Jesus states in Matthew 5:39 , "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." Some take this verse to mean that it isn't lawful for Christians to defend themselves. There appears to be a lot of confusion on this topic among unbelievers as well as among believers. Are we as Christians just to turn the other cheek no matter what?
If this passage is taken literally without looking at the context or other events in the Bible we would be compelled to let everyone take advantage of us. If this were the standard, Christians would be encouraging evil by turning the other cheek. This surely isn't what Jesus had in mind when He made this statement. To find the biblical truth of the matter one must look at the context of the passage and at other similar events that could enlighten us on this statement of Jesus to turn the other cheek.
What does the passage on turning the other cheek mean? Let's back up one verse and look at the context. Matthew 5:38 , "Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth:" The statement of "an eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth" was an Old Testament principle for civil magistrates. The law required that punishment for an offense was to equal or fit the offense.
This rule of an eye for an eye as explained in Exodus 20, Leviticus 24, and Deuteronomy 20 was for the use of the magistrates, the Judges of the Jewish nation. This was to provide for punishment of an evil doer and limit such punishment to that inflicted by the offender. Anything greater would be revenge and revenge belongs to the Lord. Romans 12:19 , "Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine I will repay, saith the Lord."
The intent of this rule was to limit punishment to the extent of the harm to the victim. The idea was that the punishment could not be greater than the offense and in this way the offender would suffer to the same extent as their victims had suffered. Leviticus 24:20, "Breach for breach, eye for eye, tooth for tooth: as he hath caused a blemish in a man, so shall it be done to him again." This would mean no personal revenge and no vendetta or blood feud leading to an ever escalating cycle of violence.
Christ did nothing to change this rule and found no fault with the rule as it was used by magistrates. But this rule for the magistrates had been carried over into private conduct and some Jewish teachers had made it a rule in which the individual could seek revenge. This rule of an eye for an eye was never meant to be a private retaliation it was to be carried out by the magistrates. Some Jewish teachers used it to mean that an individual could take justice in his own hands and seek revenge. In fact, it is God who we should allow to do the avenging and the person wronged is to allow the magistrates to do the punishing. The magistrates are to limit punishment of the offender to the same harm the offender done to the victim. Anything greater is vengeance. Thus Jesus is saying in Matthew 5:39 that we should completely give up personal vengeance.
There is a difference in giving up personal revenge and confronting evil in self defense. In Genesis we see Abraham defending his relatives by pursuing those who took his brother captive. It should be noted that this action wasn't for revenge but only to secure the safe release of his brother and the return of his property and we would call this self defense. So obviously God allows us to protect our families and relatives and their property. Genesis 14:14-16, " And when Abram heard that his brother was taken captive, he armed his trained servants, born in his own house, three hundred and eighteen, and pursued them unto Dan. And he divided himself against them, he and his servants, by night, and smote them, and pursued them unto Hobah, which is on the left hand of Damascus . And he brought back all the goods, and also brought again his brother Lot , and his goods, and the women also, and the people."
In Exodus 22:2-4 we can see the principle of self defense and protection of ones property even by physical force. If someone enters your home at night and life is threatened, one can defend his home with lethal force. However, if it is in daylight hours and there is no life threatening situation one can not use lethal force. Exodus 22:2-4 , "If a thief be found breaking up, and be smitten that he die, there shall no blood be shed for him. If the sun be risen upon him, there shall be blood shed for him for he should make full restitution if he have nothing, then he shall be sold for his theft. If the theft be certainly found in his hand alive, whether it be ox, or ass, or sheep he shall restore double."
In Nehemiah we see the people working and with a weapon in one hand for defense. A weapon implies the intent to use it in self defense. Nehemiah 4:17-18, "They which builded on the wall, and they that bare burdens, with those that laded, every one with one of his hands wrought in the work, and with the other hand held a weapon. For the builders, every one had his sword girded by his side, and so builded. And he that sounded the trumpet was by me."
There are many other Old Testament passages that could be used to show the principle of self defense but let's turn to a couple in the New Testament. In the New Testament we have Luke 22:36 showing the necessity of self defense. Jesus had previously sent the apostles out into their own country for a short time. Now the apostles would be going out into the world and would face dangers and trials among strangers so Jesus said in Luke 22:36 , "But now, he that hath a purse, let him take it, and likewise his scrip: and he that hath no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one." They were to go out armed with a sword and that implies the intent to use the sword in self defense and this at the command of Jesus!
The apostle Paul defended himself by insisting on his rights as a Roman citizen. Those who would come up against him were assured that there would be consequences if he were harmed. When about to be scourged Paul said to the Centurion, "Is it lawful for you to scourge a man that is a Roman, and uncondemned?" (Acts 22:25 ). Then when appearing before the chief priests and their council Paul stated, "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?" (Acts 23:3). Paul did not turn the other cheek in these situations but acted in self defense.
Jesus gives us an example that we can confront wrongdoing as He Himself confronted it when he addressed the injustice done to him by one of the officers of the high priest. John 18:22-23, "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? Jesus answered him, If I have spoken evil, bear witness of the evil: but if well, why smitest thou me?" Obviously, we can protest an injustice and ask for justice but we must give up the idea of personal vengeance.
So the meaning of the passage on turning the other cheek isn't referring to self defense but to revenge or insults. From the verses following Matthew 5:39 we can see that we should have love for the ones who would do us evil and even though we can confront them in self defense, we cannot seek revenge, but through love we will seek the salvation of those who offend us. It is necessary that we provide defense for our family and property but we are not to seek revenge. Life threatening situations calling for self defense isn't being addressed in the "turn the other cheek" passage.
There are several events throughout the Bible that establish the principle of self defense. However, seeking personal revenge is prohibited. For example, killing someone without cause would be called murder and results from anger or hatred. Jesus stated that not only murderers were in danger of judgment but those who are angry enough to murder are also in danger of judgment. While we may avoid or resist evil when it is necessary for our own security we cannot render evil for evil nor avenge ourselves. We must get beyond this and forgive the offenders while seeking their salvation.
In Matthew 5:21-22 we have Jesus giving additional information about an Old Testament law, "Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment:" Christ taught that not only is outward murder subject to the judgment of God but so is inward hatred. If we bear a grudge we will become angry enough to avenge ourselves but reacting in self defense comes out of fear not anger. Matthew 5:39 refers to revenge and not the principle of self defense.
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