The values Jesus taught were opposite to those of the world of his time. “An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth,” is a very harsh saying.

But, for the people of Jesus’ time, it actually served a very practical function: this law of retaliation prohibited an escalation of violence. Don’t overdo it.

The teaching that Jesus gives in response to the law of retaliation is not practical. It’s revolutionary! What Jesus taught is not the way the world of his time thought. It is not the way the world today thinks.

There is something in people which says, “Get even. Don’t let that person get away with that. Fight back!”

Jesus says, “No! Love your enemies, pray for your persecutors.” He has a way of turning our ways of thinking and acting upside down.

The commandment Jesus refers to, “An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth,” was an effort to stop people from harming one another. Laws were passed that said it was illegal to punish anyone for more than he was guilty of.

Jesus was now saying you have to move forward. People had to learn “to forgive and forget,” and get on with peaceful living together.

Take a look at what happens with the “get even” policy. Personal quarrels, family feuds, more and more wars, all continue on because people try to “get even.” Every day you can read about or hear about or talk-show about the circle of violence and hate and payback that goes on and on. When will we learn?

Jesus suggests that we must look out for the good of one another. That will never happen as long as we give in to our lower nature that says, “Get even!”

When you automatically react to violence, anger, hate, it means that deep down in your subconscious is rooted the tendency, and habit, to get even. What you need to do is to get into your subconscious, your heart and replace the “get even” tendencies with the “love your enemies” tendencies of Christ.

That takes a long time and you need the help of God.

Jesus is teaching us how to think so that we can become good inside — deep down in our souls, in our very subconscious. When we are good inside it will show on the outside, in the care of others.

Consider the phrase — “Turn the other cheek” — to mean turn your thoughts from wrong to right, from error to truth. In other words, turn your thoughts from the trouble someone is causing you to God.

Instead on concentrating on the mean thing someone did, or is now doing, to you, concentrate upon God who is present with you and in the person causing the trouble.

Then ask God to release His power of love in you, in that person, and in the situation. Rely on God to do the rest.

How long will it take?

I don’t know. Turn your other cheek to God, and let Him kiss it.