Q. Can you explain what Jesus means by “turning the other cheek”? Because that sounds like a bad idea!
A. The phrase “defending one’s honor” likely invokes images of knights errant traveling the countryside in a pseudo-historical medieval France, or courtly dandies in powdered wigs slapping someone with a glove and challenging them to a duel. It is a phrase that, at first glance, seems to be from another time and is outdated in our modern world. However, I think a strong argument could be made that current American society is more concerned with defending against personal insult than any society before.
Social media has led to a concurrent virtual world alongside the real world, where perception and the projection of image is everything. When image is everything, anything that attacks that image has to be responded to, lest the image – and by extension, the totality of the virtual self – is destroyed. Why bring this up? Because when our Lord speaks about turning the other cheek, this is what He is talking about, not pacifism.
I must confess I, like many people throughout history, have read this passage and immediately jumped to the conclusion Jesus was calling His followers to live a life of non-aggression. That Christians are called to pacifism certainly seems borne out by the history of the early Church. Martyrs died rather than renounce their faith. They did not take up swords and fight back, or organize rebellions against the Romans. They died, peacefully, and in doing so, were a far greater witness to the reality of Christ than anyone could have ever foreseen.
Certainly, there is an element of this passage that encourages non-violence in the face of violence, but at their heart, these words of our Lord speak to not returning insult with insult. The verb rapizein when used here (often translated as “strike”) refers to an open-handed or backhanded slap, a slap that is not intended to hurt as much as it is intended to insult someone (special thank you to Vern Steiner of the Emmaus Institute for his Scriptural insight into this passage). Our Lord is not saying when someone intends to hurt you, that you have to let them hurt you, and even hurt you more. What He is saying is if someone insults you, do not insult them back.
Our Lord in this passage calls His followers to not be concerned with worldly honor, but to instead be secure in our identity as beloved children of the Father and followers of Christ. If we know our worth in the eyes of God, and are striving each day to live as His children, what do we care if someone insults us?
When we do return insult for insult, all we are doing is debasing ourselves. We allow someone to turn our focus from God and give in to anger and insult, and in doing so, accomplish exactly nothing. Perhaps we have a really good, cutting comeback, but simply by engaging in an exchange of insults, we have already made fools of ourselves.
A simple adage that seems more applicable today than maybe ever before is “hatred hardens hearts, love softens them.” Not only does responding to insult with compassion have a better chance of changing the insulter’s heart, it keeps our hearts from hardening and becoming consumed with anger. Bearing insult patiently is its own little form of martyrdom and, just like the martyrs of old, is a powerful witness to the reality of God and the peace that comes with following Him.
This question was answered by Father Caleb La Rue, chancellor of the Diocese of Lincoln. Write to Ask the Register using our online form, or write to 3700 Sheridan Blvd., Suite 10, Lincoln NE 68506-6100. All questions are subject to editing. Editors decide which questions to publish. Personal questions cannot be answered. People with such questions are urged to take them to their nearest Catholic priest.
