Charles Ellicott Commentary Matthew 5:39

"but I say unto you, resist not him that is evil: but whosoever smiteth thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also." — Matthew 5:39 (ASV)

Resist not evil — The Greek, as in Matthew 5:37, can be either masculine or neuter. Since it is followed by “whosoever,” the masculine form is preferable. However, in this case, it does not refer to “the evil one” with preeminent emphasis, but rather to a human evildoer, as in 1 Corinthians 5:13. We are emphatically told that it is our duty to resist that mightier “evil one” (James 4:7).

Shall smite — The word was used for blows with the hand or a stick, and for such blows, fines of a shekel or more were imposed by Jewish courts.

Turn to him the other also — We all quote and admire these words as a picture of ideal meekness. But most people also feel they cannot act on them literally. To make the attempt, as some whom the world calls dreamers or fanatics have done, would throw society into confusion and make the meek into victims.

The question, therefore, is whether these words were meant to be obeyed literally, and if not, what do they command? The answer is found in two key points. First, our Lord Himself, when struck by the servant of the high priest, protested even though He did not retaliate (John 18:22–23), and Saint Paul, under a similar outrage, was vehement in his rebuke (Acts 23:3). Second, the entire context shows that the Sermon on the Mount is not a code of laws, but an assertion of principles.

The principle here is clear and simple: when disciples of Christ suffer wrong, they must completely eliminate from their motives the natural desire to retaliate or accuse. As far as they themselves are concerned, they must be prepared—in language that has stamped itself on the hearts and memories of humanity because it is so far above our common nature—to turn the other cheek when one has been struck.

However, a person who has been wronged has other duties that cannot be rightly ignored. The law of God must be asserted, society must be protected, and the offender must be reclaimed. These duties may well justify protest, prosecution, or punishment, even when personal animosity does not.