Passage

Matthew 5

Verses 38–42 WEB Voices

Jesus next addresses retaliation. The “eye for an eye” principle limited vengeance in Israel’s courts; the King now calls disciples to absorb insult and excess demand without returning blow for blow—kingdom generosity that breaks the cycle of payback.

Matthew 5:38

38“You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.’

Arminian

Lex talionis restrained revenge by matching penalty to harm. Jesus quotes what “was said,” preparing to press beyond courtroom equivalence into personal discipleship.

Classical Arminians hear continuity with God’s justice and a call beyond minimal fairness. Grace invites hearers to refuse the scorekeeping heart—not because justice is wrong, but because the kingdom forms a people who can absorb cost for love’s sake.

Reformed

The Mosaic measure protected the weak from endless blood feuds. Christ, Lord of the Law, now addresses His disciples’ private retaliations.

The King interprets His own law. What limited public justice is not a blank check for personal vengeance; Jesus shepherds His people into a deeper righteousness He Himself will embody.

Matthew 5:39

39But I tell you, don’t resist him who is evil; but whoever strikes you on your right cheek, turn to him the other also.

Arminian

“But I tell” is royal authority. Turning the other cheek renounces payback for insult; it is costly love, not cowardice or approval of evil.

Disciples, enabled by grace, can choose non-retaliation. The command is sincere and demanding—kingdom people may break the cycle. Jesus is not licensing oppression of the helpless, but forbidding personal revenge.

Reformed

The slap on the right cheek pictures humiliation more than mortal combat. Christ’s word forms a people who refuse to answer insult with insult.

Such meekness is Spirit-wrought likeness to the crucified Lord. Non-resistance here is discipleship under the King, not a denial that magistrates bear the sword (Rom 13).

Key contrast Both reject personal vengeance. Arminians typically underline a grace-enabled choice to absorb insult; Reformed readers emphasize Spirit-formed conformity to Christ while distinguishing personal non-retaliation from the state’s just use of force.

Matthew 5:40

40If anyone sues you to take away your coat, let him have your cloak also.

Arminian

Lawsuit and tunic/cloak escalate the call: surrender more than the plaintiff demands. Kingdom honor is not clinging to garments when love can disarm greed.

Responsible generosity under grace—disciples may willingly lose rights rather than win bitter contests. The aim is peace and witness, not naïveté about every circumstance.

Reformed

Jesus trains hearts free from possessiveness. Extra giving under pressure displays trust in the Father’s care.

The King who calls for open-handedness also provides for His own. Fruit of new hearts includes readiness to prefer reconciliation over clinging to cloak and status.

Matthew 5:41

41Whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two.

Arminian

Forced escort (familiar under occupation) becomes an opportunity for surprising kindness—the second mile. Grace turns compulsion into voluntary excess.

Classical Arminians urge intentional love that exceeds the demand. Disciples choose the extra mile as witness; resentment is refused even when rights are pressed.

Reformed

The second mile is kingdom freedom inside constraint. Christ’s people are not defined by the oppressor’s power but by the Father’s character.

Such willingness is not self-salvation by heroics; it is fruit of belonging to the Servant King who went farther than any mile for His people.

Matthew 5:42

42Give to him who asks you, and don’t turn away him who desires to borrow from you.

Arminian

Open-handedness toward beggar and borrower crowns the paragraph. Love shares; stinginess contradicts the Father’s generosity already shown in the Beatitudes’ world.

Give freely while exercising stewardship and discernment—Jesus forms a liberal heart, not reckless enabling. Grace received becomes grace extended.

Reformed

Generosity is the family likeness of those who know a giving Father. Refusal that springs from fear or greed is rebuked.

Open hands flow from hearts made new. Giving is obedience and witness, never a ladder into the kingdom already given in Christ.

Key contrast Both commend liberal giving. Arminians often stress grace-enabled, responsible open-handedness; Reformed readers often stress generosity as Spirit fruit from those already secured in Christ, not a work that purchases standing.

Historic quotes

Voices from both camps

Jesus next addresses retaliation: older Arminian and Reformed writers, each in their own words.

Arminian Notable voices

“Ye have heard - Our Lord proceeds to enforce such meekness and love on those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake (which he pursues to the end of the chapter) as were utterly unknown to the scribes and Pharisees. It hath been said - In the law, as a direction to Judges, in ease of violent and barbarous assaults.”

John Wesley · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament (on Matt 5:38–42)

Reformed Notable voices

“God had enjoined, by his law, (Leviticus 24:20,) that judges and magistrates should punish those who had done injuries, by making them endure as much as they had inflicted. The consequence was, that every one seized on this as a pretext for taking private revenge.”

John Calvin · Commentary on a Harmony of the Evangelists (on Matt 5:38–42)

Quotations lightly abridged for length; wording follows standard English translations of the sources named.

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Genesis, Psalms, Isaiah, Daniel, Matthew, John, Romans, Ephesians, Colossians, 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy, Titus, Hebrews, 1 John, 2 John, and 3 John are live

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