Matthew 5:39 (ASV)

Passage

but I say unto you, resist not him that is evil: but whosoever smiteth thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.

Nearby Context

Matthew 5:37 But let your speech be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: and whatsoever is more than these is of the evil [one].

Matthew 5:38 Ye have heard that it was said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth:

Matthew 5:39 but I say unto you, resist not him that is evil: but whosoever smiteth thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.

Matthew 5:40 And if any man would go to law with thee, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloak also.

Matthew 5:41 And whosoever shall compel thee to go one mile, go with him two.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "resist", "evil", "whosoever", "smiteth", "thee", "right", "cheek", and "turn". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "resist" and "evil", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 38's "Ye have heard that it was said..." into verse 40's "And if any man would go to...", so "resist" and "evil" belong inside that flow. In Matthew context, the local focus is Christ, faith, and discipleship.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "resist" and "evil" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.