2007-10-16 20:50:39 · 22 answers · asked by FT 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
.What this means is that you should not be too quick to take offense at what someone else says or does. And rather than return insult or injury (physical or otherwise) with the same in the spirit of revenge, we should counter this by doing the opposite in the spirit of charity. It's not always an easy thing to do, but it works - I can attest to that personally.
2007-10-16 20:53:46 · answer #1 · answered by the phantom 6 · 3⤊ 2⤋
Socrates said the same thing like this. Never return injustice for injustice. He meant exactly what he said. If a man hits you on the left cheek, allow him to hit you on the right cheek, as well. It is the idea, both old and new that non-violent resistance is affective against an occupying force. The Jews in Jesus' time were occupied by the Romans. Jesus also tells his followers to "go the extra mile" which comes from the fact that a Roman soldier could demand that any citizen carry his equipment for him up to a mile. Jesus said to carry it two miles instead of the required one mile. Anyone with eyes to see can understand this as an extreme form of passive resistance. The idea is that it is not just to return injustice for injustice and Jesus takes it even further and states that you should return love for injustice. Not everyone I know agrees with this radical thinking. Someone said "If you love your enemies, what will you have left for your friends?"
2007-10-17 06:29:28 · answer #2 · answered by Sowcratees 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Of all the passages of the NT, this one seems the most difficult to comprehend. It goes back to the OT, to the law about needing 'two or three witnesses' to establish a matter.
Having someone do something offensive is not uncommon, as it could have been accidental, or unintended, or done in quick anger...but having them repeat their offense, in the exact same manner, shows us their true intentions for us, and establishes a legal witness against them. What this passage is really saying is not to try to prevent them from establishing that witness, so that the heavenly laws can be put into operation. Likewise, we are not to try to provoke the offending party by retaliating, either! But there is more. It is the responsibility of the person(s) that are offended to let their offender(s) know that they were offended, after the first offense, and after the second...and if the attacker still does not desist after that, protective countermeasures can be legally taken. The offenses do not necessarily have to be physical...they can be any form of offense at all. The justice system of the Torah is clear...but who adminsters that 'Justice' is sometimes not so clear. I have found that by following the guidelines that Jesus set down, Divine Justice intervenes, and I am then under the Graceful, and Merciful protection of the God's Holy Spirit and God's Angelic Host, and strange and wonderful things begin to happen that change my world and send my assailants away. This principle works in all forms of prayer as well, and should never be underrated or ignored.
This 'Two Witness' law can be easily recognized in modern American law as the 'Baker Act'...that is but one form of several, I will leave that to you to investigate.
2007-10-16 21:38:41 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
It is not the statement of Jesus. It is written by others who wanted to show that Jesus was non-violant and we should be non-violent.
It is not natural reaction and most human can not follow it.
Who does turn other cheek. Only the weak who can not fight back. Today when a Christian is slapped, he breaks the jaw of offender or kills with pulling the trigger.
God says in Quran. Forgive if you can that is best. If not, slap the offender only as hard as he did to you. If you go overboard, you will become cruel. God doesn't like offenders.
Doesn't this statement make more sense?
If you keep turning the other cheek, offender will not let you survive but will keep stepping over you. Satan will keep encouraging to hit him more to make FASAD in the world.
2007-10-16 22:49:11 · answer #4 · answered by majeed3245 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
so...most of the answers are on about forgiving and loving, as an example from god.
Yet.....we are alll supposedly born with an original sin, caused by Adam scoffing an Apple. So the wondrous creator made man with a desire he could not resist, then decided that everyone born after that was responsible for the same act and that the only way of cleansing oneself of this sin is to repent of it and believe in God.....AND if you don't you will be thrown into eternal fire and pain and al that??
VERY forgiving god you people have there!
2007-10-16 21:16:58 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It means the editor who printed this version of the New Testament you got, had plagiarised this phrase from Gandhi! This was a phrase by Gandhi! I have also read the New Testament. Nowhere have I seen such a statement.
I think there are millions of versions of the Bible doing round on this planet. We'll it's possible only because the Earth is Round!
2007-10-16 21:00:54 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 4⤋
Pro 15:1 A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.
2007-10-16 20:54:57 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 1⤋
It means Jesus was a Buddhist.
2007-10-16 22:15:51 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Exactly what it says. They slap your cheek, you drop yer pants and show them your 'other' cheek!
2007-10-16 21:14:25 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
it means dont let the people change who u r.
to retaliate against the people hes talkin abt will bring u down to the level of sin that takes u away from GOD.
What He wanted was to have all men love each other, one day we can only pray that this becomes reality
2007-10-16 20:56:59 · answer #10 · answered by James 4 · 3⤊ 1⤋