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NASB | Matthew 5:39 "But I say to you, do not resist an evil person; but whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Matthew 5:39 "But I say to you, do not resist an evil person [who insults you or violates your rights]; but whoever slaps you on the right cheek, turn the other toward him also [simply ignore insignificant insults or trivial losses and do not bother to retaliate--maintain your dignity, your self-respect, your poise]. [Luke 6:29, 30; Rom 12:17-21] |
Bible Question: Does that really mean that as a Christian I can never defend myself or my family against abuse? Am I to let all kinds of evil actions happen and never denounce them or take a stand against them? |
Bible Answer: Jesus presents the fullness of this law: the non-resistance of evil. This is a radical command, but not an absolute one: Jesus Himself resisted evil when He turned tables in the temple. This principle is also relevant to personal relationships, and not to the proper functions of government in restraining evil (Romans 13:1-4); I must turn my cheek when I am personally insulted (the cultural meaning of a slap on the cheek), but the government has a responsibility to restrain the evil man from physical assault. Jesus also displayed the principle behind the law in His trials before the Sanhedrin and Pilate: we are to let God defend our case, not ourselves. Positively, we are told to take command of evil impositions by making a deliberate choice to give more than we are required. Roman law commanded Jews (in their Judean occupation) to carry the pack of any Roman soldier, but only for one mile; Jesus is saying "go beyond the one mile required by law and give another mile out of a free choice of love." This is how we change someone's attempt to manipulate us into our free act of love. The only limit to this kind of sacrifice is the limit that love itself will impose; it isn't love to give into someone's manipulation without our transforming it into a free act of love; it isn't always love to give or to not resist. Jesus clearly says that "we are not to resist the evil person;" we are to "resist evil itself" at every opportunity. God Bless |