"If the Jews, as subjects of Rome, did not comply with a Roman soldier’s requests for anything from a drink of water to handing over personal property, a swift backhand to the right cheek was common. But why would Jesus instruct His followers to offer the left cheek as well?
Paul T. Penley explains in “Turning the Other Cheek’: Jesus’ Pea…
"If the Jews, as subjects of Rome, did not comply with a Roman soldier’s requests for anything from a drink of water to handing over personal property, a swift backhand to the right cheek was common. But why would Jesus instruct His followers to offer the left cheek as well?
Paul T. Penley explains in “Turning the Other Cheek’: Jesus’ Peaceful Plan to Challenge Injustice,” “Roman soldiers tended to be right-handed. When they struck an equal with a fist, it came from the right and made contact with the left side of the face.
When they struck an inferior person, they swung with the back of their right hand making contact with the right cheek. In a Mediterranean culture that made clear distinctions between classes, Roman soldiers backhanded their subjects to make a point. Jews were second-class.” The Roman slap was an insult to the Jews’ personal dignity."
Really good! Jesus was not weak, did not practice tolerance of anything and everything. To know him we not only need to read the Word, but to understand what his words meant in that time. I need to study more!
He turned over the tables of the money changers in the temple. Evil. Called out the wicked.
He certainly had an overabundance of patience with His people and in particular His disciples. And now His Church. God CANNOT tolerate sin.
Christ is able to show His strength when we are weak. Christ never abuses his strength and never uses his unlimited strength unjustly. We are not called to tolerate evil. Not at all.
I love these deeper insights into these stories that give us expressions such as, "Turn the other cheek." With a fuller understanding of the context, we see that Jesus was actually advising that we stand our ground, not pathetically "turn the other cheek" and let bygones be bygones, and asking or allowing ourselves to slapped again...Which is, I'd guess, how most "understand" Jesus's teaching here. No, be bold!
One of the most transformative explanations for me of the Beatitude, "The 'meek' shall inherit the earth," was the explanation of the word "meek." In the Aramaic, the language Jesus spoke, that word did not have the meaning we ascribe to it in English or via translation into the Greek.
One of its many meanings included its allusion to being 𝒕𝒆𝒂𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒃𝒍𝒆, flexible. When I put that meaning into the Beatitude, "And the 𝒕𝒆𝒂𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒃𝒍𝒆 shall inherit the earth (the land), that resonated for me. Of course, Jesus would say that! Not the shy and retiring inheriting the land, but those who are teachable, open, flexible...Indeed.
But God does not like proud people. Thus the double sin for Pride Week, not to mention that they absconded with the rainbow which is another Biblical symbol of godly promise.
This dovetails nicely to Jesus' amplification of his Sermon on the Mount where he details what loving your enemies looks like (it is in Matthew chapter 5 verses 38-48 - Mt5:38-48 for the people who might be wondering about the bible abbreviation structure) He tells us WHY we should do it and why He allows goodness to fall on both the good and evil. It is jam packed with answers! Luke 6:27-35 talks of turning the cheek, the value of all the cheek turning to the Christian and is where we get the "Do unto others as we would have others do unto us" saying. (any curious readers?: Luke is the third book in the New Testament-- Matthew, Mark then Luke which is one of the 4 Gospel books(Gospel loosely meaning good news about Christ and what he did for us).
Trigger warning (smirk): Tangentially, there is another verse out there about (as a Christ follower) being a good slave. That will enrage people these days. Makes me laugh thinking of it.
"If the Jews, as subjects of Rome, did not comply with a Roman soldier’s requests for anything from a drink of water to handing over personal property, a swift backhand to the right cheek was common. But why would Jesus instruct His followers to offer the left cheek as well?
Paul T. Penley explains in “Turning the Other Cheek’: Jesus’ Peaceful Plan to Challenge Injustice,” “Roman soldiers tended to be right-handed. When they struck an equal with a fist, it came from the right and made contact with the left side of the face.
When they struck an inferior person, they swung with the back of their right hand making contact with the right cheek. In a Mediterranean culture that made clear distinctions between classes, Roman soldiers backhanded their subjects to make a point. Jews were second-class.” The Roman slap was an insult to the Jews’ personal dignity."
https://www.biblestudytools.com/bible-study/topical-studies/what-does-it-really-mean-to-turn-the-other-cheek.html
Really good! Jesus was not weak, did not practice tolerance of anything and everything. To know him we not only need to read the Word, but to understand what his words meant in that time. I need to study more!
He turned over the tables of the money changers in the temple. Evil. Called out the wicked.
He certainly had an overabundance of patience with His people and in particular His disciples. And now His Church. God CANNOT tolerate sin.
Christ is able to show His strength when we are weak. Christ never abuses his strength and never uses his unlimited strength unjustly. We are not called to tolerate evil. Not at all.
Avoid all appearances of evil
"If you have a cloak sell it and buy a sword".
I'm sure someone will place that in proper context. Love this C&C community!
Then Jesus said to him, “Put your sword back into its place. For all who take the sword will perish by the sword."
I love these deeper insights into these stories that give us expressions such as, "Turn the other cheek." With a fuller understanding of the context, we see that Jesus was actually advising that we stand our ground, not pathetically "turn the other cheek" and let bygones be bygones, and asking or allowing ourselves to slapped again...Which is, I'd guess, how most "understand" Jesus's teaching here. No, be bold!
One of the most transformative explanations for me of the Beatitude, "The 'meek' shall inherit the earth," was the explanation of the word "meek." In the Aramaic, the language Jesus spoke, that word did not have the meaning we ascribe to it in English or via translation into the Greek.
One of its many meanings included its allusion to being 𝒕𝒆𝒂𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒃𝒍𝒆, flexible. When I put that meaning into the Beatitude, "And the 𝒕𝒆𝒂𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒃𝒍𝒆 shall inherit the earth (the land), that resonated for me. Of course, Jesus would say that! Not the shy and retiring inheriting the land, but those who are teachable, open, flexible...Indeed.
Beautifully worded - thank you for enlightening us, "She"!
But God does not like proud people. Thus the double sin for Pride Week, not to mention that they absconded with the rainbow which is another Biblical symbol of godly promise.
This dovetails nicely to Jesus' amplification of his Sermon on the Mount where he details what loving your enemies looks like (it is in Matthew chapter 5 verses 38-48 - Mt5:38-48 for the people who might be wondering about the bible abbreviation structure) He tells us WHY we should do it and why He allows goodness to fall on both the good and evil. It is jam packed with answers! Luke 6:27-35 talks of turning the cheek, the value of all the cheek turning to the Christian and is where we get the "Do unto others as we would have others do unto us" saying. (any curious readers?: Luke is the third book in the New Testament-- Matthew, Mark then Luke which is one of the 4 Gospel books(Gospel loosely meaning good news about Christ and what he did for us).
Trigger warning (smirk): Tangentially, there is another verse out there about (as a Christ follower) being a good slave. That will enrage people these days. Makes me laugh thinking of it.
Oooo, speaking of amplification and Jesus......
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s6WzSH9-9pw Parks is a Florida boy so there you go. Enjoy.
And of that is not enough for you:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e9lKTj2pk90
Kinda Florida funky.
Later Jay