Like many of His teachings, this is another one that has been somewhat mischaracterized and misapplied. Such has often led to disastrous results.

WISE WARFARE AND THE TWO PRINCIPLES

He never taught that one should never fight back. There is a spiritual war that must be fought which demands excellent spiritual warriors. Nor did He ever say there would not be proper retribution for crimes committed. Evil must be dealt with. To understand how this should be done, however, on a day to day basis, which reveals the heart of God, illustrates correct discipleship, and shows forth both a Christian’s method for living and engaging in spiritual warfare per the Lord’s teachings, it is mandatory, as a minimal initial starting point, to honor and apply the two foundational principles within the following two Scriptural passages:

ONE:

Never pay back evil for evil to anyone. Respect what is right in the sight of all men. If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men. Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. “But if your enemy is hungry, feed him, and if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. [Romans 12:17-21]

This passage invokes two OT passages (as enclosed in quotes). The first is from Deuteronomy 32:35. The second is from Proverbs 25:21-22. Since the latter passage is relationally horizontal and self-explanatory let us focus primarily on the former since it is relationally vertical and states a clear command from God. It is the first of our two principles.

The context of this command regarding vengeance is more than initially meets the eye, however. There is an enemy of God referred to in Deuteronomy 32 (The Song of Moses) that God will act against and this party to whom he is referring must be identified. It is not, however, a foreign country or outside enemy of Israel but one much closer to home: It is the unbelieving and faithless faction of Israel itself, which comprised the majority:

“They have acted corruptly toward Him,

They are not His children, because of their defect;

But are a perverse and crooked generation.” [Deuteronomy 32:5]

“But Jeshurun (Israel) grew fat and kicked—

You are grown fat, thick, and sleek—

Then he forsook God who made him,

And scorned the Rock of his salvation.

They made Him jealous with strange gods;

With abominations they provoked Him to anger.

They sacrificed to demons who were not God,

To gods whom they have not known,

New gods who came lately,

Whom your fathers did not dread.

You neglected the Rock who begot you,

And forgot the God who gave you birth.” [Deuteronomy 32:15-18]

“How could one chase a thousand,

And two put ten thousand to flight,

Unless their Rock had sold them,

And the Lord had given them up?

Indeed their rock is not like our Rock,

Even our enemies themselves judge this.

For their vine is from the vine of Sodom,

And from the fields of Gomorrah;

Their grapes are grapes of poison,

Their clusters, bitter.

Their wine is the venom of serpents,

And the deadly poison of cobras.” [Deuteronomy 32:30-33]

“Is it not laid up in store with Me,

Sealed up in My treasuries?

‘Vengeance is Mine, and retribution,

In due time their foot will slip;

For the day of their calamity is near,

And the impending things are hastening upon them.” [Deuteronomy 32:34-35]

The main point here is that real Christians must never take vengeance on their enemies or seek revenge against them. We must instead love them, forgive them, and pray for them. Depending on the circumstance we might even feed them and give them water. Also, it is somewhat curious that the Lord is referring to His own wayward people here who are no longer actually His relational people but have strayed, abandoned Him, and betrayed Him. In this context one might note that the same tenet may apply between real Christians and unreal Christians.

TWO:

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. [Ephesians 6:10-13] 

From this we understand that as real Christians, our battle is not against people. Even if one may have enemies in the “flesh and blood” realm we are not to fight them but instead seek a way to bless them. If there must be a manner in which to deal with such human enemies (other than those mysterious unseen enemies in the spiritual realm that Paul lists in the preceding passage) we must leave it up to God and trust Him to take care of it. In fact, by treating human enemies in a positive way per His commands we enable the Lord to handle them His way.

We see then, that both of these two principles work perfectly within the particular teaching put forth in this article—turning the other cheek—and serve as a basis from which to operate regarding correct spiritual warfare.

WHAT IT ACTUALLY MEANS

Yet, due to spurious teachings on this subject and what is often a complete misunderstanding of the principle, Christians often go far too far in “loving their enemies.” Christians frequently condone evil behavior or “look the other way” from a misguided notion to be “nice” at all times, yet the Lord never taught this. It thus gives the enemy an upper hand and allows him egress into our lives and surroundings simply because Christians refuse to fight the evil that harms them. 

When I was a rookie Christian, I was blessed to have a rather astute and relatively well-read pastor. He was also one of the best preachers I ever heard. This was not some egg-headed dry intellectual but a lively word-picture creator and one who could often hold a congregation enthralled and captivated. I remember well when he taught on this subject…

But before proceeding further with this story, let us first have a Scripture refresher. Let’s take a closer look at the teaching in question. It actually appears in the New Testament only twice, in the gospels of Matthew and Luke. The structure is basically the same in both. However, for our purposes here, as we shall see, I will use the Matthew account.

In its original delivery and context the audience was well aware of the Lord’s direct meaning when He referenced “turning the other cheek.” They likely recognized the point He was making as it was based on OT Scripture. However, it obviously must have appeared relatively foreign in contrast to the Law of Moses as they understood and applied it due to subsequent casuistic embellishments as per their Oral Law (overwriting the Word of God with religious tradition). This does not mean the Lord Jesus was adding to the Law but rather teaching on the original intent of the Law. He did essentially the same thing with the likely equally famous OT “revenge payback” retaliation dictum about eyes and teeth with which we are all familiar that also appears in the same passage. Here is the Matthew account:

“You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.’ 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.” [Matthew 5:38-39]

As you will notice, the Lord was referencing a “slap” and not an incredibly fast and furious cheek-crushing left hook out of nowhere like the one Joe Frazier used against Muhammad Ali in their 1971 heavyweight title fight that knocked Ali across the ring and down on the canvas in the fourteenth round. Though it wasn’t a knockout, it likely would have been with most other opponents. Frazier won that fight. It was a devastating loss for Ali whom most thought was the better fighter and should have won.

So you see, a mere “slap” is not a bone-jarring left hook that can knock a 220-pound hyper-conditioned powerful professional boxer and one of the greatest fighters in history on his backside. Here is the Greek word and correct definition:

ῥαπίζω rhapízō (hrap-id’-zo); from a derivative of a primary ῥέπω rhépō (to let fall, “rap”); to slap:—smite (with the palm of the hand).

In the culture of that time, such a slap with the open hand (often relatively just a mere tap), was not meant to hurt another physically so much but emotionally. It was meant to wound one’s pride. It was meant to humiliate a man’s spirit. It was meant to illustrate one’s total contempt for another in that he would not expend any unnecessary energy or even have to use his fist against so weak and defenseless an opponent, one who has somehow apparently been compromised, debilitated, and possibly rejected by his immediate society for some such cultural offense. Sound familiar?

Getting back to the story of my first pastor when I first learned this truth, he brought out the teaching of the Lord so well I thought I was back there at that time and I could vividly imagine such a scene playing out. As he walked across the front of the church while preaching, expertly illustrating the passage, he said this “slap” was even akin to one taking out a handkerchief and lightly hitting the side of a man’s face with it. In other words, it seemed to have more effect the less it hurt physically. With that in mind, as he had set the stage, my former pastor then acted out that very thing: He took his handkerchief from his suit pocket, grabbed a corner and flayed it out before him as if “slapping’ an imaginary opponent with the flowing cloth. And he laughed slightly, acting out the indignity, then turned with a big smile to show us that such an affront has no effect on the Christian living for the Lord!

This was the point the Lord Jesus was making. He is telling us that offenses will come. There will be personal attacks. His followers will be treated badly and denigrated before men. Good reputations will suffer unjustly. Yet rather than retaliate He said His followers must do the opposite in order to deflate the conflict before it has the chance to take root. Rather than add more air to the growing ember or throw another log on the fire one must instead try to put the fire out and douse the flame. One must be willing to take the hit for possible positive spiritual purposes.

It called for an act of love and forgiveness. Rather than the religious legal precedent of demanding an eye for an eye or a tooth for a tooth, regardless of intent or accident and demanding retribution to even the score, one must instead allow the offended one his accusatory effort at wounding one’s dignity and thereby attempt to diffuse the situation. If done correctly the Lord’s follower will reveal to others a superior spiritual principle designed to lessen hate and hopefully eliminate hardness of heart. Our enemy may see that we are not his enemy.

Now, when the Lord Jesus—God Himself in the flesh—delivered this great teaching, He was before a gathered crowd in Jerusalem and particularly among the highbrow Israelite religious leaders who possessed both the upper hand and authoritative reputations to project and protect who knew the OT Word quite well. In His attempt to show them and all those there how they should respond to such affronts, they knew He was likely invoking passages such as the following:

(1) 1Kings 22:24 (the prophet Micaiah struck on the cheek)

(2) Job 16:10 (Job slapped on the cheek by his enemies)

(3) Isaiah 50:6 (a prophecy about the Lord giving His “cheeks to those who pluck out the beard”)

(4) Lamentations 3:30 (regarding a person who seeks the Lord, to “let him give his cheek to the smiter”)

(5) Micah 5:1 (“With a rod they will smite the judge of Israel on the cheek.”)

We see then, the bigger spiritual principle in the associated examples used by the Lord to drive the point home:

If anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, let him have your coat also. Whoever forces you to go one mile, go with him two. Give to him who asks of you, and do not turn away from him who wants to borrow from you.” [Matthew 5:40-42]

SCRIPTURAL LIMITATIONS OF THIS TEACHING

Notwithstanding the Lord’s clear instructions on a Christian’s necessary humility and doing one’s best to act with love and not retaliate regarding minor offenses, the Lord Jesus was not a classic pacifist in that He did not swear off all violence. He obviously never did any violence to anyone nor did He teach His disciples to partake of violent acts against other people unless it was to defend oneself or one’s own. One may recall that the Lord defended Himself often. He had a knack for slipping through a crowd to avoid physical attacks. He was not here to fight in the flesh but if He ever did He could whip all comers. This was a man’s Man we are talking about who commanded respect by His very presence.

Therefore, though a person must turn the other cheek he also must defend himself. If it takes violence to do so then so be it. One must therefore know that self-defense is perfectly permissible according to the Lord’s teachings. It may not appear that way on the surface or according to incorrect teachings by Christians who should know better and who paint with too broad a brush in this area, but it is true:

And He said to them, “When I sent you out without money belt and bag and sandals, you did not lack anything, did you?” They said, “No, nothing.” And He said to them, “But now, whoever has a money belt is to take it along, likewise also a bag, and whoever has no sword is to sell his coat and buy one. For I tell you that this which is written must be fulfilled in Me, ‘And He was numbered with transgressors’; for that which refers to Me has its fulfillment.” They said, “Lord, look, here are two swords.” And He said to them, “It is enough.” [Luke 22:35-38]

Maybe a Christian man is willing to go beyond the dual cheek slap of indignity and take it on the chin to a greater degree for some reason. But will he also allow his wife and children to be physically accosted and never defend them? One might ask, “What about physical persecution? The answer to this lies in the reason for such an attack. Is one being “persecuted” because someone wants to steal his stuff and he won’t allow it? Is one being “persecuted” because someone who enjoys perpetrating violence wants to inflict harm upon him (beat him up) just for the sake of doing so? OR IS ONE BEING PERSECUTED BECAUSE HE OR SHE IS AN EFFECTIVE WITNESS OF THE GOSPLE OF THE LORD JESUS? There’s the difference, simply and to the point. 

This is where real Christianity differs from other major religions, (including Unreal Christianity, of course), and especially the other two monotheistic religions which arose in the Middle East. These two are historically very violent and such violence is used primarily against anyone who may not belong to their religion or culture. Both look down upon those who don’t belong to their particular club and refer to them as “infidels” or even “cattle.” It’s in their “holy” books (not the OT). It is in part why their remains so much violence in the world. They have no problem using violence to gain what they want or inflicting violence on others if it furthers their cause and eliminates or debilitates the opposition. One might recall that the vast majority of violent persecution inflicted upon the early first-century Community of the Lord was done so by unbelieving Israelites.  

EVIL MUST BE DEALT WITH

But if anyone thinks a Christian should simply let someone break into his home and steal his stuff such a person would not only be mistaken but an absolute moron. What if someone tried to hurt one’s children? Is one just supposed to stand there and let it happen? What if someone did hurt one’s child? Would one “turn the other cheek” and allow that person to hurt one’s child again?

Was not the entire point of the Law of Moses to bring swift retaliation against homegrown unrepentant evil people wreaking havoc upon the Lord’s planned holy and peaceful community so those who wanted to live a good life of peace and joy could do so? For historical reference, God stated exactly what would happen to His people based on their obedience or their disobedience. They would either be greatly blessed or terribly cursed. It is all stated very clearly in Deuteronomy Chapter 28.

God spelled it all out in the Law. He identified sin. He defined it. And He set up the correct punishment for those who engaged in it. His desire was to create a pure and holy people who could live in peace and joy in full loving relationship with Him but as it turned out there were not very many among His people who wanted the same thing. In fact, there was only a very small believing and holy Remnant throughout Hebrew history that desired to live peaceably in this world, strive for holiness and righteousness, love one another, and be close to God. The majority, though, went their own way. They essentially told God to hell with it. And that’s where one would assume they ended up.

THE ROMAN EMPIRE

Christian historians have pointed out that the creation and timing of the first-century Roman Empire somehow worked out perfectly for the relatively easy and rapid spread of the Gospel message. For the first time in world history a great empire arose with the best engineers and hardiest builders who created a vast network of extremely well-built stone roads, some of which still exist to this day. This was the genesis of the first national highway system on a massive scale. It included the construction of state-of-the-art bridges that could span any great ravine or canyon regardless of depth or width. The road builders let nothing stop them. Mile after mile after mile was laid down. They overcame nature at every turn. They often had to invent on the fly. They did all of this in a comparatively brief period, just in time for the Gospel messengers.

Was this a mere coincidence? Or is it possible that God Himself had a hand in it? If so it meant that He somehow assisted in the process which meant that even the Roman Empire obeyed Him. Remember the prophecy concerning the coming Messiah being born in Bethlehem? And that Joseph and Mary only went there due to Roman decree? When one thinks about this he or she begins to notice a lot of other “coincidences.” And then one concludes correctly that God used the Romans for His own purposes.

He also used the Romans for the purposes of keeping His insistently wayward people together. If it wasn’t for Rome the nation of Israelites would have blown themselves apart through their many political factions, religious parties, and constant infighting. Since the majority rejected the benevolent unifying force of God, God had to raise up a unifying force from without called Rome (not so benevolent but quite effective). Unfortunately, God also had to use Rome for the judgment of His wayward people.

All of this means, of course, that He is never unprepared, He is never without resources, He always plans for the future, He is always on time, and He always has a legitimate purpose.

A WRETCHED END

I will close this article in just a bit with a predictive parable explaining exactly the national judgment that would ensue in the very end including the destruction of the temple and Jerusalem itself in 70AD. He taught that particular predictive parable in the temple on the very day He engaged in the following:

Then they came to Jerusalem. And He entered the temple and began to drive out those who were buying and selling in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who were selling doves; and He would not permit anyone to carry merchandise through the temple. And He began to teach and say to them, “Is it not written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations’? But you have made it a robbers’ den.” The chief priests and the scribes heard this, and began seeking how to destroy Him; for they were afraid of Him, for the whole crowd was astonished at His teaching. [Mark 11:15-18]

Some may see this temple cleansing as a violent act which reveals exactly what happened to His own people a mere generation later. It proves the Lord was willing to do exactly what must be done though it was the final straw that inflamed His religious money-loving haters to render unto Him the fullness of their wrath just four days later. In keeping with His teachings of love and sacrifice, however, He would lay down His life and never fight back against His hateful accusers at that time. He submitted Himself first to the Father but also, as the Sacrifice Lamb, to the scurrilous judgment and temporal authority of His haters though for a much higher spiritual purpose. It is the same reason there must be Christian persecution. It is why real Christians not only allow the affront of one cheek being slapped but turn the other cheek as well.

But the story does not end there. In the end the Lord proves He is no eternal pacifist. Evil must be dealt with. If not, there is no protection or justice for the righteous. And He was the only one worthy to deal with it properly. He is the only eternal righteous Judge who knows the thoughts and intents of all hearts.

Judgment had to come. One might remember, though, that the Lord had already provided a place of safety for His followers—the believing Remnant of Israelites—to escape to and thus miss the coming wrath. He had told them what signs to watch for. But His wayward unrepentant people had no clue of this due to their rejection of their only Savior, their love of this world and of money, and their resultant path of darkness. By this they had essentially begged for judgment as they had done throughout their history though in their twisted thinking they believed themselves to be bulletproof. They were the chosen. They had God on their side. Many centuries of rebellion and evil had coalesced in that final generation. Most of them never saw it coming.

They had never learned nor ever had the desire to turn the other cheek.

“Listen to another parable. There was a landowner who planted a vineyard and put a wall around it and dug a wine press in it, and built a tower, and rented it out to vine-growers and went on a journey. When the harvest time approached, he sent his slaves to the vine-growers to receive his produce. The vine-growers took his slaves and beat one, and killed another, and stoned a third.

“Again he sent another group of slaves larger than the first; and they did the same thing to them. But afterward he sent his son to them, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’ But when the vine-growers saw the son, they said among themselves, ‘This is the heir; come, let us kill him and seize his inheritance.’ They took him, and threw him out of the vineyard and killed him.

“Therefore when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those vine-growers?” They said to Him, “He will bring those wretches to a wretched end, and will rent out the vineyard to other vine-growers who will pay him the proceeds at the proper seasons.” [Matthew 21:33-41][1]

© 2023 by RJ Dawson. All Rights Reserved.

[1] Unless otherwise noted all Scriptures are taken from the New American Standard Bible, © 1960, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.