Was Jesus just exaggerating to make a point in Matthew 5:39-42?: “I tell you, don’t resist an evil person. If anyone strikes you on your right cheek, turn the other also. If someone sues you for your shirt, hand over your coat also. If someone forces you to walk one mile, walk two miles. Give to anyone who asks you, and don’t turn away anyone who wants a loan from you.” Is it really practical to take these sayings literally, or did Jesus just mean that we should be nice to nasty people?
Julio Diaz recently faced the question when he was robbed on his way home from work recently. The assailant demanded his wallet, and as he was walking away Diaz said, “Hey, wait a minute. You forgot something. If you’re going to be robbing people for the rest of the night, you might as well take my coat to keep you warm.” That led to a conversation, which led to the robber and victim sharing a meal in a nearby restaurant. When the time came to pay the bill, Diaz asked the robber for the return of the wallet to pay the bill, and in the end the robber left with $20, while Diaz left with his wallet and the robber’s knife.
All’s well that ends well, and the situation could certainly have turned out a lot worse. On the other hand, thieves are people too, and people who are desperate enough to resort to crime are needy people in one way or another. The question is, if you are confronted by a thief, do you have the courage to treat the person with sympathy? HT: ThinkChristian.net.