Turn The Other Cheek

-Matthew 5:39 "Whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also."-

When Jesus basically says to “turn the other cheek,” He is not saying abuse is okay, that injustice doesn’t matter, or that you should let people keep hurting you. In the culture He was speaking into, a slap on the cheek was an insult—a way of asserting power, shaming, or humiliating someone. Turning the other cheek was a refusal to return evil with evil. It was saying: You don’t get to control my spirit. I won’t become like you. This isn’t weakness; it’s self-control and moral strength. You are choosing not to let wrongdoing reproduce itself through you.

The deeper reason is this: retaliation keeps you chained to the offense. When you strike back—whether physically, verbally, or emotionally—you hand the offender continued power over your heart. Turning the other cheek breaks that chain. It stops the cycle, preserves your inner freedom, and leaves justice where it belongs—with God, who sees fully and judges rightly. That doesn’t mean there are no boundaries or consequences; it means you refuse to poison yourself with bitterness while waiting for justice.

At its core, Jesus is protecting you. He’s teaching a way to suffer wrong without being transformed by it—without letting pain turn you cruel, vengeful, or hardened. Turning the other cheek is choosing dignity over dominance, peace over pride, and trust over revenge. It’s not saying “what you did was okay.” It’s saying, what you did will not own me.

Until He Comes,

-Pat-