Who Would Be Foolish Enough to Offer the Other Cheek to One Who Strikes?

The sermon begins by analyzing Christ's difficult teaching into three main categories. First, teachings that are hard to understand, such as being born again. Second, teachings that are hard to believe, such as Jesus being the only way to God, or that He existed before Abraham. Third, teachings that are hard to practice, such as forgiving seventy times seven times, or loving enemies and turning the other cheek. The pastor concludes that the teaching about loving enemies encompasses all three difficulties.

The pastor explains that many view this teaching as an impractical, abstract theory disconnected from real life. However, Jesus Himself lived according to these teachings. When arrested, tortured, spat upon, and finally crucified, Jesus continued to love, forgive, and pray for His persecutors. Jesus did not teach these words as abstract theory but addressed them to His disciples—simple laborers, the uneducated, the poor and lowly—people who directly faced the harsh and cruel realities of life.

The pastor then explains the balance between justice and mercy, based on the prophet Micah 6:8 about doing justice, loving mercy, and walking humbly with God. Jesus is both just and merciful, severely condemning the Pharisees and teachers of the law but being gentle and forgiving toward sinners. The teaching about turning the other cheek does not encourage passivity or acceptance of injustice, but teaches how to demand justice without harboring hatred or seeking revenge.

The pastor carefully analyzes that being struck on the cheek means being shamed, not physical harm. The natural human response when shamed is either revenge or passivity, but Jesus teaches a completely different attitude: speaking truth and demanding justice while maintaining inner peace and forgiveness. When offering the other cheek, the believer tells the person who hurt them they are willing to give them another opportunity to restore the relationship, to kiss instead of continuing to strike. The pastor illustrates this through David sparing King Saul's life twice, and through an example of a child confronting their father respectfully but firmly.

Finally, the pastor explains that only when people have received God's infinite forgiveness and mercy, have experienced being made children of God despite being His enemies, can they determine to practice this difficult teaching. Romans 5:8 and 5:10 show that while we are still enemies of God, Jesus loves us, dies for us, and continues to forgive and offer new opportunities. Loving enemies is a choice, a determination of believers with the help of the Holy Spirit.