When it comes to evil people and evil acts being done, most of us want to see justice. We want to see the person who did wrong suffer in some way, especially if we deem their act very bad. This is a main school of thought for how the world operates. People should get what they deserve. However, this is not the mainstream thought of Jesus, not even close. How are we supposed to deal with people who do bad things even to us? 

Matthew 5:38-42 has the answer. Starting in verse 38 Jesus says, “You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth’”. Jesus is quoting from a Hebrew law that is referenced many times like in Exodus 21:24, Leviticus 24:20 and Deuteronomy 19:21. This was how evil was to be treated. Whatever someone does must be done back to them. If someone knocks out someone’s tooth, their tooth must be knocked out. This seems like retaliation but the law was meant so that punishment fit the crime. This was so that harsher punishments were not given. This does not mean we should retaliate and Jesus makes sure we get that point in his next words. 

“But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also”. This famous saying of Jesus is just as shocking to us today as those who heard it come out of his mouth. Jesus is saying we shouldn’t retaliate but he’s also saying we should do more. We should not resist a person even if they are evil. “And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well. If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles. Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.” Jesus is trying to show us the beautiful work of love. When someone wants something from us we should give it to them or to go with them. Roman soldiers often made Jews carry their belongings to certain places. Those soldiers, who in their minds, were evil soldiers who were taking over their homeland and Jesus tells them to carry their stuff an extra mile if need be. Why in the world would anyone do this? Why would we be so nice to people who don’t deserve it? 

The answer is because we follow Jesus. If we remember correctly, we were undeserving of God’s grace and love too when Jesus went to the cross and forgave us. Romans 5:8 reminds us of this. We don’t deserve the love of God either but because we received it, we should also share it with others. This is a hard teaching to grasp and even harder to apply. When people do bad things to us, we want to get back at them. This is not the way God’s kingdom works. In God’s kingdom, we show love to everyone even if they don’t deserve it. The truth is none of us deserve it, but we have a God who loves us very much and we need to share that Savior with others.