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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