Matthew 5:38-48 - Jesus' Standards of Christian Behavior (Gospel for February 23, 2014, 7th Sunday of Ordinary Time)

Last Sunday, Jesus preached that the spirit of the law -- embodied in love and forgiveness -- is more important than the letter of the law. This theme is expounded in this Sunday's gospel which shows the radicality of the values that Jesus preached.

This is done by Matthew through a series of antitheses:

1. "An eye for an eye" vs. "offer no resistance." - Actually, the "eye for an eye" dictum was already a moderation of the act of revenge because people's acts of vengeance tended to far exceed the cause that triggered the revenge (i.e. people tended to take two or three eyes).  Jesus takes this a level higher by advocating passive resistance (think Gandhi/Martin Luther King) as the winning strategy to defeat evil.

2. "Struck at the right cheek" vs. "turn the other one as well" - Being struck at the right cheek was particularly insulting because the back of the hand was used, and demanded a higher penalty in court.  Again, Jesus advocated fighting evil with good.

3. "Going to law over a tunic" vs. "handing your cloak as well" - A tunic is one's shirt, or undergarment often extending to the legs, and is one's most indispensable garment.  It is never given up even as payment for a fine or restitution (except when one is sold as a slave).  It would be an excessive demand if one were to ask for the tunic as payment.  Nevertheless, Jesus said to give the cloak (or the coat over one's tunic) as well.

4. "Forces you to one one mile" vs. "go two miles" - "Going one mile" refers to when one is commissioned by government to go along as guide or messenger (similar to Simon of Cyrene) to help carry out a government task.  Sometimes, one's horse is required to send a message, for example, and is used without compensation.  It was an oppressive practice; but Jesus says to go two miles.

5. "Hate your enemies" vs "love your enemies" - Biblical scholars interpret this as one's personal enemies, and not pagans or enemies of the state.  The love demanded is not the emotional one, but the kind that understands and forgives.

6. "Be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect" - The correct interpretation is not "to be without fault" but that the disciple must have a whole, complete and undivided love for all.  

Very difficult standards.

Sources: 

- Nil Guillemette, SJ, A Kingdom for All (Makati: St. Paul's Publications), 166.
**Raymond E. Brown et al (eds), The New Jerome Biblical Commentary (New Jersey: Prentice Hall, 1990), 643-644.