Charles Spurgeon Commentary John 18:20-22

"Jesus answered him, I have spoken openly to the world; I ever taught in synagogues, and in the temple, where all the Jews come together; and in secret spake I nothing. Why askest thou me? Ask them that have heard [me], what I spake unto them: behold, these know the things which I said. And when he had said this, one of the officers standing by struck Jesus with his hand, saying, Answerest thou the high priest so?" — John 18:20-22 (ASV)

Jesus answered him, I spoke openly to the world; I always taught in the synagogue and in the temple, where the Jews always resort; and in secret I have said nothing. Why do you ask me? Ask those who heard me what I have said to them; behold, they know what I said. And when he had said this, one of the officers who stood by struck Jesus with the palm of his hand, saying, Do you answer the high priest so?

Here we get an exposition of one of Christ's own sayings. You know that he said, "Whoever shall strike you on your right cheek, turn to him the other also." Of course, Christ would carry out his own precept, so we see that he did not mean that his disciples were literally to turn the other cheek to those who struck them, but that they were to bear such treatment patiently, and not to give a railing answer. See how Jesus himself turned the other cheek.