Like a slap in the face
You know that feeling? Like you’ve truly been slapped in the face, even if no hand was raised. It’s so much more than just that physical blow, don’t you think? Think of the humiliation, the shame, the feeling of being belittled. We’ve all had those moments when words or actions hit you so hard that they cut right through your soul. Seriously, it hits like a ton of bricks.
A peculiar slap
In Eastern culture, a slap on the cheek carried a very specific weight. If someone slapped you on your right cheek with the back of their hand, for the Jews, that was the ultimate insult. It wasn’t about a fight or anything; no, it was purely and solely intended to humiliate you, to utterly break you.
This usually happened in relationships where the power dynamics were completely uneven. Think of masters belittling their slaves, or people in power tearing others down. The story of Jesus before Pilate, where he was spat on and struck, is a painful example of this. It wasn’t just about the pain, but primarily about mocking and humiliating Him. It was a pure display of power.
Hitting back?
When we’re hurt, our first reaction is often: “An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth!” We’d prefer to pay them back in kind. “You can’t let that happen!” we exclaim. “You don’t have to let people walk all over you, do you?” Very human, I’d say. You just want to stand up for yourself.
But then Jesus comes along with something totally revolutionary, precisely about that slap on the cheek: “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.” That’s a tough pill to swallow, and so different from how most people react. Really, who does that?
Strength in vulnerability
Of course, this doesn’t mean you should literally let everyone who hurts you torment you even more. What it’s about is acting lovingly, even when people genuinely hurt us. And within that love, you can still draw very clear boundaries when necessary. Absolutely! You’re not a doormat.
Because not all blows come as a fist. What about words? They can hit just as hard, or even harder! You’ve just bought a new dress and someone can’t resist saying: “How could you buy something like that, what a terrible color?” Or that remark after a church service, when that critical congregation member tells the pastor: “I didn’t hear anything new.” Not knowing that the pastor had struggled terribly to deliver that message due to all sorts of private concerns in his family. Such a remark is a dagger to the heart.
Words have enormous power and, if you’re not careful, can haunt you for years. The voices of your parents, your teachers, people who hurt you – you sometimes still hear them, many years later, like an echo in your mind.
You are stronger
When you’re slapped on your right cheek and you turn the other cheek, something special happens. You look that other person straight in the eye at that moment. You turn your face so you can look at them. And in that gaze, a powerful message is contained: “You won’t break me. I won’t let you intimidate me. I am not a victim – I have learned to rise above this, with God’s help.” Now that’s true courage.
The art of letting go
What you definitely also need to learn in such a situation is to let go. Remind yourself that you are valuable, to yourself and certainly to God. Don’t let it get to you – make sure those hurtful words or actions don’t affect you. Start thinking differently about yourself. Look at how God sees you: beloved, valuable, unique. That truth is stronger than all the humiliating words or actions that may come your way.
So, turning the other cheek is not weakness; no, it is strength. It is the strength not to get caught in that spiral of revenge and retaliation. It is the courage to react totally differently than expected. And it is the wisdom to know that your worth is truly not determined by how others treat you.
So, the next time you feel like you’re being slapped in the face – whether by words or actions – remember this: you are more than what others think of you. You are valuable, beloved, and strong enough to rise above the pain. Don’t let it get you down!
@wimvanputten