“But I say, do not resist an evil person! If someone slaps you on the right cheek, offer the other cheek also.” Matthew 5:39

In Matthew 5:21-48 Jesus is addressing head on different sins like murder, adultery, divorce, etc. Three things are important about these statements from Jesus:

1. Obeying the commands is a heart issue. If keeping the commands is not internalized to the very nature of who you are, you’ll be able to justify and nit pick the commands to death...thus missing the point. Like when Jesus spoke on divorce in 31 and 32. Resolve in your heart to obey.
2. If you don’t make it a heart issue, you’ll do your best to find a way around the commands of Jesus. This ends up hurting God and others (breaking the two most important commands). But possibly the biggest consequence is that you will think you are safe from God’s judgment. There is no tricking God, which is why Jesus goes after the heart of the problem.
3. We can’t ignore these demands by Jesus. Obedience is the fruit of loving Jesus.

“Almsgiving, prayer, and fasting (the “acts of righteousness” of v. 1) were the “three pillars” of Jewish piety (6:1–18). The issue for Jesus is not whether one does them (each section begins, “When you …”) but how and why (with v. 1, cf. 5:16). The hypocrite is motivated by pride, the desire to be above others; so he has no room for God (to the person bent on being supreme, no one is so threatening as God). He appears to serve God but really serves himself. Jesus’ followers are to be moved instead by love for God (vv. 4, 8, 18).” J. K. Chamblin

How does Jesus want you to love others?

Isaiah 50:6 “I offered my back to those who beat me and my cheeks to those who pulled out my beard. I did not hide my face from mockery and spitting.”

1 Corinthians 6:7 “Even to have such lawsuits with one another is a defeat for you. Why not just accept the injustice and leave it at that? Why not let yourselves be cheated?”

We are no longer under the rule of reciprocity! This is about freedom from hurt and unmet expectations. You actually don’t have to hit back, you can walk in freedom because of what Jesus did for you.

In Jesus you are:

• Defended
• Restored
• Healed
• Set free
• Redeemed
• Cared for

Jesus meets your three biggest needs:

1. You are loved!
2. You are accepted!
3. You matter!

And now go and give what you have received to others!