Matthew 5:38-42 Jesus on RETALIATION.

Mat 5:38  "You have heard that it was said, 'EYE FOR EYE, TOOTH FOR TOOTH.'

Mat 5:39  But I tell you not to resist a wicked man, but if any one strikes you on the right cheek, turn the other to him as well.

Mat 5:40  If any one wishes to go to law with you and to deprive you of your under garment, let him take your outer one also.

Mat 5:41  And whoever shall compel you to convey his goods one mile, go with him two.

Mat 5:42  To him who asks, give: from him who would borrow, turn not away.

1. Retaliation: the act of retaliating; return of like for like; reprisal. Dictionary.com
2. Merriam Webster’s Dictionary :  to do something bad to someone who has hurt you or treated you badly : to get revenge against someone

Mat 5:38  "You have heard that it was said, 'EYE FOR EYE, TOOTH FOR TOOTH.'

This command is found in Exo_21:24; Lev_24:20, and Deu_19:21. In these places it was given as a rule to regulate the decisions of judges. They were to take eye for eye, and tooth for tooth, and to inflict burning for burning. As a judicial rule it is not unjust. 

Christ finds no fault with the rule as applied to magistrates, and does not take upon himself to repeal it. But instead of confining it to magistrates, the Jews had extended it to private conduct, and made it the rule by which to take revenge. 

They considered themselves justified by this rule to inflict the same injury on others that they had received. Our Saviour remonstrates against this. He declares that the law had no reference to private revenge, that it was given only to regulate the magistrate, and that their private conduct was to be governed by different principles.Barnes Notes

Mat 5:39  But I tell you not to resist a wicked man, but if any one strikes you on the right cheek, turn the other to him as well. WNT

Mat 5:39  But I say to you, Do not resist evil. But whoever shall strike you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. MKJV

not to resist a wicked man,

resist:G436 ἀνθίστημι anthistēmi anth-is'-tay-mee

From G473 and G2476; to stand against, that is, oppose: - resist, withstand.

an Evil Person L.M. G4190 πονηρός ponēros

Thayer Definition:

1) full of labours, annoyances, hardships

1a) pressed and harassed by labours

1b) bringing toils, annoyances, perils; of a time full of peril to Christian faith and

2) bad, of a bad nature or condition 2a) in a physical sense: diseased or blind) in an ethical sense: evil wicked, bad; Part of Speech : adjective

2bsteadfastness; causing pain and trouble

Taking revenge or retaliating is easy for us, but Jesus instructs us to not hit back when we are hurt. He says that we should even go the second mile in doing more than the enemy asks.See Jesus reaction in Jn 18:22-23

Mat 5:40  If any one wishes to go to law with you and to deprive you of your under garment, let him take your outer one also.

Notes:

This is actually robbing you with official authorisation. In the Story of the Russian Christian Vanya, when the Officers at the Military Barracks learnt that he was a Christians they stripped him of his heavy Winter Coat and sent him on guard duty in a summer uniform in the snow. God kept him warm.

The Jesus response is DO NOT TO FIGHT BACK.

Mat 5:41  And whosoever shall compel you to convey his goods one mile, go with him two.

The verb is future. If someone shall compel you into forced service whatsoever, like Simon the Cyrenian was forced to carry Jesus heavy wooden cross up Calvary’s mountain, then you should show you are willing by going the second mile.

Jesus encourages us to put up with the unreasonable demands of others, and even go well beyond their demands.

Mat 5:42  To him who asks, give: from him who would borrow, turn not away.

Notes:

Jesus asks for unconditional generosity.

Cp. Luk 6:30  Give to everyone who asks of you. And from him who takes away your belongings, do not ask for them back.

John Gill : Give to every man, Luk_6:30 whether Jew or Gentile; friend or foe; believer or unbeliever; a good, or a bad man; worthy or unworthy; deserving or not, that asketh alms, whether food or money; give it freely, readily, cheerfully, according to your abilities, and as the necessity of the object requires: for such rules are always supposed, and to be observed; and though all are to be relieved, yet the circumstances of persons, and their relation to men, are to be considered, and special regard is to be had to the household of faith. JG

and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away — Though the word signifies classically “to have money lent to one on security,” or “with interest,” yet as this was not the original sense of the word, and as usury was forbidden among the Jews (Exo_22:25, etc.), it is doubtless simple borrowing which our Lord here means, as indeed the whole strain of the exhortation implies. This shows that such counsels as “Owe no man anything” (Rom_13:8), are not to be taken absolutely; else the Scripture commendations of the righteous for “lending” to his necessitous brother (Psa_37:36; Psa_112:5; Luk_6:37) would have no application.

turn not thou away — a graphic expression of unfeeling refusal to relieve a brother in extremity.JFB