Saturday, September 19, 2020

Dignity (Matt. 5:39b)

 

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 9/19/2020 10:32 PM

 

My Worship Time                                                                                       Focus:  PT-1 “Dignity”

 

Bible Reading & Meditation                                                         Reference:  Matt. 5:39b

 

            Message of the verse:  “but whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn to him the other also.”

 

            Exactly what is Jesus talking about here in this partial verse?  Let me begin by saying as human beings that we have the right to be treated with basic dignity, respect, and consideration, and the reason for this is that we are all created in the image of God and so God demands that we treat one another with respect.  However He knows that we will not always be treated this way as often for the very reason that we belong to God and so go by the name of His Son that we will be mistreated.  This is very evident in our country today as the very reason that our country was founded in order to be able to practice our faith freely, that right is slowly being taken away from us.  So the answer to the question posed is that it is the way we react to mistreatment and insult that Jesus is talking about here.

 

            I can say that probably no one likes to be slapped in the fact, but among the Jews, a slap or other striking in the face was among the most demeaning and contemptuous of acts. A person may be injured worse but striking them in other parts of their body, but a slap in the face was an attack on one’s honor and was considered to be a terrible indignity.  That was to be treated with disdain, as being less than a human being when slapped in the face.  This goes along with a slave as they would rather have been struck across the back with a whip than to be slapped in the face by his master’s hand.

 

            Now because of the lateness of the hour I will close this SD with a quotation from MacArthur’s commentary:  “To strike someone on the right cheek would then be a vicious angry reaction, indicating an act of insult.  Yet when we are insulted, maligned, and treated with contempt—literally or figuratively struck on the cheek by someone—we are to turn to him the other also.  But Jesus’ point pertains more to what we are not to do than what we are to do.  Turning the other cheek symbolizes that nonavenging, nonretalitory, humble, and gentle spirit that is to characterize kingdom citizens. (cf. vv 3, 5). 

 

3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

 

5 “Blessed are the gentle, for they shall inherit the earth.

 

9/19/2020 10:51 PM

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