Retaliation
Matthew 5:38-42
Members of God’s kingdom should hold on loosely to their honor, possessions, etc.
#Kingdom
#Retaliation
Published January 24th, 2021; Updated January 24th, 2021
Main point summary
Arc
Phrase
notes
Main point summary
Jesus: You have heard that your retaliation for a wrong should be proportional to the wrong done to you. However, I say to you that rather than retaliating, you should always seek to do good to others, even if they wronged you or don’t deserve your goodness.
Arc
editing
NT
Matthew 5:38-42
esv
mine
h “You have heard that it was said,
You have heard of the command,
y ‘An eye for an eye
If someone takes out your eye, then you have the right to take out theirs.
and a tooth for a tooth.’
And the same with a tooth.
series
ideaexplanation
But I say to you,
However, I tell you that,
z Do not resist the one who is evil.
you should not fight back against an evil person.
But a if anyone b slaps you on the right cheek,
Rather, if anyone gives you a back-handed slap,
turn to him the other also.
turn him your other cheek (so you are able to serve him).
situationresponse
And z if anyone would sue you
And if someone sues you
and take your tunic, 1
in order to take your shirt,
actionpurpose
let him have your cloak as well.
let him have your coat also.
And if anyone c forces you to go one mile,
And if an official of the occupying requires you to walk a mile in order to run an errand for him,
go with him two miles.
go the extra mile!
negativepositive
d Give to the one who begs from you,
If someone begs you for money, you should give to them;
and e do not refuse the one who would borrow from you.
and if someone asks you to borrow money, you should lend to them.
concessive
You have heard that you should not practice unreasonable retaliation.
Instead of fighting back when someone does something evil to you, you should actually let them do the opposite, either letting them do more evil or return evil with good.
However, I say to you, you should always seek to do good to others, even if they have wronged you or if they don’t deserve it.
discourse
Phrase
Matthew 5:38-42
The Old Testament Command (due to hardness of heart)
Guidance for the judges
“You have heard
Concessive
that it was said,
Content
‘An eye
Content #1
for an eye
Substitution
and a tooth
Content #2
for a tooth.’
The Kingdom Standard: Hold On Loosely to Your...
Introduction
But I say
to you,
Destination
Do not resist the one
Negative
who is evil.
Honor
But if anyone slaps you
Conditional #1
on the right cheek,
Locative
turn ... the other also.
Content #1
to him
Posessions
And if anyone would sue you
Conditional #2
and take your tunic,
Disadvantage
let him have your cloak as well.
Content #2
Time and freedom
And if anyone forces you
Conditional #3
to go one mile,
go with him two miles.
Content #3
Money
Give to the one
Content #4
who begs
from you,
Source
and do not refuse the one
Explanation
who would borrow
from you.
phrasing
Comments
Disclaimer: The opinions and conclusions expressed on this page are those of the author and may or may not accord with the positions of Biblearc or Bethlehem College & Seminary.