could you please explain more?
Certainly my friend!
If you consider the two excerpts that were presented by you and KFC, one might conclude that Jesus was a hypocrite at best or worse a schizophrenic.
If you consider KFC's reference to Matt 5 one might conclude that Christians are to become a doormat to the world if you adhere to the literal text vs. considering the importance of the context here.
As KFC mentions Jesus is clearly referencing the Torah. However I disagree with her understanding of the context of Torah.
These laws are not saying that if someone happens slaps you on the right cheek to say, "Thank you sir, may I have another."
Let's consider the passage in Matt 5.
38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘AN EYE FOR AN EYE, AND A TOOTH FOR A TOOTH.’ 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. 40 “If anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, let him have your coat also. 41 “Whoever forces you to go one mile, go with him two.
All four of these verses are under the context of legal retribution in the Torah. Please refer to the following Torah passages: Ex 21:12-36, Lev 24:17-23, Deut 19:14-21.
The context that I see from the Torah references is that once I have 'wronged' someone (even if they are evil) that I am to give him measure for measure (the 'value' of eye for an eye to which the Rabbis agree vs the literal). Jesus is saying not to just do measure for measure but to go beyond that to show true repentance for the 'offence' to someone by inflicting more of a loss on oneself.
This supports the notion of the context of what you provided:
There is no law about protecting ones self after turning the cheek one time.
You are right there is NO law about protecting yourself rather on the contrary. There are several laws that support the contrary!
even Christ blew his stack at the money changers at the temple. so if Christ can blow it once so can a Christian.
Christ blew his stack at the money changers because these were most likely Levites who knew better. These were the priests that were to have studied the Torah and to be advocating fairness and justice. These priests had forgotten the primary purpose for the Temple. I believe it is Josephus that goes into depth of the crookedness of the money changers.
One example was that a man brought his lamb to be offered as a sacrifice in the Temple. The overseeing priest would tell the man that his lamb was not acceptable and would offer to sell him an ‘acceptable’ lamb for a few shekels more in addition to the ‘trade in’ lamb. Then the overseeing priest would have a designated servant/herdsman that worked under him take that lamb and literally walk the lamb around the outside wall of the temple. This would be long enough so that by the time that the servant returned with the so called unacceptable lamb that the previous owner had already entered the temple and would not see the servant return with his ‘defected’ lamb. The priest would then sell this man’s lamb as an acceptable lamb to the next sucker. (this is my retelling as I didn’t have the ability to quote).
I would equate this scenario to that of a righteous police taking names of all the officers willingly involved in corrupt dealings.
I hope that sufficiently clarifies for you.
Shalom aleichem
