Retaliation (don’t)
v.38 The law (Dt 19:20-21) required proportionate punishment for a wrong doer (an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth). This was to prevent punishments that far exceeded the severity of the offense.
v.39-41 Jesus did not allow retribution among his followers. The focus here is on individual conduct (not the use of force by a government to stop evil). We should respond to an attacker with love.
v.42 We should give to those truly in need (but not to those who are begging but not truly in need, sometimes giving will cause more harm). See Dt 15:7-11.

Read Matthew 5:38-42