What do you think Jesus meant by turn the other cheek?

1. 76

   Mikel G Robertsposted 15 years ago

   What do you think Jesus meant by turn the other cheek?
   
   I believe it was an attempt to teach people that fighting fire with fire wasn't the best solution. That fighting fire with water, was. I think firemen agree, I don't see very many firemen running into a burning building with a flame thrower on their back... Even though sometimes they do use fire (creating fire breaks) to combat forest fires.

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2. 42

   4sommposted 15 years ago

   This statement of Jesus does not mean that one should literarily turn his cheek to be hit, but just a way of letting you know that retaliation is not expected of you. And also tells you to even expect more to come.

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3. 60

   GreatContentposted 15 years ago

   What Yeshua said here has nothing to do with fighting, or combat situations. He mentioned an instruction in the Torah where it says,"An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth." Let us go to a Torah instruction concerning this teaching:
   
   Exodus 21:22-25,"When men strive together and hit a pregnant woman, so that her children come out, but there is no harm, the one who hit her shall surely be fined, as the woman's husband shall impose on him, and he shall pay as the judges determine. But if there is harm, then you shall pay life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burn for burn, wound for wound, stripe for stripe."
   
   Let us highlight these:
   
   1) surely be fined
   2) he shall pay
   3)  then you shall pay life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burn for burn, wound for wound, stripe for stripe
   
   Usually, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, deals with monetary issues. It would not make sense to knock someone's eye out, then gouge yours out and give it to the guy so that he can put your eye in his. Imagine the medical problems that would cause. Imagine the health problems!
   
   So, when Yeshua said it, he did not leave the understanding of the Torah.

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4. 61

   M Cassianposted 15 years ago

   The Hebrew concept of turning the other cheek is not how we would think it to be. Our concept of it is just letting someone hit you without you giving any retaliation. Not repaying evil for evil, so to speak. But the Hebrew concept of it is this: If the person were to hit you again, he would essentially be admitting his wrong. I can't remember the exact details of the history behind it, but I do remember that main point. Hope this helps! Grace to you!

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