There are a couple of thoughts regarding resisting evil.  James 4:7 tells us to, “Submit yourselves therefore to God. RESIST THE DEVIL, and he will flee from you.”  We also read in 1 Peter 5:8-9, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom RESIST STEDFAST in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.”  These verses are telling us to resist the devil and his temptations so that we do not fall into sin.  We should not let him manipulate us and thus cause us to be weak and sin against the Lord.  It is when we resist him consistently in FAITH that we are able to overcome him and his influences.  The Lord says to us, “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.” (Ephesians 6:10).  It is when we walk (live) according to the instructions of the Word and stay in fellowship with the Lord that we are truly strong in Him.  Galatians 5:16 says, “This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.”  Let us strive to walk according to the Word of God so that we do not give in to the evil temptations that will come our way.

Matthew 5:39 says, “But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.”  The thought here is somewhat different that what we read in the other verses.  This is a case where someone would treat us wrongfully.  This could be the world’s persecution of us as believers.  The Lord promises to reward us greatly when we are persecuted for His name’s sake.  We read in Matthew 5:10-12, “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.” 

This could also be the hateful product of the unconverted heart. We read in Jeremiah 17:9, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?”  When we are mistreated by the world, the Lord wants us to react in a loving and caring way that will benefit the person and bring glory to Him.  We read the words of the Lord Jesus in Matthew 5:44, “But I say unto you, LOVE your enemies, BLESS them that curse you, DO GOOD to them that hate you, and PRAY for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you.”  That may seem hard to do, however the Lord does not command us to do that which we cannot do when we do it in His strength.  Is there someone who is persecuting you or simply being mean and vindicative?  LOVE that person.  Seek the Lord’s BLESSINGS for that person.  DO GOOD to them and PRAY for them.  The Lord may use you and your conduct to bring this person to put their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and be saved for eternity.  Surely, that will prove to be worth the persecution we might experience.  Romans 8:17-18 tells us, “And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.”  (CC)  (600.4)