Does "turn the other cheek" effectively mean "let others take advantage of you"?

Question

If not, what's the difference?

Answer 1

I think that it is refering to not taking revenge on those who have wronged you.

Answer 2

In some ways it can... and I have seen people who constantly turn the other cheek live very unhappy lives because of it. However turning the other cheek can be a powerful tool to use against an instigator who takes delight in raising the hackles of another purposely...in this case turning the other cheek defeats thier purpose better than anything else as it is only the reaction they take pleasure in, and ignoring thier comments is a most effective weapon that can take the hot air right out of a bully.

A person that uses this technique is truly not letting others take advantage of them but rather using it to thier own advantage in taking all joy out of the attackers attempt to arouse thier animosity by denying them the reaction the seek.

Someone who always turns the other cheek is effectively letting others take advantage of them because they are always giving in to silent defeat, and really have no passionate beliefs of thier own that they are willing to defend with argument, and so they live unhappy lives because they never express the true way they feel in any confrontation but instead always admit defeat by refusing to defend themselves in confrontation.

Answer 3

In a way , yes,,,, and in a way, no. Not everything in the Bible is to be taken absolutely literally. I think the idea here needs to be put into context first. Paul experienced a big turn around in what he considered of value and what he considered to be foolish. Jesus changed a few things in that regard. People naturally strive for selfish things, money, comfort, pleasure... and some people to the point where they will steal it from someone else. Jesus tells us, "seek ye first the kingdom of God..." and that we must deprive ourselves of some things, and limit ourselves in some things. So the example of some person coming up and stealing your cloak from you,,, and you giving him something on top of that,,, kind of shows that you have different values than that guy. You can go to heaven without your cloak, but he can't get to heaven with it. And then the rest of the verse says, "and all these things will be added unto you.." God's going to provide for you so that you get a new cloak.

In some cultures it is a thing to slap someone, like with a glove, on one cheek and then the other... it is really one action... and this is also a challenge... sometimes to a duel. And of course any macho man is going to take that challenge and they are going to duel, right? if the slapped one does nothing he is a wimp, right? Some males have made this challenge over a woman, over some perceived slight, or maybe they have some depression or something so they want to pick a fight and go and challenge some likely looking guy by slapping them. What would you do? say you're in a bar, and some guy is kind of drunk and he looks at you and decides he doesn't like you and he wants to fight and comes over and taps your chest hard. What you gonna do?

Answer 4

...not sure, but here's what I've heard. I haven't been able to confirm it, so take it with a grain of salt.

In those days, slapping on the cheek was something only representatives of Rome did. The proper response was to kneel and expose your neck as an act of submission. To turn the other cheek was actually an act of defiance against Rome.

I have seen this used as an argument for why Jesus really was promoting treason and was justly executed as a result. Again, I have no idea if it's true.

Answer 5

A Christian turns his cheek one time. end of story. Atheist are stupid. I see this time after time posted in here. They use this as a defense of a Christian has to kiss them on the nose syndrome. hahahha. They have not a dream of a clue what this means, and sadly, some Christians don't.
7x70 = one time my friend. Read the book. It explains it.

7x70 is compared to old testament teaching of 4 times. They are both covered under the spiritual "once". being saved and or forgiven.

The cross was Christ's whipping post for us, so we don't have to take a whipping from anyone. Too many Christians simply have been taught a false teaching. They teach love and thats all. There is no bigger lie known too mak-kind, than that. Jesus did not tell anyone to "Go forth and preach love to all nations". HE specifically said, Preach the Gospel. Gospel= Truth. not love. Jesus preached truth FIRST and love followed. why? because anyone can preach love and be fake teachers, even atheists. Atheists can't preach TRUTH. Thats why you preach TRUTH FIRST. Truth convicts minds and hearts. Love convicts nothing.

Your sword is what? God's armour. which is? The WORD. You preach the Word and make it hurt, make it hurt and convict bad. NOBODY, can put you in a corner with the Word of God. If they want to play old testament with you. You live by the sword..you die by the sword. Period. :)

Good Question.

Answer 6

No.

It means be tolerant.

I means don't be a reactionary.

Jesus also said carry a sword. Jesus never intended you to be a whipping boy or dead, but Jesus also didn't want you to strike back when struck. He wanted you to exercise restraint, tolerance and to prove a point. Go head, hit the other cheek as well. Have a free shot.

Jesus never intended you to be hit again and again and again.

And when he said carry a sword he didn't mean for you to slice off an arm or ear, but to make a draw, then withdraw and live another day.

Answer 7

Turn the other cheek means just that, do not return the pain or violence. The bible also says to not throw pearls before swine. So you don't return a wrong and do not put yourself in the place of being taken advantage of

Answer 8

To turn the other cheek is not to take revenge. You don't let others take advantage of you. We learn from our mistakes and don't do it again. If someone does something bad to you, you should have enough common sense not to let them do it again. However we are not to get even.

Answer 9

It means that you are ignoring somethng that has happened or are trying not to think about it. For example, if someone starts a rumor about you and you "turn the other cheek", you are acting as if you havn't heard it or brushing it off and not letting it bother you to let it fade away. Sometimes, certain actions only get worse if you focus your attention on them, so ignoring them helps them go away.

Answer 10

I asked the same question of a Jesuit Priest and he said, "In that time if you were hit, you could sue for damages, so Jesus was saying give the other guy a break. Does this make us saps? Not if you stomped on his instep after the second blow.

Answer 11

Not at all, you should turn the other cheek because stepping forward helps get your weight behind the counter strike when you punch him out.