In this week’s message, Pastor Tommy addresses how Christians should respond when wronged by others. He explains that while Old Testament “eye for an eye” laws were meant to limit retaliation, Jesus takes this further by redefining retaliation completely. Instead of responding to wrongs with equal harm, Jesus calls his followers to practice “upside down retaliation” – responding to wrongs by giving what others don’t deserve: respect, generosity, and humanity. Through four examples (turning the other cheek, giving your cloak, going the extra mile, and giving to those who ask), Pastor Tommy illustrates how Christians should prioritize peace and reconciliation over vengeance. He concludes by connecting this teaching to Jesus’s own example, who didn’t retaliate against humanity’s sin but instead sacrificed himself to restore our relationship with God, demonstrating the ultimate form of upside-down retaliation.
Reflection Questions
- What stuck out in today’s message? What did you find challenging and encouraging? Did you learn anything new?
- Why do you think revenge and retaliation movies, shows, and books are so intriguing to us?
- Read Matthew 5:38–42. How does this passage relate to the passage before it (verses 33–37)?
- Read Leviticus 24:17–20. What was the original intention of this law?
- How is Jesus calling his followers to a radical form of retaliation? What are they to return someone’s wrong with?
- List the 4 examples Jesus uses to explain his point in these verses. How is he demonstrating humility and seeing all as an image of God in these examples?
- Has there been a relationship/experience when you retaliated? What did you notice about your own heart throughout the experience?
- What is the relationship between what Jesus says about “turning the other cheek” and creating boundaries not to become a doormat?
- What practical ways can you “go the extra mile” in your workplace, family, or other areas of life?
- Is there someone in your life to whom you need to show grace rather than seeking personal justice? What does it look like this week to step towards creating peace with them?
