◄ Luke 6:29 ►
If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also. And if someone takes your cloak, do not withhold your tunic as well.
Study Bible
If someone strikes you on one cheek,

This phrase reflects the cultural context of honor and shame in the ancient Near East. A slap on the cheek was considered an insult rather than a physical assault. Jesus' teaching here challenges the natural human response of retaliation, emphasizing a radical form of non-retaliation and humility. This aligns with Proverbs 20:22, which advises against seeking revenge.

Mat 5:39 But I tell you not to resist an evil person.…
Lam 3:30 Let him offer his cheek to the one who would strike him;…

turn to him the other also.

Turning the other cheek symbolizes a refusal to retaliate and an invitation to further insult, demonstrating a commitment to peace and forgiveness. This teaching echoes the prophetic vision of the Suffering Servant in Isaiah 53, who did not retaliate against his oppressors. It also prefigures Jesus' own response to his accusers during his trial and crucifixion.

Pro 24:29 I will do to him as he has done to me; I will repay the man…
1Pe 2:23 When they heaped abuse on Him, He did not retaliate…

And if someone takes your cloak,

In the historical context, a cloak was an essential garment, often used as a blanket at night. The taking of a cloak could be seen as a legal action to settle a debt, as described in Exodus 22:26-27. Jesus' instruction here goes beyond the legal requirements, urging believers to respond with generosity rather than seeking restitution.

Exo 22:26-27 If you take your neighbor’s cloak as collateral,…
Deu 24:12-13 If he is a poor man, you must not go to sleep…

do not withhold your tunic as well.

The tunic was the inner garment worn next to the skin. By offering the tunic, Jesus calls for an extreme form of self-sacrifice and generosity. This teaching is consistent with the principle of loving one's enemies, as further elaborated in Luke 6:35. It reflects the self-giving love of Christ, who gave himself fully for humanity's redemption, as seen in Philippians 2:5-8.

Mat 5:40 if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic…
Jhn 19:23-24 When the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they divided…

Persons / Places / Events
1. Jesus Christ
The speaker of this teaching, Jesus is delivering a sermon that includes radical instructions on how to respond to personal offenses and injustices.

2. The Disciples
The primary audience of Jesus' teachings, representing those who are committed to following Him and learning His ways.

3. The Multitude
A larger group of listeners who were present during Jesus' sermon, including people from various regions who were curious about His teachings.

4. The Cheek and the Cloak
Symbolic elements used by Jesus to illustrate His point about non-retaliation and generosity in the face of wrongdoing.

5. The Sermon on the Plain
The context in which this teaching is given, a series of instructions and blessings that outline the values of the Kingdom of God.
Teaching Points
Radical Love and Non-Retaliation
Jesus calls His followers to a higher standard of love that goes beyond natural human inclinations. Turning the other cheek is a demonstration of strength and trust in God's justice.

Generosity in the Face of Injustice
By offering the tunic as well, Jesus teaches that our response to being wronged should be marked by generosity, reflecting God's grace and mercy.

Trust in God's Justice
Believers are encouraged to trust that God will ultimately bring justice, freeing them from the need to seek personal vengeance.

Living as Kingdom Citizens
This teaching challenges Christians to live according to the values of God's Kingdom, which often stand in contrast to worldly values of retribution and self-defense.

Witness Through Actions
By responding to wrongs with love and generosity, Christians bear witness to the transformative power of the Gospel and the character of Christ.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does Jesus' instruction to "turn the other cheek" challenge our natural responses to being wronged?

2. In what ways can we practice generosity when we feel we have been treated unjustly, as suggested by the example of offering the tunic?

3. How do the teachings in Romans 12:17-21 and 1 Peter 3:9 reinforce the message of Luke 6:29?

4. What are some practical ways we can demonstrate trust in God's justice in our daily lives?

5. How can living out the principles in Luke 6:29 serve as a witness to others about the nature of God's Kingdom?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Matthew 5:39-42
This passage parallels Luke 6:29 and expands on the theme of non-retaliation and generosity, emphasizing the call to love enemies and go the extra mile.

Romans 12:17-21
Paul echoes Jesus' teaching by instructing believers not to repay evil for evil and to overcome evil with good, reinforcing the principle of non-retaliation.

1 Peter 3:9
Peter advises believers not to repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, aligning with Jesus' call to turn the other cheek.
Sermons
The Legislator on the MountR.M. Edgar Luke 6:20-49
A Persuasive to Love Our EnemiesLuke 6:27-30
A Proof of the Gospel Being from GodLuke 6:27-30
AlmsgivingJ. H. Davies, M. A.Luke 6:27-30
An Illustration of the Influence of Christian Teaching UpC. L. Bruce., R. S. Storrs, D. D. , LL. D.Luke 6:27-30
Bible Precepts to be Spiritually InterpretedH. W. Beecher.Luke 6:27-30
Cloak and CoatE. Stapfer, D. D.Luke 6:27-30
Doing Good to an EnemyC. H. Spurgeon.Luke 6:27-30
Dr. Mather's AmbitionLuke 6:27-30
Example of OrigenLuke 6:27-30
Example of the Early ChristiansLuke 6:27-30
Good for EvilLuke 6:27-30
Literal Obedience; Or, RulesS. Cox, D. D.Luke 6:27-30
Love to an EnemyLuke 6:27-30
Love to EnemiesLuke 6:27-30
Love to Enemies the Outcome of ChristianityEcce HomoLuke 6:27-30
Loving Our Enemies a Christian DutyThomas Whitty.Luke 6:27-30
Mr. Burkitt and His InjurersLuke 6:27-30
Mr. Lawrence's Charge to His SonsLuke 6:27-30
Of Loving Our EnemiesR. South, D. D.Luke 6:27-30
On the Love of EnemiesJ. Balguy, M. A.Luke 6:27-30
Returning Good for EvilLuke 6:27-30
Returning Good for EvilLuke 6:27-30
Returning Good for Evil, the Wisest CourseJ. O. Dykes, D. D.Luke 6:27-30
The Carthaginian ChristiansLuke 6:27-30
The Chinese Monarch and the RebelsLuke 6:27-30
The Difficult CommandmentJ. Burns, D. D.Luke 6:27-30
The Duty of Loving Our Enemies Stated and ExplainedJ. Seed.Luke 6:27-30
The Good Use of an EnemyOwen Felltham.Luke 6:27-30
The Ideal of ChristianityH. W. Beecher.Luke 6:27-30
Turning the Other CheekW. Baxendale.Luke 6:27-30
Seeking the Highest Good from the Highest MotiveW. Clarkson Luke 6:27, 28, 32-35
People
Alphaeus, Andrew, Bartholomew, David, James, Jesus, John, Judas, Matthew, Peter, Philip, Simon, Thomas, Zelotes
Places
Galilee, Jerusalem, Judea, Sidon, Tyre
Topics
Blow, Body-coat, Cheek, Cloak, Cloke, Coat, Either, Face, Forbid, Garment, Gives, Hits, Mantle, Mayest, Offer, Outer, Refuse, Robbing, Robe, Shirt, Smites, Smiteth, Smiting, Someone, Stop, Strikes, Takes, Taketh, Taking, Tunic, Turn, Withhold
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Luke 6:29

     5141   cheeks
     5144   cloak
     5944   self-defence

Luke 6:27-29

     5893   insults
     8339   self-control
     8730   enemies, of believers

Luke 6:27-30

     5827   curse
     5931   resistance

Luke 6:27-36

     5013   heart, divine
     8442   good works

Luke 6:27-37

     6655   forgiveness, application

Luke 6:29-30

     5856   extravagance
     5932   response

Library
Laws of the Kingdom
'And He lifted up His eyes on His disciples, and said, Blessed be ye poor: for yours is the kingdom of God, 21. Blessed are ye that hunger now: for ye shall be filled. Blessed are ye that weep now: for ye shall laugh. 22. Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man's sake. 23. Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy; for, behold, your reward is great in heaven: for in the …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions Of Holy Scripture

Three Condensed Parables
'And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but perceiveth not the beam that is in thine own eye? 42. Either, how canst thou say to thy brother, Brother, let me pull out the mote that is in thine eye, when thou thyself beholdest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, cast out first the beam out of thine own eye, and then shalt thou see clearly to pull out the mote that is in thy brother's eye. 43. For a good tree bringeth not forth corrupt fruit; neither doth a …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions Of Holy Scripture

Our Deserts
LUKE vi. 36-38. Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful. Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven. Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal, it shall be measured to you again. One often hears complaints against this world, and against mankind; one hears it said …
Charles Kingsley—The Good News of God

Sermon for the Fourth Sunday after Trinity
(From the Gospel for the day) This sermon telleth us of four measures that shall be rendered unto man, and of two grades of a godly life, and how we ought to love our neighbour. Luke vi. 36-42. WE read in the Gospel for this day that our Lord Jesus Christ said: "Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful. Judge not, and ye shall not be judged; condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned; forgive, and ye shall be forgiven; give, and it shall be given unto you: good measure, pressed down, …
Susannah Winkworth—The History and Life of the Reverend Doctor John Tauler

The Blessing of Mercy,
(Fourth Sunday after Trinity.) S. LUKE vi. 36. "Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful." "Mercy" is the one great cry of human nature. We dare not ask for justice, we can only plead for mercy. David, after his great sins, could utter nothing but the mournful cry, the model for all penitent sinners, "Have mercy upon me, O God, after Thy great goodness." The publican standing afar off, and looking at his faults, and not at his virtues, offers the pattern prayer for all men, "Lord, …
H. J. Wilmot-Buxton—The Life of Duty, a Year's Plain Sermons, v. 2

Rash Decisions.
4th Sunday after Trinity. S. Luke vi. 37. "Judge not--condemn not--forgive." INTRODUCTION.--Our Lord here condemns all rash judgments. We know not the motives of other men's actions, and therefore have no right to pass a sweeping condemnation upon them. From our ignorance, we ought to be cautious and merciful in our judgments, and from our own weakness, we should be forgiving to those who have trespassed against us. Rash judgments arise from pride. It is because we are puffed up with a high opinion …
S. Baring-Gould—The Village Pulpit, Volume II. Trinity to Advent

The Reward of Obedience.
Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.' 'Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye when men shall revile you and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice and be exceeding glad, for great is your reward in heaven; for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.'--Matthew, v. 7, 10 11, 12. Mercy cannot get in where mercy goes not out. The outgoing …
George MacDonald—Hope of the Gospel

"Be Doers of the Word. "
I want to remind you again that the mission of this little volume is to teach you how to live. The life beyond depends on the life here. Let me emphasize what I have repeatedly said before: to live as we should, we must live by every word of God. To live by every word of God is not only to hear it but also to do it. We have learned that, in order to enter the city of God and eat of the tree of life, we must do his commandments, and also that it is not "every one that sayeth, Lord, Lord, that shall …
C. E. Orr—How to Live a Holy Life

The Golden Rule of Life.
"And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them like wise." Luke 6:31. This is a good rule for every-day living. It is known throughout the Christian world as "The Golden Rule." It has great depths. It contains more no doubt than any of us comprehend. But let us study it for a moment. We might divide it into two rules: First, Do good to all; second, Do harm to none. We would that all men should do us good, and we would that none should do us harm. But if we would see the greater depths …
C. E. Orr—How to Live a Holy Life

That all Hope and Trust is to be Fixed in God Alone
O Lord, what is my trust which I have in this life, or what is my greatest comfort of all the things which are seen under Heaven? Is it not Thou, O Lord my God, whose mercies are without number? Where hath it been well with me without Thee? Or when could it be evil whilst Thou wert near? I had rather be poor for Thy sake, than rich without Thee. I choose rather to be a pilgrim upon the earth with Thee than without Thee to possess heaven. Where Thou art, there is heaven; and where Thou are not, …
Thomas A Kempis—Imitation of Christ

Judged by Fruit
A good tree bringeth not forth corrupt fruit; neither doth a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. For every tree is known by his own fruit. For of thorns men do not gather figs, nor of a bramble bush gather they grapes.' (Luke vi. 43, 44.) Jesus Christ, in the few sentences quoted, indicates the true secret or principle of holy living. They show that holy living works from the heart of things--beginning within--to the outside. Many judge their religion the other way about. They take up religious …
T. H. Howard—Standards of Life and Service

The Christian Assisted in Examining into his Growth in Grace.
1. The examination important.--2. False marks of growth to be avoided.--3. True marks proposed; such as--increasing love to God.--4. Benevolence to men.--5. Candor of disposition.--6. Meekness under injuries.--7. Serenity amidst the uncertainties of life.--8, 9. Humility,--especially as expressed in evangelical exercises of mind toward Christ end the Holy Spirit.--10. Zeal for the divine honor.--11. Habitual and cheerful willingness to exchange worlds when ever God shall appoint.--12. Conclusion. …
Philip Doddridge—The Rise and Progress of Religion in the Soul

We Shall not be Curious in the Ranking of the Duties in which Christian Love...
We shall not be curious in the ranking of the duties in which Christian love should exercise itself. All the commandments of the second table are but branches of it: they might be reduced all to the works of righteousness and of mercy. But truly these are interwoven through other. Though mercy uses to be restricted to the showing of compassion upon men in misery, yet there is a righteousness in that mercy, and there is mercy in the most part of the acts of righteousness, as in not judging rashly, …
Hugh Binning—The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning

Whether Poverty of Spirit is the Beatitude which Corresponds to the Gift of Fear
Whether Poverty of Spirit is the Beatitude which Corresponds to the Gift of Fear We proceed to the twelfth article thus: 1. It seems that poverty of spirit is not the beatitude which corresponds to the gift of fear. For it was explained in Art. 7 that fear is the beginning of the spiritual life, whereas poverty of spirit pertains to the perfection of the spiritual life, according to Matt. 19:21: "If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor." Hence poverty of spirit does …
Aquinas—Nature and Grace

Whether the Beatitudes Differ from the virtues and Gifts?
Objection 1: It would seem that the beatitudes do not differ from the virtues and gifts. For Augustine (De Serm. Dom. in Monte i, 4) assigns the beatitudes recited by Matthew (v 3, seqq.) to the gifts of the Holy Ghost; and Ambrose in his commentary on Luke 6:20, seqq., ascribes the beatitudes mentioned there, to the four cardinal virtues. Therefore the beatitudes do not differ from the virtues and gifts. Objection 2: Further, there are but two rules of the human will: the reason and the eternal …
Saint Thomas Aquinas—Summa Theologica

Epistle xxxii. To Anastasius, Presbyter .
To Anastasius, Presbyter [1714] . Gregory to Anastasius, &c. That a good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth good things (Matth. xii. 35; Luke vi. 45), this thy Charity has shewn, both in thy habitual life and lately also in thy epistle; wherein I find two persons at issue with regard to virtues; that is to say, thyself contending for charity, and another for fear and humility. And, though occupied with many things, though ignorant of the Greek language, I have nevertheless sat …
Saint Gregory the Great—the Epistles of Saint Gregory the Great

Of Christian Liberty.
1. Connection of this chapter with the previous one on Justification. A true knowledge of Christian liberty useful and necessary. 1. It purifies the conscience. 2. It checks licentiousness. 3. It maintains the merits of Christ, the truth of the Gospel, and the peace of the soul. 2. This liberty consists of three parts. First, Believers renouncing the righteousness of the law, look only to Christ. Objection. Answer, distinguishing between Legal and Evangelical righteousness. 3. This first part clearly …
John Calvin—The Institutes of the Christian Religion

How the Joyful and the Sad are to be Admonished.
Admonition4. Differently to be admonished are the joyful and the sad. That is, before the joyful are to be set the sad things that follow upon punishment; but before the sad the promised glad things of the kingdom. Let the joyful learn by the asperity of threatenings what to be afraid of: let the sad bear what joys of reward they may look forward to. For to the former it is said, Woe unto you that laugh now! For ye shall weep (Luke vi. 25); but the latter hear from the teaching of the same Master, …
Leo the Great—Writings of Leo the Great

The Present Life as Related to the Future.
LUKE xvi. 25.--"And Abraham said, Son remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things; but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented." The parable of Dives and Lazarus is one of the most solemn passages in the whole Revelation of God. In it, our Lord gives very definite statements concerning the condition of those who have departed this life. It makes no practical difference, whether we assume that this was a real occurrence, or only an imaginary …
William G.T. Shedd—Sermons to the Natural Man

In the Name of Christ
"Whatsoever ye shall ask in My Name, that will I do. If ye shall ask anything in My Name, I will do it. I have appointed you, that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in My Name, He may give it you. Verily, verily I say unto you, whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in My Name, He will give it you. Hitherto have ye asked nothing in My Name; ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full. At that day ye shall ask in My Name."--JOHN xiv. 13, 14, xv. 16, xvi. 23, 24, 26. In my name--repeated …
Andrew Murray—The Ministry of Intercession

"For as Many as are Led by the Spirit of God, they are the Sons of God. For Ye have not Received the Spirit of Bondage
Rom. viii. s 14, 15.--"For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear,", &c. Children do commonly resemble their parents, not only in the outward proportion and feature of their countenances, but also in the disposition and temper of their spirits, and generally they are inclined to imitate the customs and carriage of their parents, so that they sometimes may be accounted the very living images of such persons; …
Hugh Binning—The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning

In the Bitter Cold of Winter the Trees Stand Bare of Leaves...
1. In the bitter cold of winter the trees stand bare of leaves, and it seems as if their life, too, had departed for ever, yet in the spring time they put forth new leaves and beautiful flowers, and the fruit begins to show itself. So was it with Me in My crucifixion and resurrection, and so it is with my faithful cross-bearers (2 Cor. iv.8-11; vi.4-10). Though they seem to be crushed and dead beneath their cross they still put forth the beautiful flowers and glorious fruits of eternal life which …
Sadhu Sundar Singh—At The Master's Feet

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