Matthew 5:38-48 Meaning

Didache, The Teaching of the Twelve Apostles Direct teaching

...not have an enemy. Keep away from fleshly and worldly desires. If someone strikes your right cheek, turn the other cheek to him also, and you will be perfect. If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two. If someone takes away your cloak, give him your coat also. If someone takes what is yours, do not ask for it back, for you are not able to do so. Give to everyone who asks you, and do not ask for it back. For the Father wills that everyone should be given something from our own free gifts. Happy is the one who gives according to the commandment, for he is guiltless. Woe to the one who receives. If a person receives because he has need, he is guiltless. But the one who receives without need will pay the penalty for why he received and for what purpose. And when he comes into straits, that is, confinement, he will be examined about the things he has done, and he will not escape from there until he pays back the last farthing. Matthew 5:26 But also concerning this, it has now been said, "Let your alms sweat in your hands, until you know to whom you should give."

Justin Martyr, The First Apology Direct teaching

...nd being free from anger, this is what He said: "To the one who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other as well; and do not stop someone who takes away your cloak or coat. Whoever is angry is in danger of the fire. And anyone who forces you to go a mile with him, go two. Let your good deeds shine before others, so that when they see them, they may glorify your Father in heaven." We should not argue; neither has He wanted us to imitate wicked people, but He has encouraged us to lead all people away from shame and the love of evil through patience and gentleness. This is shown in the case of many who once shared your views but have changed their violent and oppressive ways, being influenced either by the consistent integrity they saw in their neighbors' lives, the remarkable patience observed in their fellow travelers when wronged, or the honesty of those with whom they conducted business.

Origen, Against Celsus Direct teaching

and on the other, we have read, I say unto you, Whoever shall smite you on the one cheek, turn to him the other also.

Cyprian, Treatises Direct teaching

...our goods back when they are taken from you. When you are struck on one cheek, you should offer the other cheek to the one who strikes you. You should forgive a brother who sins against you, not only seven times, but seventy times seven times, and even more, all his sins altogether. You should love your enemies. You should pray for your adversaries and persecutors. Can you do these things unless you keep the firmness of patience and endurance? And we see this in Stephen. When he was killed by the Jews with violence and stoning, he did not ask for vengeance for himself, but for pardon for his murderers, saying, "Lord, do not lay this sin to their charge." Acts 7:60 It was fitting that the first martyr of Christ should be like this. By going before the martyrs who would follow him in a glorious death, he was not only a preacher of the Lord's passion, but also an imitator of His most patient gentleness. What shall I say about anger, discord, and strife? These things ought not to be found in a Christian. Let there be patience in the heart, and these things cannot have a place there. Or if they try to enter, they are quickly driven out and leave, so that a peaceful dwelling may remai

Tertullian, On Patience Direct teaching

If one attempt to provoke you by manual violence, the monition of the Lord is at hand: To him, He says, who smites you on the face, turn the other cheek likewise.

Apostolic Constitutions, Apostolic Constitutions Direct teaching

... their opinions. Abstain from fleshly and worldly lusts. If anyone strikes you on your right cheek, turn to him the other also. Not that revenge is evil, but that patience is more honorable. For David says, If I have repaid those who repaid me evil. If anyone compels you to go one mile, go with him two. And, He that will sue you at the law, and take away your coat, let him have your cloak also. Matthew 5:40; Luke 6:29 And from him who takes your goods, do not ask for them back. Luke 6:30 Give to him who asks you, and from him who would borrow from you do not shut your hand. Matthew 5:42 For the righteous man is pitiful, and lends. For your Father wants you to give to all, and He Himself makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends His rain on the just and on the unjust. Matthew 5:45 It is therefore reasonable to give to all from your own labors; for He says, Honor the Lord from your righteous labors, but in such a way that the saints are preferred. You shall not kill; that is, you shall not destroy a man like yourself, for you destroy what was well made. Not as if all killing were wicked, but only the killing of the innocent; for killing that is just is reserved to

Irenaeus, Against Heresies: Book III Supporting witness

...n we actually begin to suffer, He will seem to have misled us, urging us to endure suffering and to turn the other cheek, if He did not really suffer the same Himself before us. As He misled them by appearing to be what He was not, He also misleads us by urging us to endure what He did not endure Himself. In that case, we would surpass the Master, because we suffer and endure what our Master never experienced. But as our Lord is truly Master, so the Son of God is genuinely good and patient, with the Word of God the Father having become the Son of man. For He fought and conquered; for He was man contending for the fathers, and through obedience entirely undoing disobedience. He bound the strong man, freed the weak, and granted His creation salvation by destroying sin. For He is a most holy and merciful Lord, and loves the human race.

Clement of Alexandria, Exhortation to the Heathen Supporting witness

to him who strikes you on the cheek, present also the other;

Archelaus, Disputation with Manes Supporting witness

And as to His injunction, that a man, when struck on the one cheek, should offer the other also, that is the expression of goodness.

Tatian, The Diatessaron Supporting witness

but whosoever smites you on your right 8 cheek, turn to him also the other.

Unknown, Unknown Work Supporting witness

And He says: If any one strike you on the one cheek, turn to him the other also;

Archelaus, Disputation with Manes Supporting witness

but that our Lord bade us offer the other cheek also to him who smote the one.

Matthew 5:44 Direct teaching

But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you,

Matthew 5:43 Direct teaching

Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.

Athenagoras, A Plea for the Christians Direct teaching

...ot to think of us as atheists. What, then, are the teachings in which we are raised? I say to you, "Love your enemies. Bless those who curse you. Pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father in heaven, who makes His sun rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the just and the unjust." Luke 6:27-28; Matthew 5:44-45 Allow me here to raise my voice boldly in a loud and clear cry, since I am pleading before philosophic princes. For which of those who construct syllogisms, clear up ambiguities, explain etymologies, or teach homonyms and synonyms, predicaments and axioms, and what is the subject and what is the predicate, and who promise by these and similar lessons to make their students happy—which of them has so cleansed his soul that, instead of hating his enemies, he loves them? Which of them, instead of speaking evil of those who have insulted him—although even holding back from that would itself be a sign of no small self-control—blesses them, and prays for those who plot against his life? On the contrary, they never stop skillfully searching out the secrets of their art with evil intent, and they are always set on doing some harm. Their bus

Theophilus of Antioch, To Autolycus Direct teaching

... the name of the Lord may be glorified and be seen in their joy." Isaiah 66:5 And the Gospel says: "Love your enemies, and pray for those who despitefully use you. For if you love those who love you, what reward will you have? This also the robbers and the tax collectors do." Matthew 5:44, 46 And it teaches those who do good not to boast, lest they become men-pleasers. For it says: "Let not your left hand know what your right hand does." Matthew 6:3 Moreover, concerning subjection to authorities and powers, and prayer for them, the divine word gives us instructions, so that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life. 1 Timothy 2:2 And it teaches us to render all things to all: Romans 13:7-8 honor to whom honor, fear to whom fear, tribute to whom tribute; to owe no man anything, but to love all.

Clement of Alexandria, The Stromata (Miscellanies) Direct teaching

How great also is benignity! Love your enemies, it is said, bless them who curse you, and pray for them who despitefully use you, Matthew 5:44-45 and the like;

Cyprian, Treatises Supporting witness

Matthew 5:43-48 He said that the children of God would thus become perfect.

Theophilus of Antioch, To Autolycus Direct teaching

Isaiah 66:5 And the Gospel says: Love your enemies, and pray for them that despitefully use you.

Athenagoras, A Plea for the Christians Direct teaching

I say unto you, Love your enemies; bless them that curse you;

Unknown, Unknown Work Supporting witness

And now He bids us love our enemies, bless them that curse us, and pray for them that despitefully use us.

Cyprian, Treatises Supporting witness

that you should love your enemies; that you should offer prayer for your adversaries and persecutors?

Cyprian, Treatises Supporting witness

But I say unto you, Love your enemies, and pray for them which persecute you;

Apostolic Constitutions, Apostolic Constitutions Supporting witness

Proverbs 20:22 For so says He again in the Gospel: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you and persecute you;

Matthew 5:42 Direct teaching

Give to him who asks you, and from him who wants to borrow from you do not turn away.

Barnabas, Connection to Matthew 5:42 Direct teaching

Thou shalt not hesitate to give, nor murmur when thou givest. "Give to every one that asketh thee,"

Hermas, Connection to Matthew 5:42 Supporting witness

Give to all, for God wishes His gifts to be shared among all.

Unknown, Unknown Work Supporting witness

and if any one take away your coat, hinder him not from taking your cloak also. Matthew 5:40; Luke 6:27-29

Clement of Rome, First Epistle to the Corinthians Background

Let those who have love in Christ keep the commandments of Christ. Who can describe the blessed bond of the love of God? What person is able to tell the excellence of its beauty as it ought to be told? The height to which love exalts is unspeakable. Love unites us to God. Love covers a multitude of sins. Love bears all things, is long-suffering in all things. There is nothing base, nothing arrogant in love. Love allows no schisms; love gives rise to no seditions; love does all things in harmony. By love, all the elect of God have been made perfect; without love, nothing is well-pleasing to God. In love, the Lord has taken us to Himself. Out of the Love He bore us, Jesus Christ our Lord gave His blood for us by the will of God; His flesh for our flesh, and His soul for our souls.

Matthew 5:38 Direct teaching

Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth:

Tertullian, Against Marcion Direct teaching

... incredible that the same God should seem to require a tooth for a tooth and an eye for an eye in return for an injury, and yet forbid not only all reprisals, but even a revengeful thought or recollection of an injury, it becomes plain to us in what sense He required an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. It was not for the purpose of permitting the repetition of the injury by retaliating it. That was virtually forbidden when He forbade vengeance. Rather, it was for the purpose of restraining the injury in the first place, since He had forbidden it under pain of retaliation or reciprocity. So each man, seeing the permission to inflict a second, or retaliatory, injury, might refrain from committing the first, or provoking, wrong. For He knows how much easier it is to repress violence by the prospect of retaliation than by the promise of vengeance at some undefined time. Yet it was necessary to provide both results, because of the nature and the faith of men. The man who believed in God might expect vengeance from God, while the man who had no faith to restrain him might fear the laws that required retaliation. This purpose of the law, which was hard to understand, Christ, as

Irenaeus, Against Heresies: Book IV Supporting witness

“And if any one,” He says, “shall compel thee [to go] a mile, go with him twain;” so that thou mayest not follow him as a slave, but may as a free man go before him, showing thyself in all things kindly disposed and useful to thy neighbour, not regarding their evil intentions, but performing thy kind offices, assimilating thyself to the Father, “who maketh His sun to rise upon the evil and the good, and sendeth rain upon the just and unjust.” Now all these [precepts], as I have already observed, were not [the injunctions] of one doing away with the law, but of one fulfilling, extending, and widening it among us;

Arnobius, Against the Heathen Supporting witness

For since we, a numerous band of men as we are, have learned from His teaching and His laws that evil ought not to be requited with evil,Matthew 5:39 that it is better to suffer wrong than to inflict it, that we should rather shed our own blood than stain our hands and our conscience with that of another, an ungrateful world is now for a long period enjoying a benefit from Christ, inasmuch as by His means the rage of savage ferocity has been softened, and has begun to withhold hostile hands from the blood of a fellow-creature.

Tertullian, Against Marcion Supporting witness

Well, but Christ plainly teaches a new kind of patience, when He actually prohibits the reprisals which the Creator permitted in requiring an eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth, Exodus 21:24 and bids us, on the contrary, to him who smites us on the one cheek, to offer the other also, and to give up our coat to him that takes away our cloak.

Tatian, The Diatessaron Supporting witness

6, 7 Matthew 5:38 You have heard that it was said, Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth: Matthew 5:39 but I say unto you, Stand not in opposition to the evil;

Irenaeus, Against Heresies: Book IV Background

...the Romans, “For there is no power but from God; the powers that exist are ordained by God. Whoever resists the power resists God’s ordinance, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves. Rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Will you not be afraid of the power? Do good, and you will receive praise, for he is God’s minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain: he is God's minister, the avenger for wrath upon the one who does evil. Therefore, you must be subject, not only for wrath but for conscience's sake. For this reason, you also pay taxes; for they are God’s ministers, attending continually to this very task.” Thus, both the Lord and the apostles proclaim God the Father as the one who gave the law, sent the prophets, and made all things; hence He says, “He sent His armies,” for every person, as a person, is His creation, even if they do not know their God. He gives existence to all; He “makes His sun rise upon the evil and the good and sends rain upon the just and unjust.”