Matthew 5:39 - "But I say unto you, That you resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite you on your right cheek, turn to him the other also."
These verses reveal the humiliation of being a Christian. When you are insulted, you must not only not resent it, but make it an occasion to exhibit the Son of God. To the saint personal insult becomes the occasion of revealing the incredible love of the Lord Jesus.
The teaching of the Sermon on the Mount is not -- Do your duty, but -- Do what is not your duty. It is not your duty to go the second mile, to turn the other cheek, but Jesus says if we are His disciples we shall always do these things. There will be no spirit of -- "Oh, well, I cannot do any more, I have been so misunderstood."
Every time I insist upon my rights, I hurt the Son of God. The disciple realizes that it is his Lord's honor that is at stake in his life, not his own honor. We are always looking for justice; the teaching on the Sermon on the Mount is -- Never look for justice, but never cease to live it.
These verses reveal the humiliation of being a Christian. When you are insulted, you must not only not resent it, but make it an occasion to exhibit the Son of God. To the saint personal insult becomes the occasion of revealing the incredible love of the Lord Jesus.
The teaching of the Sermon on the Mount is not -- Do your duty, but -- Do what is not your duty. It is not your duty to go the second mile, to turn the other cheek, but Jesus says if we are His disciples we shall always do these things. There will be no spirit of -- "Oh, well, I cannot do any more, I have been so misunderstood."
Every time I insist upon my rights, I hurt the Son of God. The disciple realizes that it is his Lord's honor that is at stake in his life, not his own honor. We are always looking for justice; the teaching on the Sermon on the Mount is -- Never look for justice, but never cease to live it.
