How do you respond when someone hurts you?

Evil is all around us. We live in a fallen world, and we can’t go a day without either being harmed or harming someone else. But how are we, as Christians, to respond?

Matthew 5:38–42 guides us—but only when we understand it in context. At first glance, Jesus seems to change the Law. Earlier in the Sermon on the Mount, He deepened the understanding of commandments (not just “don’t kill,” but don’t hate). Here, however, it may seem initially like He replaces the Law. He doesn’t.

The original command,

“An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth,”

is recorded in Exodus 21:24-25 and Deuteronomy 19:21. was not a general command for individuals. It was given to govern Israel’s courts. The principle is simple: the punishment should fit the crime. It both enables justice and limits excessive punishment.

The problem is that people were taking this command into their own hands—seeking personal revenge instead of leaving justice to the proper authority.

This person punched me. Instead of letting the judge deal with him, I just punched him back. Like they are Batman or something.

That’s a misuse of the command.

The key to understanding this passage is the doctrine of the two kingdoms.

God works through two kingdoms:

1. The Church – Offering grace and mercy
2. The Government – Enforcing law and justice

The two kingdoms are distinct and should not be confused or mixed.

Jesus teaches that Christians are not to seize the government’s role by taking revenge. Instead, we love and forgive, while allowing governing authorities to carry out justice.

I think there is an analogy in the game of Football.

Think of it like football. When a player is pushed after the play, his role is to keep playing. The officials handle the penalty. If he retaliates, he takes on a role that isn’t his—and often gets penalized himself.

So, how should we respond when harmed?

This is a little tricky at first, but it makes sense if we keep the two kingdoms separate and consider our vocations, or roles. Each of us has multiple roles (vocations). As Christians, we are called not to resist evil against ourselves or seek revenge. We love others and seek their good, even when wronged.

But we also live in other roles—citizen, parent, spouse, neighbor. In these roles, we obey the law and may report wrongdoing. We also protect those entrusted to our care. So, it’s good to protect my family or neighbor if they are endangered.

Police, judges, and soldiers, likewise, serve by upholding justice as they fulfill their vocations within the government.

Jesus is not discarding the Law—He is correcting its misuse and addressing the heart. Christians are not to harbor hatred or seek revenge, even as they faithfully live out their other responsibilities.

So:

• Personally, we endure wrong and respond with love
• As citizens, we allow justice to be carried out lawfully
• In our vocations, we protect and serve others

And in all of this, we act without hatred or malice.

Unfortunately, our sinful nature resists this. It demands revenge and justifies retaliation, justifying our “righteous” cause the whole time.

Thankfully, Jesus deals with us as He calls us to deal with others—with mercy. When we fail, we confess, receive forgiveness, and ask for help to forgive as we have been forgiven.

Let’s pray…

Heavenly Father,

Protect us from the evils of this world. When we are wronged, give us hearts of love and forgiveness. Help us to trust the authorities You have established and not take vengeance into our own hands. Strengthen those who serve in government, that they may act justly as Your servants.

Amen.

As part of your devotion time, I encourage you to also pray for at least some of the following:

• Your family
• Your local church
• Your pastor
• Some of your fellow church members
• The people on your B.L.E.S.S. list
• Your country and her leaders
• Your community

After praying for these people, you may want to finish your devotion time with the Lord’s Prayer…

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. They will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom and the power, and the glory, forever and every. Amen.Protect us from the evils of this world. When we are wronged, give us hearts of love and forgiveness. Help us to trust the authorities You have established and not take vengeance into our own hands. Strengthen those who serve in government, that they may act justly as Your servants.