Matthew 5:38-42

Adapted from the Sermon of Ptr. Ray Fowler

(Plantation Community Church)
Retaliation
38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a

tooth for a tooth.’ 39 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. 40 And if anyone would sue you and
take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. 41 And if
anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two
miles. 42 Give to the one who begs from you, and do not
refuse the one who would borrow from you.
Ang Turo tungkol sa Paghihiganti
38 “Narinig ninyong sinabi, ‘Mata sa mata, at ngipin sa ngipin.’ 39
Ngunit ako ang nagsasabi sa inyo: Huwag ninyong labanan ang
masamang tao. Sa halip, kapag sinampal ka sa kanang pisngi, iharap
mo rin sa kanya ang kabila. 40 At kung isinakdal ka sa hukuman ng
sinuman at nakuha ang iyong damit, hayaan mong makuha rin niya
ang iyong balabal. 41 At kung sapilitan kang palakarin ng sinuman ng
isang milya, lumakad ka ng dalawang milya na kasama niya. 42
Magbigay ka sa nanghihingi sa iyo, at huwag magdamot sa
nanghihiram sa iyo.
I. The Old Testament taught justice – “eye for an eye”

“You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a
38 

tooth.’ ”

“Narinig ninyong sinabi, ‘Mata sa mata, at ngipin sa ngipin.’

(Deuteronomy 19:16-21)
16 If a malicious witness arises to accuse a person of wrongdoing, 17 then
both parties to the dispute shall appear before the Lord, before the priests
and the judges who are in office in those days. 18 The judges shall inquire
diligently, and if the witness is a false witness and has accused his brother
falsely, 19 then you shall do to him as he had meant to do to his brother. So
you shall purge the evil from your midst. 20 And the rest shall hear and fear,
and shall never again commit any such evil among you. 21 Your eye shall not
pity. It shall be life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for
foot.
Revenge just wants to hurt the other person back.
The law of the tooth was meant to prevent excessive punishment.
Vengeance is mine, and recompense,
for the time when their foot shall slip;
for the day of their calamity is at hand,
and their doom comes swiftly.’ - Deut 32:35

Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it[a] to the wrath of God, for it is
written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” - Romans 12:19
Excessive punishment was prohibited, and personal revenge was forbidden.
II. Jesus taught radical love over revenge

But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on
39 

the right cheek, turn to him the other also. 40 And if anyone would sue you
and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. 41 And if anyone forces
you to go one mile, go with him two miles. 42 Give to the one who begs from
you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you.
39 Ngunit ako ang nagsasabi sa inyo: Huwag ninyong labanan ang masamang
tao. Sa halip, kapag sinampal ka sa kanang pisngi, iharap mo rin sa kanya ang
kabila. 40 At kung isinakdal ka sa hukuman ng sinuman at nakuha ang iyong
damit, hayaan mong makuha rin niya ang iyong balabal. 41 At kung sapilitan
kang palakarin ng sinuman ng isang milya, lumakad ka ng dalawang milya na
kasama niya. 42 Magbigay ka sa nanghihingi sa iyo, at huwag magdamot sa
nanghihiram sa iyo.
 But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on
39 

the right cheek, turn to him the other also. 

“Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no
authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God.
2 Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed,
and those who resist will incur judgment. 3 For rulers are not a terror to good
conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority?
Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, 4 for he is God's
servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear
the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out
God's wrath on the wrongdoer. - Romans 13:1-4
Even as we practice Jesus’ radical love commands, we need to make sure that
we do not encourage or enable sin in others.
Martin Luther wrote: “No Christian shall wield or invoke the sword for himself
and his cause. In behalf of another, however, he may and should wield it and
invoke it to restrain wickedness and to defend godliness.”

Thomas Scott wrote: “A Christian may prosecute a criminal out of love to

public justice, though not from private revenge.”
 But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on
39 

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
40 

well.
Jesus is saying we should be willing to sacrifice even our own rights in order
to reach out in love to other people.
But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members
of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever. - 1
Tim 5:8
41 
And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. 
42 Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would
borrow from you.
Proverbs 3:27 says, Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due,
when it is in your power to do it.
Psalm 112:5
“It is well with the man who deals generously and lends; who conducts his
affairs with justice.
Proverbs 11:15
Whoever puts up security for a stranger will surely suffer harm,
For even when we were with you, we would give you this command: If
anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat. - 2 Thess 3:10
1) Practice mercy rather than justice (James 2:13)

For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy. Mercy
triumphs over judgment. (James 2:13)
“Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy...” (Matthew 5:7)
2) Go beyond what is required (Matthew 5:47)

And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others?
Do not even the Gentiles do the same? (Matthew 5:47)
3) Trust God with the results (1 Peter 2:23)

When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not
threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. (1 Peter
2:23)