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Epiphany Season · Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time · Year A

Matthew 5:38-48

Turn the Other Cheek: Love Your Enemies

February 22, 2026

Saul and David in the Cave of En-Gedi, Willem de Poorter
Saul and David in the Cave of En-Gedi, Willem de Poorter, c. 1630–1648(Dutch Golden Age painting)
A small, dark Dutch panel: David in the cave holding the piece of robe he has just cut, with Saul unaware at the entrance.Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, and Psalm 54 is prayed from exactly this position: in a cave, with the man hunting you within reach.Willem de PoorterA Haarlem painter of small, dark biblical scenes, probably trained alongside Rembrandt in Lastman's circle.(Dutch Golden Age painting)The present owner is not recorded with the image; it is known from reproduction.(Dutch Golden Age painting)
Roman Lectionary
GospelMatt. 5:38-48Mt 5:38-48
Second Reading1 Cor. 3:16-231 Cor 3:16-23
First ReadingLev. 19:1-2, 17-18Lv 19:1-2, 17-18
Responsorial PsalmPs. 103:1-2, 3-4, 8+10, 12-13 (8a)Ps 103:1-2, 3-4, 8+10, 12-13 (8a)

Overview & Insights

"Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you." (Matthew 5:44)

Jesus overturns the law of proportionate retaliation, telling his disciples not to resist an evildoer but to respond with unexpected generosity. He closes by commanding love even for enemies, grounded in the character of a Father who sends sun and rain on the just and unjust alike.

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Commentary

Matthew 5:38-48 CommentariesMt 5:38-48 Commentaries BibleHub

Collects classic commentaries on nonretaliation and love of enemies.

Matthew 5 CommentaryMt 5 Commentary Enduring Word

A pastoral, plain-spoken walk through the whole Sermon on the Mount chapter.

Commentary on Matthew 5:38-48Commentary on Mt 5:38-48 Working Preacher

The RCL preaching commentary written for this exact Year A Sunday.

Matthew 5:38-48 CommentaryMt 5:38-48 Commentary CEP

A preaching-focused reading of Jesus' call to overcome evil with good.

Matthew 5:38-39 CommentaryMt 5:38-39 Commentary Precept Austin

An evangelical verse-by-verse study of the eye-for-an-eye teaching.

Matthew 5 - Gill's ExpositionMt 5 - Gill's Exposition StudyLight

Gill's older exposition, useful for historic detail on this section.

Matthew 5 - Barnes' NotesMt 5 - Barnes' Notes StudyLight

Barnes' concise 19th-century notes on the same chapter.

Background & Word Study

Matthew 5:38-48 InterlinearMt 5:38-48 Interlinear BibleHub

Shows the Greek text word by word for the nonretaliation and enemy-love sayings.

Book of Matthew Overview (Part 1)Book of Mt Overview (Part 1) BibleProject

An animated overview that frames where the Sermon on the Mount sits in Matthew.

Fathers

Matthew 5 CatenaMt 5 Catena Catena

Patristic comments on the chapter gathered verse by verse from the early church.

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