Understanding Jesus’s Teaching on Retaliation in Simple Terms
When someone hurts us, our first instinct is often to get back at them. If someone insults us, we want to insult them back. If someone takes something from us, we might feel it’s only fair to take something from them in return. This idea is as old as time and is summed up in the saying, “An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.”
What Did Jesus Say About Revenge?
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus challenges this old way of thinking. He tells his listeners: “You’ve heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I say to you, don’t resist an evil person. If someone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other also. If someone sues you for your coat, give them your cloak as well. If someone forces you to go one mile, go with them two.”
In simple terms, Jesus is saying: Don’t fight back. Don’t seek payback. If someone does you wrong, don’t try to get even—instead, surprise them by responding with kindness and generosity.
Why Was This So Surprising?
Back in Jesus’s time, the law (“an eye for an eye”) was meant to keep things fair and stop people from going overboard with revenge. It was a way to make sure punishment fit the crime. But Jesus took things to a whole new level. He wasn’t just saying, “Don’t go too far.” He was saying, “Don’t seek revenge at all.”
What Does This Mean for Us Today?
This teaching is not just about big things like crime and punishment. It’s about everyday life—at home, at work, and in our communities. Jesus’s followers are called to let go of their “right” to get even. Instead, they’re supposed to be willing to suffer wrong for the sake of love and peace.
That doesn’t mean pretending evil isn’t real or excusing bad behavior. Jesus is clear: evil is still evil. But the way to defeat it is not by adding more evil—more insults, more violence, more bitterness—into the world. Instead, Jesus says evil is overcome by patient endurance and refusing to participate in the cycle of payback.
But Isn’t This Unrealistic?
Many people wonder if “turning the other cheek” just turns you into a doormat. Doesn’t it invite more abuse? Jesus wasn’t naive about the world. He knew evil was real—he faced it himself. But he also believed that responding with love and forgiveness is the only way to truly stop evil in its tracks. When we refuse to strike back, our actions shine a light on how wrong the original hurt was, and we show the world a different way to live.
What About Justice?
Some have tried to separate personal life from official roles—saying, for example, that while we shouldn’t seek revenge as individuals, it’s okay for governments or officials to use force to maintain order. But Jesus doesn’t make this distinction. He speaks to all his followers, in every role, and calls them to a higher loyalty—to himself and his way of love.
The Power of the Cross
Jesus didn’t just talk about nonviolence—he lived it. He suffered injustice, insult, and violence, and instead of seeking revenge, he offered forgiveness. His death on the cross looked like evil had won, but Christians believe it was actually the moment when love triumphed over hate.
Following Jesus means being willing to share in that kind of love, even when it’s hard. It means believing that patient, suffering love has the power to change hearts and heal the world—something revenge never can.
In Short
· Revenge feels natural, but Jesus calls us to something different: forgiving and loving, even when we’re wronged.
· Refusing to seek payback isn’t weakness—it’s powerful, and it stops the cycle of hurt.
· Justice is important, but the way of Jesus is rooted in love and self-sacrifice, not in getting even.
· This teaching isn’t easy, but it’s the heart of what it means to follow Jesus.
So next time you feel the urge to get even, remember: the most radical thing you can do might just be to forgive, let go, and love anyway.
Minister A Francine Green, May 2026