Take up the sword vs. turn the other cheek

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benjoy07

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This is the most appropriate forum I could think of for asking this question. I’m sure this has been asked in the past and I guess it’s a very basic question, so any links to other threads would be very much appreciated as well.

What does the Catholic Church teach on or how does it interpret taking up the sword and turning the other cheek?
 
Hi.

I’m not sure I fully understand your question. I’ll try to answer it as I understand it.

Jesus always taught us to turn the other cheek. Even when he was being arrested and Peter drew out his sword to cut the high priest’s servants ear, “Jesus said, Put your sword back where it belongs. All who use swords are destroyed by swords.” Matthew 26:52

The only sword we should take up is the sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God to fight against temptations.

“And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints…” Ephesians 6:10-18

I hope this helps.👍
 
@jsaldar concerning the sword, I was referring to Luke 22:36. Thank you for your reply.
 
Very good. Now I have the same question you have. :cool:

I hope somebody can really answer it.
 
My best guess is Jesus didn’t mean to be taken literally. That’s why in Lk 22:38, when the disciples actually went and found swords, Jesus kinda gave up and said “it is enough!”… I don’t know really… Just a guess…
 
Excellent Question… I’ve always pondered it. Because I know we’re supposed to turn the other cheek, but what about the Bible verses from Mt 10(34-46)

34 “Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. 35 For I have come to turn

“‘a man against his father,
a daughter against her mother,
a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law—
36 a man’s enemies will be the members of his own household.’[c]

Where do we draw the line in defending our faith and what we believe in? Does this justify the crusades, because without fighting, there is a good chance we’d be a Muslim world…
 
I would like to get into this deeper, but we have to look in context about what Jesus was talking about.

I know there were Roman laws regarding the treatment of slaves. A slave owner could only strike a slave once, could not strip a slaves of the clothing etc… Hence the turn the other cheek, give the shirt along with the cloak etc…

I only have a brief moment, but I will be back to continue.
 
Turn the other cheek whenever it is aimed at you. Defend God and his people with a passion.

Godspeed,
teenphilo
 
@Bookcat that was a good read, thank you, and very relevant. I guess the just war doctrine could be applicable to individual differences as well, at keast to some extent.
 
Bear in mind that the “turn the other cheek” passage refers to insults, not to physical attack (like a mugging). That passage starts out “…if someone strikes you on the right cheek…”, and if you stop to analyze that, the only way a right-handed person can strike someone else on the right cheek is to give him/her a back-handed slap. In the culture of that day, a back-handed slap was a gesture of insult, not a physical assault.

DaveBj
 
The Book of Revelation speaks about the rider of a horse with a sword.

**Then I saw the heavens opened, and there was a white horse; its rider was (called) “Faithful and True.” He judges and wages war in righteousness. … Out of his mouth came a sharp sword to strike the nations. He will rule them with an iron rod, and he himself will tread out in the wine press the wine of the fury and wrath of God the almighty. He has a name written on his cloak and on his thigh, “King of kings and Lord of lords.”
** (Revelation 19:11,15-16)

The sword clearly comes out of the mouth of Jesus in Revelation. Contrast this with what happens in the Garden of garden of Gethsemane on the night Jesus was betrayed.

Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it, struck the high priest’s slave, and cut off his right ear. The slave’s name was Malchus. Jesus said to Peter, “Put your sword into its scabbard. Shall I not drink the cup that the Father gave me?” (John 18:10-11)

Any instant now, that guy will be here to tell us that the Gospel of John and Revelation were written by two different John’s. Putting that aside for a minute and assuming that they are written by the same author, there is a theme to imagery of the sword here.

The sword is clearly the word of God.

-Tim-
 
Okay, I read the link about “Just War” posted above… But…

What happens when two nations that have Catholic citizens decide to fight each other? Are Catholics really allowed to take up arms against their spiritual brothers? An example of this is World War II…

Also, in World War II, Germany decided to call war against the US… Because the German government itself was the one to call war, did that make it valid? Was it really the duty of a Catholic to defend his gravely sinful nation?

(Honest questions…)
 
djd83 said:
Okay, I read the link about “Just War” posted above… But…

What happens when two nations that have Catholic citizens decide to fight each other? Are Catholics really allowed to take up arms against their spiritual brothers? An example of this is World War II…

Also, in World War II, Germany decided to call war against the US… Because the German government itself was the one to call war, did that make it valid? Was it really the duty of a Catholic to defend his gravely sinful nation?

(Honest questions…)
Click to expand...
Until the day when Jesus comes again and peace reigns on earth, Catholics have a moral responsibility to stop a nation which exterminates people based on race without regard to the religious makeup of that nation.

-Tim-
 
When Jesus told his discples to turn the other cheek,he meant that we should accept insults and offences directed at ourselves,especially if they are done because of our faith in him. But he did not altogether forbid us from using force to resist violence against ourselves,and certainly not against others. He does not want all of us to be martyrs or left defenseless,and we certainly should not leave other people to be unjustly violated,unless they accept it in honor of Jesus. It is alright for individuals who are willing to be suffer for Jesus’ sake to do so,but we also have a responsibility to protect others from harm,especially parents,and persons in law enforcement and the military. In none of the saints’ visions of Jesus has he condemned all violent behavior and war. It is a tenet of natural law that we have a right to resist violence with force.
 
TimothyH said:
Until the day when Jesus comes again and peace reigns on earth, Catholics have a moral responsibility to stop a nation which exterminates people based on race without regard to the religious makeup of that nation.

-Tim-
Click to expand...
So… The German Catholics who fought in WWII were wrong?

I wish someone from within the Church clergy would tell the people which wars are just, and which side to fight on…

(I’m not trying to be a troll…Just really don’t like seeing Brothers fighting Brothers…)
 
bargio said:
Excellent Question… I’ve always pondered it. Because I know we’re supposed to turn the other cheek, but what about the Bible verses from Mt 10(34-46)

34 “Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. 35 For I have come to turn

“‘a man against his father,
a daughter against her mother,
a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law—
36 a man’s enemies will be the members of his own household.’[c]

Where do we draw the line in defending our faith and what we believe in? Does this justify the crusades, because without fighting, there is a good chance we’d be a Muslim world…
Click to expand...
It is my interpretation that Jesus said this as a revelation for all, that there would be religious wars that would be fought for His name and against His name. He knows our violent tendencies.
 
djd83 said:
So… The German Catholics who fought in WWII were wrong?

I wish someone from within the Church clergy would tell the people which wars are just, and which side to fight on…

(I’m not trying to be a troll…Just really don’t like seeing Brothers fighting Brothers…)
Click to expand...
I know this thread is a couple months old, but I was searching for answers to the question posted by the TC. I noticed nobody answered your question however. If you’re still around, I can answer it for you.

Yes, the German Catholics who fought for Nazi Germany were wrong:
*CCC 2313
Non-combatants, wounded soldiers, and prisoners must be respected and treated humanely.
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Actions deliberately contrary to the law of nations and to its universal principles are crimes, as are the orders that command such actions. Blind obedience does not suffice to excuse those who carry them out. Thus the extermination of a people, nation, or ethnic minority must be condemned as a mortal sin. One is morally bound to resist orders that command genocide.*
Click to expand...
 
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