Teaching on Retaliation and Generosity
Matthew 5:38-42
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Matt.5.38 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- Ηκουσατε: VERB,aor,act,ind,2,pl
- οτι: CONJ
- ερρεθη·Οφθαλμον: VERB,aor,pass,ind,3,sg+NOUN,acc,sg,m
- αντι: PREP
- οφθαλμου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- και: CONJ
- οδοντα: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- αντι: PREP
- οδοντος: NOUN,gen,sg,m
Parallels
- Exodus 21:24 (quotation): The OT legal principle of lex talionis—'eye for eye, tooth for tooth'—which Jesus cites and then reinterprets.
- Leviticus 24:20 (quotation): Another explicit statement of the law of retaliation, using the same formula for proportionate retribution.
- Deuteronomy 19:21 (quotation): Reiterates the principle of equal retribution ('fracture for fracture, eye for eye') in the Deuteronomic legal tradition.
- Matt.5:39 (structural): The immediate antithesis in Matthew's Sermon on the Mount: Jesus contrasts the old law ('eye for eye') with his ethic of non-retaliation ('but I say to you, do not resist the one who is evil').
- Luke 6:29 (verbal): A parallel teaching in Luke's Gospel (Sermon on the Plain) with similar injunctions (turn the other cheek, offer more), reflecting the same non-retaliatory ethic.
Alternative generated candidates
- You have heard that it was said, 'An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.'
- You have heard that it was said, 'An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.'
Matt.5.39 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- εγω: PRON,nom,sg,1
- δε: CONJ
- λεγω: VERB,pres,act,ind,1,sg
- υμιν: PRON,dat,pl,2
- μη: PART
- αντιστηναι: VERB,pres,act,inf
- τω: ART,dat,sg,m
- πονηρω·αλλ᾽οστις: ADJ,dat,sg,m
- σε: PRON,acc,sg,m
- ραπιζει: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- εις: PREP
- την: ART,acc,sg,f
- δεξιαν: ADJ,acc,sg,f
- σιαγονα: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- στρεψον: VERB,aor,act,imp,2,sg
- αυτω: PRON,dat,sg,m
- και: CONJ
- την: ART,acc,sg,f
- αλλην·: ADJ,acc,sg,f
Parallels
- Matthew 5:38 (structural): Immediate context and contrast: Jesus cites and reverses the lex talionis ('an eye for an eye') and then commands non-retaliation and turning the other cheek.
- Luke 6:29 (verbal): Near-verbatim parallel in Luke's Sermon on the Plain: 'If someone strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also,' echoing the same teaching against retaliation.
- Luke 6:27-28 (thematic): Broader teaching to love enemies and bless/pray for those who mistreat you, giving the ethical rationale and extension of non-retaliation.
- Romans 12:17-21 (thematic): Pauline application of the principle: do not repay evil for evil, seek peace, and 'overcome evil with good,' reflecting the ethic of non-retaliation and patient forbearance.
- 1 Peter 2:20-23 (allusion): Peter invokes Christ's example of patient suffering ('when reviled, did not revile in return'), applying Jesus' non-retaliatory ethic to believers' conduct under unjust suffering.
Alternative generated candidates
- But I tell you, do not resist an evildoer. If anyone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.
- But I tell you, do not resist an evildoer. If anyone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.
Matt.5.40 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- και: CONJ
- τω: ART,dat,sg,m
- θελοντι: PART,pres,act,dat,sg,m
- σοι: PRON,dat,sg,2
- κριθηναι: VERB,aor,pass,inf
- και: CONJ
- τον: ART,acc,sg,m
- χιτωνα: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- σου: PRON,gen,sg,2
- λαβειν: VERB,aor,act,inf
- αφες: VERB,aor,act,imp,2,sg
- αυτω: PRON,dat,sg,m
- και: CONJ
- το: ART,nom,sg,n
- ιματιον·: NOUN,acc,sg,n
Parallels
- Luke 6:29 (verbal): Near-verbatim parallel in Luke’s Sermon: ‘If someone takes your coat, do not withhold your shirt’—same injunction against resisting an unjust claim and to show unexpected generosity.
- Matthew 5:39 (structural): Immediate context in the Sermon on the Mount: ‘turn the other cheek’—part of the same anti-retaliation teaching that frames giving up one’s clothes.
- Matthew 5:41 (structural): Another clause in the same pericope: ‘if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two’—a parallel example of exceeding what is demanded rather than resisting.
- Romans 12:17-21 (thematic): Paul echoes Jesus’ ethic: do not repay evil with evil, overcome evil with good and feed/benefit your enemy—applying non-retaliation as active love.
- 1 Peter 2:20-23 (thematic): Calls Christians to endure unjust suffering and not retaliate, pointing to Christ’s example—reinforces the teaching to accept wrongs rather than litigate or avenge.
Alternative generated candidates
- And if anyone sues you to take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well.
- And if anyone sues you and takes your tunic, let him have your cloak as well.
Matt.5.41 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- και: CONJ
- οστις: PRON,nom,sg,3
- σε: PRON,acc,sg,m
- αγγαρευσει: VERB,fut,act,ind,3,sg
- μιλιον: NOUN,acc,sg,n
- εν: PREP
- υπαγε: VERB,pres,act,imp,2,sg
- μετ᾽αυτου: PREP+PRON,gen,sg,m,3
- δυο: NUM,acc,pl
Parallels
- Luke 6:29-30 (structural): Part of Luke's parallel 'Sermon on the Plain' that conveys the same ethos of non-retaliation and generosity (turn the other cheek, give to those who ask), corresponding thematically and contextually to Matthew 5:39-42.
- Romans 12:20-21 (thematic): Paul echoes the ethic of responding to wrong with good (feed your enemy if he is hungry; do not be overcome by evil but overcome evil with good), aligning with the spirit of going the extra mile rather than retaliating.
- 1 Peter 3:9 (thematic): Urges believers not to repay evil with evil but to bless instead, reflecting the same non-retaliatory ethic that underlies 'go with him two'.
- Proverbs 25:21-22 (allusion): Old Testament wisdom that counsels generosity to enemies ('If your enemy is hungry, give him bread...'), which undergirds New Testament teachings like Matthew 5:41 about responding to coercion with unexpected service.
Alternative generated candidates
- And if anyone compels you to go one mile, go with him two.
- And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two.
Matt.5.42 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- τω: ART,dat,sg,m
- αιτουντι: PART,pres,act,dat,sg,m
- σε: PRON,acc,sg,m
- δος: VERB,aor,act,imp,2,sg
- και: CONJ
- τον: ART,acc,sg,m
- θελοντα: PART,pres,act,acc,sg,m
- απο: PREP
- σου: PRON,gen,sg,2
- δανισασθαι: VERB,aor,mid,inf
- μη: PART
- αποστραφης: VERB,aor,pass,subj,2,sg
Parallels
- Luke 6:30 (verbal): Nearly identical teaching in Luke: "Give to everyone who asks you" — a direct verbal parallel to Jesus' command to give to the one who asks and not turn away the borrower.
- Luke 6:29-31 (thematic): Luke places giving to those who ask alongside non-retaliation (turning the other cheek) and the Golden Rule, forming the same ethic of generous, non-retaliatory behavior as Matthew 5:39–42.
- Matthew 5:39-41 (structural): Immediate Matthean context: vv.39–41 are a cluster of instructions (do not resist evil, give cloak, go the extra mile) that together frame 5:42 as part of Jesus' ethic of radical generosity and non-retaliation.
- Deuteronomy 15:7-8 (thematic): OT legal ethic urging openhandedness to the poor and needy — provides covenantal/background precedent for the injunction to give and lend rather than refuse the asker or borrower.
- Proverbs 19:17 (thematic): "Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the LORD" — a wisdom parallel linking benevolent giving/lending to religious duty and blessing, echoing the moral impulse behind Matthew 5:42.
Alternative generated candidates
- Give to the one who asks you, and do not refuse the one who wishes to borrow from you.
- Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you.
You have heard that it was said, 'An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.' But I tell you, do not resist the evildoer; rather, if anyone strikes you on the right cheek, turn the other to him also. And if anyone wants to sue you and take your tunic, give him your cloak as well. And if anyone compels you to go one mile, go with him two miles.
Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away the one who wishes to borrow from you.