What does turn the other cheek mean?

Answer 1

To forgive and leave yourself vulnerable for a another strike. If you are struck on your right cheek...offer him your left. Continually forgiving and not putting up walls/protection. ~ Eric Putkonen Biblically it is the idea of not taking revenge when someone does you wrong.

It is the opposite of the Old Testament idea of ' an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth '. Jesus restated what we should do whenever the old teachings no longer applied. This particular one is in Matthew 5v38 - 39 and also in Luke 6 v 29. It's the principle of not getting your own back or 'punching someones lights out' if they dare to say or do something you don't like. It doesn't mean we can't object in some way - more just the spirit behind the objection. It is much better - and incredibly liberating - to leave it up to God who can more accurately see into a persons heart and motives and is more just than we. Unto him that smiteth thee on the one cheek offer also the other" (Luke vi, 29). "He who courts oppression shares the crime." Lord Amberley, referring to this teaching of Jesus, says: "A doctrine more convenient for the purposes of tyrants and malefactors of every description it would be difficult to invent" (Analysis of Religious Belief; p. 355).

While on the personal level 'resist not one who is evil' is the Christian way, there is the institution of Government which Christians respect and uphold under God.

3 For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same: 4 For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil. Christians have also been in the forefront of destroying such social ills as slavery, through the institution of government, which they influenced after themselves having been truly 'born again' by the Holy Spirit of God as Wilberforce was. Such 'true Christianity' sees all men as created equal.

See the Related Links for "Anti-slavery Activist William Wilberforce:Christian Hero" to the left for more information on the above.

Thus 'turn the other cheek' does not apply when talking about government and social responsibility, else we would all be under either Hitler or the Japanese, and on a local level all criminals would go unpunished. But it is certainly not for individuals to take vengeance or fight back because 'vengeance is mine I will repay says the Lord'.