Matthew 38:5 and following. TV’s old comic poet laureate Nipsey Russell had an observation about this; and it’s somewhat on point: “I’ve been studying brotherhood; and the lesson I learned is this: He who turns the other cheek gets hit with the other fist.” Interestingly, Matthew’s gospel almost makes the statement itself; and it would have been understood immediately by its original audience.Most of the world is right-handed. If someone strikes you with the right hand on your right cheek, he will in most cases strike you with the back of his hand — still considered an insult to this day in many parts of the world; and the genesis behind the idiom “to give [someone] the back of your hand.” So if you are struck on the right cheek by another’s right hand and you offer him your left cheek, you are actually setting yourself up for a right cross on the jaw. Now, Christ never said you shouldn’t resist evil, neither did St. Paul or any other of the letter writers. When they did say was that you should not resist evil directed at you. Retaliation, in other words, is an Old Testament concept, superseded by Christ’s teaching in the New Testament.
“An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth” might better be summed up as let the punishment fit the crime. If someone knocks out your tooth, they shouldn’t be executed. In my opinion, that is the meaning of the passage and fits better with Christ’s New Testament teachings.
Templo S.U.D. over 9 years ago
But didn’t Christ say to turn the other cheek? Not to mention you must forgive 77 times.
She Mc over 9 years ago
Made a few enemies on your way thru life then !!!
K M over 9 years ago
Matthew 38:5 and following. TV’s old comic poet laureate Nipsey Russell had an observation about this; and it’s somewhat on point: “I’ve been studying brotherhood; and the lesson I learned is this: He who turns the other cheek gets hit with the other fist.” Interestingly, Matthew’s gospel almost makes the statement itself; and it would have been understood immediately by its original audience.Most of the world is right-handed. If someone strikes you with the right hand on your right cheek, he will in most cases strike you with the back of his hand — still considered an insult to this day in many parts of the world; and the genesis behind the idiom “to give [someone] the back of your hand.” So if you are struck on the right cheek by another’s right hand and you offer him your left cheek, you are actually setting yourself up for a right cross on the jaw. Now, Christ never said you shouldn’t resist evil, neither did St. Paul or any other of the letter writers. When they did say was that you should not resist evil directed at you. Retaliation, in other words, is an Old Testament concept, superseded by Christ’s teaching in the New Testament.
Saucy1121 Premium Member over 9 years ago
“An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth” might better be summed up as let the punishment fit the crime. If someone knocks out your tooth, they shouldn’t be executed. In my opinion, that is the meaning of the passage and fits better with Christ’s New Testament teachings.