What Does ‘Turn the Other Cheek’ Mean?
THE QUESTION
When Jesus said, “Whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also” (Matthew 5:39), did He command Christians to accept every form of violence without resistance? Or was He teaching how believers should respond to personal insults, humiliation, and revenge?
SHORT ANSWER
“Turn the other cheek” means that a Christian must not answer personal wrongs with retaliation, spite, or a desire to get even. Jesus was confronting the sinful spirit that demands revenge. His command calls believers to endure insult, surrender personal pride, love enemies, and overcome evil with good.
This passage does not require a person to approve evil, remain indefinitely in serious danger, refuse all lawful protection, or prevent authorities from restraining violent offenders. The immediate context concerns personal retaliation—not the abolition of justice or every form of defense.
WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS
Jesus gave this command while correcting distortions of the law. “An eye for an eye” was a judicial standard that limited punishment and required proportionate justice (Exodus 21:22–25). It was not permission for individuals to pursue private vengeance. By Christ’s day, people could misuse that principle as an excuse to repay every offense.
In Matthew 5:38–42, Jesus used several examples: a slap on the cheek, a legal claim involving a coat, forced service for one mile, and a request for help. Together, they address wounded pride, personal rights, inconvenience, and generosity. His disciples must not be controlled by resentment or insist on repaying every injury.
A strike on the right cheek commonly pictures a humiliating insult. Turning the other cheek demonstrates that the offender does not control the believer’s character. The Christian refuses to trade insult for insult and leaves vengeance with God.
Jesus modeled this spirit. When falsely accused and mistreated, He did not retaliate. Yet He sometimes confronted wrongdoing directly. When an officer struck Him, Jesus answered, “If I have spoken evil, bear witness of the evil: but if well, why smitest thou me?” (John 18:23). He did not strike back, but neither did He pretend the act was right.
Paul also used lawful protections. He escaped dangerous plots, appealed to his Roman citizenship before a threatened scourging (Acts 22:25–29), required public accountability after an unlawful beating (Acts 16:35–39), and appealed to Caesar (Acts 25:10–12). Therefore, non-retaliation does not mean Christians may never leave danger, report a crime, seek protection, or use lawful means against injustice.
KEY SCRIPTURES—KJV
Matthew 5:38–39: “Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.”
Matthew 5:44: “But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you.”
Romans 12:19: “Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.”
Romans 12:21: “Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.”
1 Peter 2:23: “Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously.”
BIBLICAL PRINCIPLES
- Reject personal revenge. A believer must not become judge and executioner over every personal wrong.
- Control pride and anger. Many conflicts grow because a person feels compelled to defend wounded pride.
- Answer evil with good. Christian love seeks an enemy’s repentance and salvation rather than destruction.
- Speak truth without hatred. Jesus confronted injustice without returning violence or insult.
- Use lawful protection without vengeance. Leaving danger, reporting abuse, protecting the vulnerable, or appealing to authorities can be consistent with Scripture.
- Trust God with final justice. Forgiveness releases personal vengeance; it does not declare evil harmless or erase every earthly consequence.
WHERE CHRISTIANS DIFFER
Some Christians interpret “resist not evil” as requiring complete pacifism and nonresistance in every circumstance. Others understand the passage as prohibiting personal vengeance while allowing proportionate defense, protection of others, police action, and lawful war.
Faithful Christians should examine the whole counsel of Scripture and avoid making the verse say less—or more—than its context supports. The command plainly forbids a retaliatory heart. Its application to immediate defense is debated, but hatred, cruelty, and revenge are never Christian virtues.
THE CONCLUSION
“Turn the other cheek” is a command to renounce personal retaliation. Jesus calls His followers to absorb insults without becoming hateful, surrender the demand to get even, love their enemies, and entrust justice to God. It does not mean calling evil good or unnecessarily remaining in danger. A Christian may seek safety and lawful justice while refusing vengeance.
PRACTICAL APPLICATION
- Before responding to an offense, ask whether you are seeking truth and protection or merely trying to hurt the offender back.
- Refuse insulting messages, public humiliation, and revenge-driven actions.
- Pray for the offender and remain willing to forgive genuine repentance.
- If someone is violent or abusive, move to safety and contact appropriate authorities.
- Protect children and vulnerable people; do not use this verse to pressure victims into silence.
- Ask mature believers for counsel when forgiveness, boundaries, and justice are difficult to separate.
RELATED DISCIPLESHIP LESSONS
- Lesson 4: What Is Faith in Christ?
- Lesson 51: Why Every Christian Needs the Local Church
- Lesson 84: How to Grow in Love without Compromising Truth