Revenge

“You have heard the law that says the punishment must match the injury: ‘An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I say, do not resist an evil person! If someone slaps you on the right cheek, offer the other cheek also."

Matthew 5:38-39 

 

When we feel hurt or slighted or insulted by someone, we want REVENGE!  Let's face is, our revenge is usually an act that is escalated to the point that we believe the other person will back down.  Yet when they, in turn, escalate their revenge on our revenge, we begin a war.  A war where there are only losers, no winners.  We lose respect; we lose relationships; we lose credibility...we lose!

 

Now...Jesus is in no way saying we should not protect ourselves from physical or emotional abuse.  You see, in Jesus' time, a backhanded slap was meant to sting and cause embarrassment, it was considered an insult.  No one tried to knock your teeth out with a slap.  However, our human nature has a short fuse and we don't tolerate being embarrassed very well.  Therefore, if someone slaps us, our natural instinct is to punch them which will draw more punches and perhaps even friends will jump into the fray on our behalf.  On and on this will go until weapons are drawn, property is damaged, furniture gets broken and then the police arrive.

 

And what gets accomplished?  Injury, having to pay for property damage, going to jail...is an insult worth that?  Jesus reminds us that we are to be strong enough that we don't feel the need to respond to an insult.  We have the option to simply walk away.

Revenge leads to our desire to do harm to someone else.  Jesus reminds us that revenge is not worth the stress, headache or any other consequence.