Turn the other cheek

[puddleglum]

Jesus said, "To one who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also." Does that mean he wants his followers to be pacifists and never fight under any circumstances?

The above quote is found in Luke's gospel. He says the same thing in Matthew but adds a detail which helps us to better understand what he meant.

But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.
(Matthew 5:39 ESV)

Here he specifies striking on the right cheek. Most people are right handed. If you face someone and hit him on the right cheek with your right hand you will have to hit him with the back of your hand. If you are trying to hurt him physically this is not an effective way to do it. When Jesus commanded us to turn the other cheek he wasn't forbidding us to defend ourselves but telling us not to retaliate when someone insults us.

Jesus never taught pacifism. On at least one occasion he commended a Roman centurion for his faith. Before he was arrested he told his disciples to buy swords so they could defend themselves. Jesus prohibited revenge and retaliation but he never said we couldn't use for to protect ourselves and others.

He did rebuke Peter for using a sword to keep him from being arrested but that was because the arrest and the death that followed it were part of God's plan.

[Checkpoint]

[error]

[JehovahsWitness]

[Replying to post 7 by JehovahsWitness]

In your post you included this statement:

"Jesus (in his capacity as Michael the Archangel) will lead God's armies in the war of Armageddon".

No, Jesus will not have the capacity to be anyone other than Himself.

Jesus has had many names and Michael is one of them. He is no less "himself" because he is also known as the Prince that stand up for his people than he is if called "Emmanuel".

[JehovahsWitness]

[Replying to post 12 by JehovahsWitness]

An archangel is the head or chief or commander of the angels. There is noone else that can have that position. While revelation refers to Michael and "his" angels Matthew 25 (speaking of Jesus) says "When the Son of man arrives in his glory, and all the angels with him..." Jesus is again identified as leading the angels in Revelation 19: 11.

So in short in Revelation Michael is the head of the angels, and in Matthew Jesus is the head of the angels. Either the angels have two bosses (in which case who would be the 'chief's) or they are both just different names for the same person.

Jesus being given the name (or position) above everyone else must also be king of the angels. And 1 Thessalonians 4: 15 speaks of Jesus with "an archangel's call". So if Jesus is head, of chief of the angels, and speaks with an "archangel's voice" then Jesus and Michel must be one and the same.

searchforbibletruths.blogspot.fr/2009/11/archangel.html
www.jehovah.to/exe/general/archangel.htm


EARLY CHURCH FATHERS who came to the same conclusions
http://www.jehovah.to/exe/general/angel.htm
http://web.archive.org/web/200304230844 ... /angel.htm

OTHER BIBLE SCHOLARS THAT HAVE COME TO THE SAME CONCLUSIONS
http://defendingjehovahswitnesses.blogs ... jesus.html

Commentary
http://fosterheologicalreflections.blog ... chael.html
http://fosterheologicalreflections.blog ... angel.html

Thèses: Jesus & Angels (Christendom)
http://etheses.dur.ac.uk/5802/1/5802_3217.PDF?UkUDh:CyT









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