What Jesus Means by “Turn the Other Cheek”

Sermon on the Mount E15 - In Matthew 5:38-42, Jesus offers wisdom from the Torah about retaliation, justice, and nonviolent resistance to injustice. He references a series of laws in Exodus 21, Leviticus 24, and Deuteronomy 19, all of which contain the familiar language of “eye for eye, tooth for tooth.” Jesus reveals the surprising wisdom within these laws, using real-life scenarios that would have been familiar to oppressed Israelites living under Roman occupation: turning the other cheek, giving your cloak, and going the extra mile. In this episode, Jon, Tim, and Michelle discuss how these actions can open up our imaginations for boldly standing against injustice in creative, nonviolent ways.
Show Music:
Original Sermon on the Mount music by Richie Kohen
BibleProject theme song by TENTS
Show Credits:
Jon Collins is the creative producer for today’s show, and Tim Mackie is the lead scholar. Production of today’s episode is by Lindsey Ponder, producer; Cooper Peltz, managing producer; Colin Wilson, producer; and Stephanie Tam, consultant and editor. Tyler Bailey is our audio engineer and editor, and he also provided our sound design and mix. JB Witty does our show notes, and Hannah Woo provides the annotations for our app. Today’s hosts are Jon Collins and Michelle Jones.

[@NkululekoKhanyile]

Lord have mercy on us indeed! Thank you brothers and sister 🙏🏾

[@vinnybaggins]

Lord, have mercy! That's a good way to end this reflection which Tim said. "If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach." James 1:5 May Jesus have mercy of us and give us wisdom so that we may be able to live this high calling.

[@pennymchugh3146]

I'm going to use that line, "I'm going to need you to think better of me," so we can quit the social posturing as Christians and get to work! Thank you!

[@chineduchidi4404]

These guys are a gift... Bible colossus!

[@geehiddensmith]

I found you yesterday and I have been consuming the videos and podcasts like a starved child. Wow, what an edifying resource! I have known the "true meaning" of turn the other cheek for many years now, but this was a more amplified, deeper dive and expanded my understanding in a more beautiful way. I have been studying scripture for 30 years and I am still amazed by God's grace, and how he leads me to resources that still feed my heart and mind. Keep up the good work. Grace, mercy and peace from God our Father and our Lord Jesus Christ.

[@KingdomIsNow]

Understanding idioms is very important when studying the Bible. Because the Bible was not written to us, meaning not to our generation, but it was written for all generations, thus we must first understand the idioms of these ancient centuries, but apply their definitions to our now lives.

[@scaryeaglesmithwolfjdf7548]

I liked the comparison with the civil rights movement and their silent protest! Helped me understand better.

[@LukaBrazy.]

I had to play this a couple times to rewire my thinking, thank you Bible Project.

[@TaniaRussell-cv5ps]

Love, love, Loooovvvvvveeee this! Thanks for shedding light on a highly misinterpreted biblical concept. This is so helpful and easy to comprehend.

[@jessiceeoriginal]

My eyes have been opened. Like, WOW! ❤ I see God's judgment coming forth in our government. I see Him working for our good. This is so encouraging to hear. And I also broke up with someone who hurt me so badly. God told me not to completely shut the door, but to leave a slight opening. I told the guy we can only be distant friends and it would take an act of God to bring about something more than that. This word is just so encouraging because I feel so wronged by this man and he really doesn't see his trespass es even as a Christian he still doesn't understand what he did wrong. He placed insult to injury upon me. It still hurts. I realized at that time, I don't fix Eugene's and gave him to God to fix. It is such a huge relief to hear this word to be a confirmation that I heard from God and am doing the right thing in this situation. Praise God! Such a huge relief!

[@MichaelTobin-dl2tx]

I can't help but think that in these examples, part of what God wants to achieve is reconciliation. We like the word "forgive", but reconciliation is at the heart of what God wants to do with each of us. And as far as it is possible in us - we need to see the further goal of unity, community, and covenant!

[@fierybones]

So, so, so thought provoking! Thanks, y'all!

[@paulw316]

wonderful talk and clears alot of cloudy situations well done Tim, Jon and Michelle Thanks 🥰

[@eboyd0810]

This was a real good episode. Many gems shared for reflection. I feel seen and empowered without resulting in violence.

[@pennymchugh3146]

In some Christian circles, people humiliate others by patronizing them. I have learned to compliment people who patronize me.

[@hectorjaylopez6450]

I am so blessed with this series Sermon on the Mount 🙏🏽 May God bless you guys

[@ccreasman]

I got you Tim; I still teach Hammurabi’s code to my freshman/sophomore College Western Civ class on the ancient world. I make them read a selection of the laws from Hammurabi as well as part of the Torah and a selection of ancient Hittite codes. Then they have to compare the three.

[@CanadianAnglican]

An inspiring video. Thank you for the amazing message. 🙏🏿✝️❤️

[@LateRoundLegends]

The new season of The Chosen has an entire scene dedicated to this 'Go with them 2' scenario. It does an excellent job of showing the effect of this whole principle

[@Jax-xn5bd]

Thank you❤

[@miguelbaker6138]

This one brought a little tears to my eyes 😅

[@Star-dj1kw]

✅ very good

[@pennymchugh3146]

If someone wants to pick a fight, oppose them by not fighting.

[@manuelahe_]

We definitely still talk about Hammurabi’s code in school yall 😂 I just helped my little sister with an assignment on it just a couple years ago too.

[@hopefulsaint76]

Tim and John, awesome job....

[@johnwashburn3793]

WOW! Thank you.

[@jillchristine1561]

Thank you so much ❤❤

[@brandonbell3133]

Keep the Case Studies going pls! There’s so many misinterpretations that need explanation. Can you explore scriptures that were used as justification for slavery? (“Slave” being used where it should have stated “Student”/“Understudy”/“Learner”)

[@katarrapeterson6999]

Re: the nuanced linguistics of not resisting/ repaying/ anti-standing, I’m reminded of a particular AAVE term. Thru that lens, I hear Jesus calling us to not “match energy” with evildoers. Thanks for the wonderful work that y’all do, God bless 🙏🏾

[@katarrapeterson6999]

I’m also reminded of Proverbs 25: 21-22. The Old and New Testaments’ tandem illumination of one another is so exciting

[@rosec4562]

My husband is a narcissist. I have been waiting 34 years for him to change. The LORD always told me to stay in this kind of relationship. The only reason why I am willing to submit to my husband is because of my love for the LORD. My daily music is the whole book of Colossians. I keep listening to it because I know I have to remind myself about the wife's submission to the husband even if he is a narcissist.

[@oliverc1293]

One of your best ever.

[@pennymchugh3146]

Maintain! Very interesting! Thank you.

[@pennymchugh3146]

Self-control is a powerful thing!

[@SeanRhoadesChristopher]

9:16 The problem with a monetary fine for (lex talionis), aka reciprocal justice, is that it will end up favoring the rich. People who have money, tend to equate their riches with their value as a human, and they tend to look down upon the poor person, as having less value. The more money one has the more lofty his eyes become. Biblically speaking, the monetary fine could be an option if the victim decided to have mercy, but it would completely defeat the purpose of the law if it where always monetary. For example, a poor free citizen would probably have to become a slave to pay off the fine, if he where the perpetrator; moreover the victim could then legally exact disproportionate punishment on him as well as receive a payment, without consequences, since servants have less rights. On the other hand, a rich person could in theory become a serial leg breaker, eye popper, thumb chopper, etc and just pay it off without actually ever learning how to empathize. If I where to be King, I would assign professionals to execute the reciprocal justice, if the victim was unwilling to receive a monetary value for his eye, for example. Today, we have surgeons that would do a beautiful job of removing or breaking body parts on the perpetrators, in such a way to exact justice justly! All would see it and be afraid! They found Adoni-bezek at Bezek and fought against him and defeated the Canaanites and the Perizzites. Adoni-bezek fled, but they pursued him and caught him and cut off his thumbs and his big toes. And Adoni-bezek said, “Seventy kings with their thumbs and their big toes cut off used to pick up scraps under my table. As I have done, so God has repaid me.” And they brought him to Jerusalem, and he died there. (Judges 1.5-7 ESVi) When king David secretly killed Uriah, it was life for life; however, the LORD showed him mercy, but not without consequences, David lost Amon, Tamar, Absalom, the illegitimate child, many men of Israel, and was plagued the rest of his life with family problems, and war.

[@LearndingLife]

Read the first half of this and thought you were talking about modern day in the west for a second. Solid post and great example ^.^

[@Atlanta-Johnson]

Romans 12:19 Vengeance belongs to God. There's nothing more to it.🫤

[@mindonthingsabove]

[32:26] It is in effect to say: Why is it that you think that you need to treat me as lower or higher than yourself? What is this whole system anyway? That you think you need to do this, to assert who you think I am? It's in a way stating that I am #not controlled by your attempt to put me in a social rank. Aha!~ [32:48] It's the James Baldwin quote: if I'm not who you say I am, then you're not who you think you are. my behaviour opposes your understanding of reality & it should cause you to re-evaluate who you are [understanding of what matters in life.] stop basing your self-image on outward appearances. "My honour is not determined by the way you treat me." I like how you all are grappling with this issue, like it is really happening to you personally--& not pretending, no problem, this is easy, slap me & I turn the other cheek... here you go. It is really hard to move-the-meter reading Keller's Book, where he said: Abraham when he received call to go up Mount to sacrifice Isaac, Keller hashed how culturally motivated for community rather than personal reasons [individualistic modernity] and knew instantly GOD linked sacrifice of firstborn for #sins of family. Yes time reversal, Moses came after Abraham [let's ignore all that] Point was, Abram was not giving himself the world's best pep rally to psyche himself to do the very thing he didn't want to do; but if he had not also believed GOD was a GOD of #grace, he would have been too #crushed and #hopeless to go. He would have just lain down & died. It was only because he knew GOD was both Holy & loving- he was able to put one foot after another up that mountain. [35:42] the non-violent movement in Birmingham seeks: Justice and Reconciliation not Victory [based on 10 Commandments] [34:43] Sounds brutal, like Abram was not just exercising “blind faith.” He was not saying, “This is crazy, this is murder, but I’m going to do it anyway.” He did not go up the mountain saying, “I can do it.” filled with willpower and self-talk. Rather, he went up saying, “GOD will do it;" but if he had not believed that, he was in debt to a #Holy & [unloving] GOD, he would have been too angry to go.

[@pennymchugh3146]

In the eye for an eye system, is the taker of an eye to give their eye in return for the one whose eye they took or for the one whose eye was taken to take the eye from the one who took theirs?

[@calebdean]

It hurts my heart to say this, but I cannot stand Michele’s voice, sounds like Ai and gives me the complete heebie-jeebies. 😅 I love Tim and John, but I’m not sure I can continue listening. Something ingenuine about her voice and expressions. Pray for me! 🙏🏻

[@liap1293]

There is much to chew on here.

[@paulw316]

some GUM will help (Gods undeserved Mercy)🤗

[@thugwayjoepog8163]

They were trained !"omg as if they're actors and athletes not citizens 🙄 sad😢