#93 - Kyle Thompson // Yeah, That’s Not What That Means - Matthew 5:38-39

Summary

The Daily Blade: Joby Martin & Kyle Thompson – Episode #93 Summary

Podcast Information

• Title: The Daily Blade: Joby Martin & Kyle Thompson
• Hosts: Pastor Joby Martin (Church of Eleven22) & Kyle Thompson (Undaunted.Life)
• Description: A short-form devotional show equipping Christians to apply the Word of God to their everyday lives.
• Episode: #93 – Kyle Thompson: "Yeah, That’s Not What That Means" – Matthew 5:38-39
• Release Date: May 9, 2025

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Introduction to the Series

In Episode #93 of The Daily Blade, Kyle Thompson wraps up his insightful series titled "Yeah, That’s Not What That Means." Over six episodes, Kyle has tackled some of the most commonly misapplied and misunderstood scriptures in the Bible. He aims to clarify these misconceptions, providing listeners with a deeper and more accurate understanding of God’s Word.

Kyle Thompson:
"We're wrapping up this week where we have been doing a series of episodes called 'Yeah, that's not what that Means.' So I'm covering six of the most commonly misapplied and misunderstood scriptures in all of the biblical canon."
[00:20]

Recap of Previous Episodes

Prior to this episode, Kyle addressed Jeremiah 29:11 and Romans 8:28, debunking the prevalent notion that these verses guarantee perpetual happiness and prosperity for Christians in their earthly lives. He emphasized that such interpretations overlook the broader context and intended meaning of these scriptures.

Deep Dive into Matthew 5:38-39

In this pivotal episode, Kyle focuses on Matthew 5:38-39, a passage often cited in discussions about Christian responses to adversity and conflict.

Key Scripture: Matthew 5:38-39
“You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I tell you, don’t resist an evildoer. On the contrary, if anyone slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also.”

Understanding the Context

Kyle begins by elucidating that Jesus references Old Testament laws found in Exodus 21:24, Leviticus 24:20, and Deuteronomy 19:21. These laws were designed to ensure that punishments were proportionate to crimes, preventing excessive retribution.

Kyle Thompson:
"The fundamental misunderstanding of these words from Jesus is that people think Jesus was referring to physical assaults. And, yeah, that's not what that means, because in its correct context, Jesus is teaching us how we should respond to verbal assaults."
[Approximately 02:30]

Common Misinterpretations

Many Christians misconstrue Jesus' teachings in this passage as advocating for complete non-resistance to physical harm. This misinterpretation fosters a pacifist stance that overlooks the nuanced guidance Jesus provides.

Kyle Thompson:
"Most of society is right-handed... If I were to strike them on their right cheek with my right hand, I would be hitting them with the back of my hand. So in context, Jesus is talking about a verbal slap because you heard about these backhanded compliments or these backhanded words that come from people."
[Approximately 03:30]

Correct Interpretation: Responding to Verbal Offenses

Kyle clarifies that Jesus’ directive to "turn the other cheek" primarily addresses non-retaliation in response to verbal insults or personal slights. It emphasizes forbearance and love over vengeance, promoting a non-vengeful reaction rather than passive acceptance of physical harm.

Kyle Thompson:
"Our self-defense is not vengeful, okay? It's not a vengeful reaction to an offense, okay? In fact, many offenses can simply be absorbed in forbearance and in love."
[Approximately 04:10]

Scriptural Support for Self-Defense

To further illustrate his point, Kyle references other biblical passages that implicitly or explicitly support the concept of self-defense, illustrating that Jesus did not intend to abolish the right to protect oneself.

1. Luke 22:

   • "Let the one who has no sword sell his cloak and buy one."

   Kyle Thompson:
   "It was common knowledge that having a weapon was normal for protection and self-defense in this age. I mean, you wouldn't use a sword to garden, right?"
   [Approximately 04:50]

2. Luke 11:

   • "When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own palace, his goods are safe."

   Kyle Thompson:
   "Why would Jesus use the language of self-defense in this parable if self-defense were immoral or sinful or wrong?"
   [Approximately 05:10]

3. Nehemiah 4:17-18:

   • "Those who carried burdens were loaded in such a way that each labored on the work with one hand and held his weapon with the other."

   Kyle Thompson:
   "Why would this story be held up as a beautiful thing that God's people did when they were ready to fight?"
   [Approximately 05:25]

These examples collectively demonstrate that self-defense is not only permissible but also sanctioned within the biblical narrative.

Conclusion and Takeaways

Kyle concludes by reaffirming that Jesus’ instruction to "turn the other cheek" is not a blanket injunction against self-defense but a call to respond to offenses without seeking vengeance. It encourages believers to handle confrontations with grace and restraint, reflecting inner strength rather than passivity.

Kyle Thompson:
"If we look at the totality of the ministry of Jesus and of the narrative of the Bible, it is safe to say that when Jesus said to turn the other cheek, he didn't mean to just sit there and take a butt whooping."
[Approximately 05:35]

Final Remarks by Joby Martin

As the episode wraps up, Joby Martin encourages listeners to share the podcast and leave positive reviews to help equip more men for their spiritual journey.

Joby Martin:
"Before you go, if you want to help equip other men for the fight, share this podcast around and leave us a five-star rating and review. Stay sharp."
[05:43]

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Key Takeaways:

• Contextual Understanding: Jesus’ teachings in Matthew 5:38-39 are often misinterpreted. The emphasis is on non-retaliation to verbal offenses, not a prohibition against all forms of self-defense.
• Scriptural Consistency: Other biblical passages support the right to self-defense, indicating that Jesus did not intend to abolish self-protection.
• Practical Application: Christians are encouraged to respond to personal slights with forbearance and love, avoiding vengeful reactions while maintaining their right to defend themselves when necessary.

This episode provides a nuanced interpretation of a commonly misunderstood scripture, empowering believers to navigate conflicts thoughtfully and biblically.

Transcript

[Joby Martin]

Welcome to the Daily Blade. The word of God is described as the sword of the spirit, the primary spiritual weapon in the Christian's armor against the forces of evil. Your hosts are Joby Martin and Kyle Thompson, and they stand ready to equip men for the fight. Let's sharpen up.

[Kyle Thompson]

All right, guys, we're wrapping up this week where we have been doing a series of episodes called. Yeah, that's not what that Means. So I'm going to cover. I ended up covering six this week of the most common, misappointing, applied, and misunderstood scriptures in all of the biblical canon. Yesterday, I talked about Jeremiah 29:11 and Romans 8:28. And we dispelled with the nonsense that somehow these two scriptures prove that our lives as Christians will always be happy and prosperous in an earthly sense. So today we're going to crush the dreams and spirits of pacifist Christians. And I'm, like, super here for it. And it's just. I'm. I'm just pumped, okay? And I'm pumped about that because we're going to be looking at the words of Jesus recorded in Matthew 5, 38, and 39, and it's just insane, the number of people that just get this wrong. So let's go to the verse here. The verse is. Here we go. You have heard that it was said, an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. But I tell you, don't resist an evildoer. On the contrary, if anyone slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. So here Jesus is hearkening back to a text that everyone in the crowd would have been familiar with and, you know, knew what he was referring to when he said knife or knife and a tooth for a tooth, because they would know that that would come from Exodus 21, verse 24, Leviticus 24, 20. In Deuteronomy 19, verse 21, Jesus is referring to Old Testament law. And if we back up to Matthew 5:17, Jesus says this. Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets. I have not come to abolish them, but to fulfill them. Okay? So with all of that combined, you could easily see how someone could surmise that Jesus is telling people that if they are physically assaulted by somebody that they should not defend themselves, that they should just, you know, turn the other cheek and allow the assault to continue. In a nutshell, the fundamental misunderstanding of these words from Jesus is that people think Jesus was referring to physical assaults. And, yeah, that's not what that means, because in its correct context, Jesus is teaching us how we should respond to verbal assaults. Okay? The original intent of those three passages was to limit the amount. Again, those three passages from the Old Testament we just talked about was to limit the amount of punishment for a crime to that which would be equitable to the original crime. So you weren't to give a greater punishment or exact a greater vengeance than the original crime would warrant. Okay? So now let's go to verse 39, turn the other cheek. Jesus commands turn the other cheek. And that has to do with our response to a personal slight or offense. Okay? Some situations may call for self defense, physical self defense, but not retaliation in kind. Okay? The context of Jesus command is his teachings against the idea of an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth that we see in verse 38. Our self defense is not vengeful, okay? It's not a vengeful reaction to an offense, okay? In fact, many offenses can simply be absorbed in forbearance and in love. And it's really not that big of a deal. But let's even look at the, the words here. Most of society is right handed. So sorry to left handed people out there, but if I'm going to take my right hand and hit someone on their, on their left cheek, I'm going to hit them with my palm, right? But if I were to strike them on their right cheek, again, they're looking at me. If I were to strike them on their right cheek with my right hand, I would be hitting them with the back of my hand. So in context, we can even see that Jesus is talking about a verbal slide because you heard about these backhanded compliments or these backhanded words that come from people. That's what's being said here. Okay? So Jesus has recorded in Matthew 5 is not advocating for us to not defend ourselves or other people. And actually, on the contrary, when you look at the narrative of scripture, we see plenty of examples that point to the opposite. Okay? In Luke 22, Jesus told his disciples and let the one who has no sword sell his cloak and buy one. Okay? So even though Jesus is using metaphor in this passage, it was common knowledge that having a weapon was normal for protection and self defense in this age. I mean, you wouldn't use a sword to garden, right? And we can surmise that Jesus would not have used this language if he was expressly against the use of a sword for self defense. Right? And even later on in that chapter in verse 38, they acknowledge that they do not have that they do have two swords amongst the apostles, right? And I'm pretty sure that Jesus would have made them get rid of their swords if he thought self defense was morally wrong. Right? And then if you go to Luke 11, Jesus says, when a strong man, fully armed, guards his own palace, his goods are safe. Again, why would Jesus use the language of self defense in this parable if self defense were immoral or sinful or wrong? And then go back to again one of my favorite parts of the old Testament, Nehemiah 4, verses 17 and 18 those who carried burdens were loaded in such a way that each labored on the work with one hand and held his weapon with the other, and each of the builders had his sword strapped at his side while he built. Why would this story be held up as a beautiful thing that God's people did when they were ready to fight? Ready to kill people? Right? Defend themselves and defend the work that God had them doing if that were a morally wrong or reprehensible thing. So if we look at the totality of the ministry of Jesus and of the narrative of the Bible, it is safe to say that when Jesus said to turn the other cheek, he didn't mean to just sit there and take a butt whooping. Okay, so guys, thank you so much for your attention this week. Don't keep the Daily Blade a secret. Share it around with the men in your life. Be back here Monday to hear from Pastor Joby.

[Joby Martin]

Thank you for listening to today's episode. Before you go, if you want to help equip other men for the fight, share this podcast around and leave us a five star rating and review. Stay sharp.