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.

[Yahu]

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.

No it isn't a teaching of pacifism. You have to understand the context of being slapped in the face. He was slapped in the face when He was accused of blasphemy. He stood His ground, didn't recant His position.

Turning the other cheek is an act of defiance when falsely accused of error. The teaching is to stand your ground when you are the right regardless of the attacks against you.

[Peds nurse]

I don't know where I have been, but I just found this beautiful place!

I think that we are to protect ourselves. God did not intend for us to be doormats. What He did intend, is for us to love Him and love others. A kind word turns away wrath, and I believe that is exactly what he was telling us to do here. To love deeply means that we have to forgive much!

Blessings my favorite people!

[Wootah]

[Replying to post 2 by Yahu]

In John 18 Jesus gets slapped. But i dont think that has anything to do with the sermon on the mount teaching. Am I forgetting something?

My thoughts

We could definitely argue that Jesus turned the other cheek towards humanity rather than struck us back.

The context for me is the parable of the servant. We should forgive the debts of others because God forgives ours.

The context is shame, turning the other cheek shames the person in their actions. It is inviting more harm to our selves, just lIke offering your cloak or going another mile would. These actions should shame the other person.

A slap is not life threatening - we don't have to turn the other cheek for a hay maker. But I would suggest that when faced with death we serve our enemy best by offering our breast. I doubt I would be so faithful to Jesus - his teachings are so hard - I rather hope to not be tested....

[puddleglum]

Jesus said we should turn the other cheek but he also told his disciples they should buy swords. There are times when we need to use force, even deadly force, to defend ourselves and others.

https://clydeherrin.wordpress.com/2014/ ... her-cheek/

[JehovahsWitness]

[Replying to post 1 by puddleglum]

No. A Pacifist believes there is never any justifiable reason to fight. Since Jesus (in his capacity as Michael the Archangel) will lead God's armies in the war of Armageddon, he himself isn't "a pacifist").

That said, Jesus did not give his followers the authority to do anything but love their enemies. So Christians like Jesus look to God for justice and avoid resorting to violence.

[JehovahsWitness]

[Replying to post 1 by puddleglum]

No. A Pacifist believes there is never any justifiable reason to fight. Since Jesus (in his capacity as Michael the Archangel) will lead God's armies in the war of Armageddon, he himself isn't "a pacifist").

That said, Jesus did not give his followers the authority to do anything but love their enemies. So Christians like Jesus look to God for justice and avoid resorting to violence.

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

An open handed "slap" was an insulting gesture, less aimed at inflicting pain so much as provoking to confontation. (It was not so long ago, even here in Europe, if a "gentleman" wanted challenge another to a duel, he slapped him in the face with his glove. This was a challenge for conflict) In a similar way Jesus was telling his followers not to passively submit to physical abuse but to not rise to provokation to conflict or violence.


JEHOVAH'S WITNESS

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[Wootah]

Jesus said we should turn the other cheek but he also told his disciples they should buy swords. There are times when we need to use force, even deadly force, to defend ourselves and others.

https://clydeherrin.wordpress.com/2014/ ... her-cheek/

I think this is a good summary of the whole sword carrying thing in the Bible:

http://www.answering-islam.org/Authors/ ... _22_36.htm

[Checkpoint]

[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 is not anyone other than Himself.

Jesus has never been, is not, and never will be, an angel of any kind.

[Checkpoint]

[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 never been, is not, and never will be, an angel of any kind.