Standing Your Ground Without Throwing Down

Pastor: Adam Sharkey

“A feud is this way: A man has a quarrel with another man, and kills him; then that other man’s brother kills him; then the other brothers, on both sides, go for one another… and by and by everybody’s killed off.”— Buck, in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn

That quote from Huck Finn captures what happens when revenge runs unchecked — it spreads like wildfire, fueled by pride and pain. It's no wonder Jesus confronted this cycle of retaliation in His famous Sermon on the Mount.

Lex Talionis: When Justice Becomes Personal

Jesus said in Matthew 5:38:

“You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’”

This phrase traces back to the Lex Talionis, the "law of retaliation" found in ancient legal codes like the Code of Hammurabi. While it may sound brutal to our ears, its original purpose was to limit violence, not promote it. The idea was simple: punishment should be proportionate to the offense — no more, no less.

In Old Testament Israel, justice was structured and restrained:

• Offenses required witnesses (Deuteronomy 19:15).

• Judges were to investigate thoroughly (v. 18).

• The punishment had to be just and consistent (v. 19).

This wasn’t about personal vendettas — it was about protecting the innocent, restraining evil, and making Israel a people distinct from the violent cultures around them (Exodus 21, Leviticus 24, Deuteronomy 19).

Jesus Confronts the Misuse of the Law

By Jesus’ day, two major groups had reinterpreted this law:

• Pharisees leaned toward monetary compensation.

• Sadducees favored literal, physical retribution.

But both had one thing in common: they had turned justice into a personal matter. So Jesus steps in — not to throw out the law, but to challenge how His followers should live it out. Instead of escalating conflict, Jesus calls us to creative resistance and grace.

“But I tell you, do not resist an evil person…” — Matthew 5:39

At first glance, this seems like a command to roll over. But Jesus isn’t promoting passivity — He’s inviting us to respond differently, to resist not with violence but with surprising strength.

Four Radical Responses to Injustice

Jesus gives four examples — each one subversive, unexpected, and deeply human:

1. When You’re Dishonored in Public

“If someone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other also.”This isn’t about violence — it’s about insult. A backhanded slap to the right cheek was a calculated attempt to shame. Jesus says: Don’t run, don’t retaliate — stand your ground with dignity.📌 When you’re dishonored in public, stand up, but don’t throw down.

2. When You’re Treated Unjustly

“If anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well.”Give them more than they demand? That’s absurd — and that’s the point. Jesus challenges us to disrupt the power play by flipping the script. Imagine someone suing you for your shirt, and you voluntarily hand them your coat — you'd be naked, but also undeniably in control of the situation.📌 When you’re treated unjustly, give more than they take.

3. When You’re Met with Demands

“If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two.”This referred to Roman soldiers forcing Jews to carry their gear — a daily reminder of occupation. Jesus says: Shock them with your willingness. One mile is obligation, the second mile is your choice.📌 When you’re met with demands, use service to take a stand.

4. When You’re Used as a Means to an End

“Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.”This one is tough. It speaks to the times we feel objectified, like a resource rather than a person. Jesus says to respond with grace, not avoidance. That doesn’t mean giving recklessly — it means staying present, offering what you can, not what you can’t.📌 When you’re used as a means to an end, let grace be what you extend.

So What Do We Do With This?

This is hard teaching. It runs against every instinct we have to protect ourselves, settle the score, or make things “fair.” But Jesus isn’t calling us to be pushovers — He’s calling us to be peacemakers. Here's how we can start:

✅ Pray before reacting.✅ Care more about the person than the offense.✅ Offer what you can, not what you can’t.✅ Refuse to hold people in your debt.

“Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing…”— 1 Peter 3:9

Final Thought:Jesus didn’t just teach this — He lived it. When falsely accused, He remained silent. When struck, He didn’t strike back. When stripped, He gave it all. On the cross, He bore our sin and shame — and in return, gave us life.

The way of Jesus doesn’t ignore justice — it transforms it.

It’s not retribution.It’s redemption.