention. People we don’t like are put in our lives by God to bring goodness and grace. We will likely be frustrated and angry until we get ahold of this truth.
“But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be children of your Father in heaven; for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous.” (Matthew 5:44-45, New Revised Standard Version)
Fourth Example
“Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.” Jesus is saying it is better to give than to refuse. It’s good to lend without asking “what’s in it for me?” Jesus is getting at our perceived right to our money. There is a difference between being frugal and being cheap, being wise with money and being a hoarder. The question is not how we will use our money, but how God wants to use his money through us.
“No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.” (Matthew 6:24, New International Version)
Jesus is telling us to quit focusing on our rights and seek peace, not retaliation. Through four examples, Christ challenges the standard of rights and fairness we employ. He insists we do not have a right to vengeance, a right to hold onto what we have, a right to time so that we refuse to help, and a right to miserly hold onto our money.
Conclusion
Do not retaliate is an expression of grace. The big idea in Christ’s Sermon on the Mount is grace. Grace is extending mercy, goodness, and kindness to all, whether they deserve it, or not. Thus, grace doesn’t make any sense. It isn’t fair. And it isn’t based on merit. Grace cannot be domesticated. Grace is free, but not cheap. Jesus cares about grace. And here is how we show it:
- Speak words of blessing to someone who curses you.
- Give to the person who takes from you.
- Spend time with someone who is your enemy.
- Give money to whomever is in need, no matter who they are.
Do not retaliate. God is calling us to leave the realm of fear, revenge, and self-protective behavior. To step out by faith and be an agent of grace in the lives of all kinds of people, not just to those we deem worthy to receive it – because then it wouldn’t be grace.
So, may you know the God of grace, the Jesus who has extended grace to you, and may you spend your resources overcoming evil with good.
See you on the trail!