Insults

 let him give his cheek to the one who strikes, and let him be filled with insults.
Lamentations 3:30 ESV
https://bible.com/bible/59/lam.3.30.ESV

When Jesus commanded us to 'turn the other cheek', He wasn't just making some ridiculous statement that He had no intention of keeping. Jesus wasn't a revolutionary, out to overthrow the Romans. He could have called down angelic armies to defend Himself, but He allowed Himself to be tortured and murdered.

Turning the other cheek might seem impractical and unrealistic. Wouldn't we just be inviting people to trample all over us? In the context, if a Jew retaliated when an occupying Roman soldier hit them, they'd probably be killed.

Jesus's teaching to someone under enemy occupation, like a Ukrainian with a Russian soldier, would be to turn the other cheek. He wouldn't call us to go all vigilante on them. I love how God's Kingdom transcends politics: Jesus's followers included Matthew the traitorous tax collector and Simon the patriotic Zealot!

This verse in Lamentations seems shocking. We might deserve all the misery we get, but the Lord doesn't. Yet Jesus bore our suffering upon the cross, so that we might go free. We might still suffer in this life, but ultimately we'll be eternally liberated.

'Heavenly Father, we thank You for the example of Jesus, that He didn't ask us to do what He didn't do Himself. Help us persevere in this life, until the glory of the next, in His name, amen'

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