38 Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth:
39 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. (Matt. 5:38-39 KJV)
27 "But I say to you who hear: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,
28 "bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you.
29 "To him who strikes you on the one cheek, offer the other also. And from him who takes away your cloak, do not withhold your tunic either. (Lk. 6:27-29 NKJ)
Christ isn't ruling out self-defense, Peter carried a sword every day he was with Christ, for self defense:
10 Then Simon Peter, having a sword, drew it and struck the high priest's servant, and cut off his right ear. The servant's name was Malchus.
11 So Jesus said to Peter, "Put your sword into the sheath. Shall I not drink the cup which My Father has given Me?" (Jn. 18:10-11 NKJ)
Season Three of "the Chosen" is out, and first episode is Christ's sermon on the mount.
Which made me realize, I never gave this teaching much thought. I never let it stop me from pouncing on anyone who would attack me. It was a blind spot. Probably I owe some here an apology, for the way I responded to opposition.
I repent. I will do better.
What is the implied premise of letting people take your stuff without a fight? Its that God will replace it. As for turning the other cheek, its a way of asserting your humanity without entering a cycle of violence. I asked ChatGPT to summarize the various interpretations of this and thought it worth copy pasting here.
Jesus said if anyone slaps or strikes, turn the other cheek so they can strike that also. Is there a implied reference to certain evil doers in Jesus' culture
The phrase "turn the other cheek" is indeed found in the New Testament of the Christian Bible, specifically in the book of Matthew 5:38-39, as part of Jesus' Sermon on the Mount. The full passage reads as follows:
"You have heard that it was said, 'Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.' But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also."
The phrase is often interpreted as an instruction to respond to aggression or mistreatment with patience, non-retaliation, and a refusal to respond in kind. The broader context of Jesus' teachings in the Sermon on the Mount emphasizes love, forgiveness, and a radical shift away from a "tit-for-tat" mentality.
The cultural context in which Jesus lived and taught was marked by Roman occupation and significant social and economic disparities. In this context, various interpretations suggest that the phrase "turn the other cheek" might have had several cultural implications:
In Luke "strike" has broader meaning, how is that interpreted?
In the Gospel of Luke, the concept of "strike" or "smite" (depending on the translation) is indeed presented with broader meaning than a mere physical act. The passage in question can be found in Luke 6:29, and it reads as follows:
"To one who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also. And from one who takes away your cloak, do not withhold your tunic either."
In this passage, as in the parallel passage in Matthew's Gospel (Matthew 5:39), the Greek word used for "strike" is "ῥαπίζω" (rhapizo), which can be understood more broadly to encompass any form of harm, insult, or mistreatment, whether physical or non-physical.
The broader interpretation of "strike" in this context includes actions that cause harm or humiliation, such as verbal insults, social mistreatment, or injustices. It speaks to responding to any form of mistreatment or harm with a non-retaliatory and forgiving attitude.
The teachings in this passage, often referred to as the principle of "non-retaliation" or "turn the other cheek," emphasize a radical form of love and forgiveness. The idea is to break the cycle of violence and to respond to mistreatment with a transformative attitude of compassion and grace
.
Interpretations of this passage, like other religious texts, can vary among scholars and religious communities. Some interpret it as a call to resist violence and retaliation, promoting peaceful resolutions to conflicts. Others view it as a moral guideline for personal conduct and an expression of unconditional love for others, even in difficult situations.
39 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. (Matt. 5:38-39 KJV)
27 "But I say to you who hear: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,
28 "bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you.
29 "To him who strikes you on the one cheek, offer the other also. And from him who takes away your cloak, do not withhold your tunic either. (Lk. 6:27-29 NKJ)
Christ isn't ruling out self-defense, Peter carried a sword every day he was with Christ, for self defense:
10 Then Simon Peter, having a sword, drew it and struck the high priest's servant, and cut off his right ear. The servant's name was Malchus.
11 So Jesus said to Peter, "Put your sword into the sheath. Shall I not drink the cup which My Father has given Me?" (Jn. 18:10-11 NKJ)
Season Three of "the Chosen" is out, and first episode is Christ's sermon on the mount.
Which made me realize, I never gave this teaching much thought. I never let it stop me from pouncing on anyone who would attack me. It was a blind spot. Probably I owe some here an apology, for the way I responded to opposition.
I repent. I will do better.
What is the implied premise of letting people take your stuff without a fight? Its that God will replace it. As for turning the other cheek, its a way of asserting your humanity without entering a cycle of violence. I asked ChatGPT to summarize the various interpretations of this and thought it worth copy pasting here.
Jesus said if anyone slaps or strikes, turn the other cheek so they can strike that also. Is there a implied reference to certain evil doers in Jesus' culture
The phrase "turn the other cheek" is indeed found in the New Testament of the Christian Bible, specifically in the book of Matthew 5:38-39, as part of Jesus' Sermon on the Mount. The full passage reads as follows:
"You have heard that it was said, 'Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.' But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also."
The phrase is often interpreted as an instruction to respond to aggression or mistreatment with patience, non-retaliation, and a refusal to respond in kind. The broader context of Jesus' teachings in the Sermon on the Mount emphasizes love, forgiveness, and a radical shift away from a "tit-for-tat" mentality.
The cultural context in which Jesus lived and taught was marked by Roman occupation and significant social and economic disparities. In this context, various interpretations suggest that the phrase "turn the other cheek" might have had several cultural implications:
- Nonviolent Resistance: Some scholars propose that Jesus was advocating nonviolent resistance against oppression. By turning the other cheek, one would assert their human dignity without resorting to violence or escalating the situation.
- Social Context: In the cultural context of the time, striking someone on the right cheek could be considered an insult rather than a life-threatening attack. By turning the other cheek, the person being struck could challenge the aggressor to treat them as an equal rather than as an inferior.
- Forcing a Different Response: By responding in an unexpected manner, the person being mistreated might call attention to the injustice of the situation, possibly leading the aggressor to reconsider their actions.
In Luke "strike" has broader meaning, how is that interpreted?
In the Gospel of Luke, the concept of "strike" or "smite" (depending on the translation) is indeed presented with broader meaning than a mere physical act. The passage in question can be found in Luke 6:29, and it reads as follows:
"To one who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also. And from one who takes away your cloak, do not withhold your tunic either."
In this passage, as in the parallel passage in Matthew's Gospel (Matthew 5:39), the Greek word used for "strike" is "ῥαπίζω" (rhapizo), which can be understood more broadly to encompass any form of harm, insult, or mistreatment, whether physical or non-physical.
The broader interpretation of "strike" in this context includes actions that cause harm or humiliation, such as verbal insults, social mistreatment, or injustices. It speaks to responding to any form of mistreatment or harm with a non-retaliatory and forgiving attitude.
The teachings in this passage, often referred to as the principle of "non-retaliation" or "turn the other cheek," emphasize a radical form of love and forgiveness. The idea is to break the cycle of violence and to respond to mistreatment with a transformative attitude of compassion and grace
.
Interpretations of this passage, like other religious texts, can vary among scholars and religious communities. Some interpret it as a call to resist violence and retaliation, promoting peaceful resolutions to conflicts. Others view it as a moral guideline for personal conduct and an expression of unconditional love for others, even in difficult situations.
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