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.
But here's what I'm telling you: don't fight back against someone who wrongs you. If someone slaps you on the right cheek, offer them the left one too.
Jesus said the ultimate power move isn't revenge, it's choosing not to retaliate at all.
📚 Historical Context
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus was teaching His followers and the crowds about the higher standards of God's Kingdom, building on and fulfilling the Old Testament law. This verse specifically addresses personal offenses, like being struck on the cheek, which in first-century Jewish culture often symbolized humiliation or injustice under Roman rule. Jesus' instruction promoted a radical form of non-retaliation, encouraging humility and love as a counter to the common practice of seeking revenge.
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