What did Jesus really mean when he said turn the other cheek ?

When I first heard this, I understood that Jesus means God is in total control of what happens to us. So, if we trust Him by turning the other cheek, our Father will decide and manage what happens.

Jesus says that no sparrow will fall without God knowing and it being God's will (Matthew 10:29). To me, this means even sparrows are taken care of by God.

But a first thing people can think of is, What if a rapist comes in your window at night in order to rape your daughter? Do you let the guy do that, turning the other cheek??

Jesys does say, "not to resist an evil person," in another verse near the turn-the-other-cheek thing > Matthew 5:39.

But if Jesus gives us something, it has God's good meaning. So, who has people thinking it means to let a Satanic person rape a child?

It is not wise to listen to how Satan would represent God's word. But pray and prepare for what God knows He means, with how He will have things work while we obey Him.

One thing Jesus means is to love any and all people. On the cross, Jesus so suffered and died with hope for any evil person, at all. So, He wants us to receive His word by being ready for love and forgiveness with anyone. We do well to be ready for love, whether others are able to share with us in love, or not > love "hopes all things" (in 1 Corinthians 13:7).

And if we pray and prepare for love and forgiveness, this has us in the Holy Spirit of God's kingdom bringing us God's own good, and this will be in sharing intimately and tenderly with others who live in God's kingdom, which is the realm of His love.

But ones keeping unforgiveness ready are functioning in Satan's kingdom so they are a magnet for how things work with sin and evil.

And indeed it is unfair:

People disobeying God can get much more horrible things, than their tiny little words and deeds deserve; while we in Jesus can even have evil come against us but God our Father turns it to much more good than we deserve. However we can make it not so great for ourselves, because of our own character.

So indeed, then, we need to grow in Jesus so we become able to correctly understand Him and discover how He can have things turn out good for us and others.

Forgive

I believe it means restrain as much as possible, do not retaliate, & ( as previously posted) forgive. Clearly the Lord permitted self defense ( see Luke 22:36-38) but warns us not to abuse this action ( Matthew 26:52).

Romans 12:18-21 KJV
18 If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.
19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.
20 Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.
21 Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.

QuestionQuest74 said:

So we shouldn’t defend ourselves

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I don't think Jesus means to just let an evil person do whatever to you or anyone else. Jesus at times stayed away from evil people because they wanted to kill Him. And He got away from ones who were getting ready to stone Him.

But when Peter was using his sword to defend Jesus Himself, Jesus told him to put away the sword. Why?

It seems Jesus gave a reason why.

Matthew 26:52 >

"But Jesus said to him, 'Put your sword in its place, for all who take the sword will perish by the sword.'" (Matthew 26:52)

So, He is not just giving us a legalistic order not to defend ourselves. We need to understand what He means for us to do, while we see what He knows does not work.

It seems Jesus knows the sword does not work, plus we will perish by trusting and depending on it. And so it needs to be put in its place.

It looks to me like He is saying that if I use the sword, I will perish in using it. So, there are ways of defending ourselves, which bring us down and do not really work! May be, how you have to become in using weapons can be what will hurt you.

Can we become perfectly like Jesus and love like Him while we excuse and depend on weapons, for one example? What has someone putting hope in a weapon? If it is fear or ego's pride, ones can perish because of obeying fear and worry and pride.

And look how Jesus did things. He did not have His disciples or angels defend Him from going to the cross, but look how He came out.

So, just making an isolated rule is not the point.

We do defend ourselves, by the way, but how?

"Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you." (James 4:7)

We stand against evil by sibmitting to God. We defend ourselves against Satan, by refusing to give in to arguing, complaining, boredom, loneliness, fear and worry, lust . . . greed, food abuse, beauty discrimination. And instead submit to how our God personally rules each of us in His own peace >

"And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful." (Colossians 3:15)

This is included in what Jesus means. So, we need to get into and grow in all Jesus means by submitting to God.

But there are people who get into endless promotion of not using weapons or of being justified to use them . . . without either side saying one word, even, about how to submit to God and first seek His kingdom.

And enjoy discovering what God has us doing and where He guides our attention.

In Jewish courts, the accuser would strike your cheek when making an accusation as a symbolic gesture.

Jesus is saying when someone accuses you, do not bring unfair accusations against your accuser.

It doesn’t mean let someone beat you up or unfairly take advantage of you.

It's an understand God is the Judge

Notice how the context of the verses is in a court of law. The next verse is "If someone sues you for your shirt, hand him your cloak too."

QuestionQuest74 said:

Is he telling us when we are getting assaulted not to defend ourselves or is that a figure of speech not to be combative?

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He's literally saying turn the other cheek. If someone hits you, don't hit them back. It literally means what it says.

-CryptoLutheran

From what I recall (its muddled) turning the other cheek was about insults, in court or the Temple. The right hand was used when whomever was thought to be an inferior was struck. There was a law about the right hand being clean while the left hand was reserved for unclean activities. Jesus was struck on the right cheek with the back of a right hand as was custom. Turning the cheek would force the accuser to hit with the back of the unclean hand thus making the striker unclean for using the wrong hand. This is not passive. Perhaps someone has the Hebrew law to ad to this?

QuestionQuest74 said:

Is he telling us when we are getting assaulted not to defend ourselves or is that a figure of speech not to be combative?

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Striking someone on the cheek is part of an honor/shame challenge, so the purpose was to shame someone, not to attack them as in a ongoing brawl.

I wonder if the scene of the Lord before the Sanhedrin in the 2004 movie: The Passion, depicts what the Lord means by turning the other cheek?

Lamentations 3:30 NVI
Let him offer his cheek to one who would strike him, and let him be filled with disgrace.

Isaiah 50:4-9
New International Version
4 The Sovereign Lord has given me a well-instructed tongue,
to know the word that sustains the weary.
He wakens me morning by morning,
wakens my ear to listen like one being instructed.
5 The Sovereign Lord has opened my ears;
I have not been rebellious,
I have not turned away.
6 I offered my back to those who beat me,
my cheeks to those who pulled out my beard;
I did not hide my face
from mocking and spitting.
7 Because the Sovereign Lord helps me,
I will not be disgraced.
Therefore have I set my face like flint,
and I know I will not be put to shame.
8 He who vindicates me is near.
Who then will bring charges against me?
Let us face each other!
Who is my accuser?
Let him confront me!
9 It is the Sovereign Lord who helps me.
Who will condemn me?
They will all wear out like a garment;
the moths will eat them up.

Jesus did not have the habit of making the law stricter. For example, concerning adultery, he broadened the understanding, considering not only the act but also the thoughts. Similarly, Jesus brought a deeper understanding to the writings of the prophets.

I guess if we were to take Christ literally then the only time force is allowed is when it comes to money changers in the temple

Here is example of Jesus turning away from the evil He received, in front of the crooked high priest of Israel, and their officers, Jesus shows how they were not bearing witness of evil, as they were the ones doing it. ( as Israel is doing that evil NOW of not turning the cheek to follow Jesus.)



Matthew 5:38 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.

John 18:22 And when he had thus spoken, one of the officers which stood by struck Jesus with the palm of his hand, saying, Answerest thou the high priest so?
23 Jesus answered him, If I have spoken evil, bear witness of the evil: but if well, why smitest thou me?

Acts 23:2 And the high priest Ananias commanded them that stood by him to smite him on the mouth.
3 Then said Paul unto him, God shall smite thee, thou whited wall: for sittest thou to judge me after the law, and commandest me to be smitten contrary to the law?

QuestionQuest74 said:

Is he telling us when we are getting assaulted not to defend ourselves or is that a figure of speech not to be combative?

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Jesus was saying, "Have you been struck? Love and offer the other cheek to him who smacked you, considering that it is better that he gives vent to his wrath on you who can put up with it, rather than on somebody else who would take vengeance for the insult."

Aaron112 said:

Jesus never said that.
Someone called Maria V. is reported to have said that, not Scripture.

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?

Aaron112 said:

Jesus never said that.
Someone called Maria V. is reported to have said that, not Scripture.

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In Matt. 5:39 we read a little of what Jesus said about turning the other cheek, "...but whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other toward him also." On May 25th, 1945, Maria Valtorta was shown this scene by Jesus, and thus heard, saw, and wrote down what He said in full at His behest as a first-hand witness: "Have you been struck? Love and offer the other cheek to him who smacked you, considering that it is better that he gives vent to his wrath on you who can put up with it, rather than on somebody else who would take vengeance for the insult." You can read the Beatitudes in full in The Poem of the Man-God: Vol. II.

Aaron112 said:

Whether or not it directly contradicts Scripture remains to be revealed, but it is not Scripture.

"Christian Scriptures" is the section we are posting in.

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In Matt. 5:39 we read a little of what Jesus said about turning the other cheek, "...but whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other toward him also." On May 25th, 1945, Maria Valtorta was shown this scene by Jesus, and thus heard, saw, and wrote down what He said in full at His behest as a first-hand witness: "Have you been struck? Love and offer the other cheek to him who smacked you, considering that it is better that he gives vent to his wrath on you who can put up with it, rather than on somebody else who would take vengeance for the insult." You can read the Beatitudes in full in The Poem of the Man-God: Vol. II.

The writings of Maria Valtorta of the same scenes we read in the books that make up the New Testament are indeed Scripture, just in fuller detail from a first-hand witness.

Aaron112 said:

The writings coming from / initiated by / of anyone outside Scripture are never Scripture, no, not at all.
And it is supercilious or worse to call such "first-hand witness".

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Jesus showed Maria Valtorta scenes from His public life on earth, many of which we read about in the books that make up the Bible, and she described all she saw and heard in full at His behest, and thus she is in fact another first-hand witness.

Do you limit God and His Word to one book, a book made up of multiple books, despite God's own apostle, John, acknowledging that even if everything Jesus said and did was written down, the whole world would not have room for all the books that would be written? He was obviously being hyperbolic, but his point remains clear, and my question stands.