What exactly is the meaning of "turn the other cheek"?

[Geist]

It seems like a relatively straightforward concept, but I was thinking of differing interpretations, and the one that most stood out to me was that after being struck turning the other cheek could be construed not as an act of submission, but of defiance, essentially daring your aggressor to strike again.

Has anyone else ever tried to interpret this? What did you come up with?

 

[WoundedIcon]

Being popped on the face like that back then was interpreted as an insult, not a physical assault. It really just means that if someone insults you, don’t fight back with your own insults.

 

[PennyinCanada]

I think it is saying not to strike back in like fashion.
Scripture says elsewhere to love your enemies and do good to those who hate you, which is even harder than holding your temper when you get ‘struck’. Of course that can apply to many things, not just physical slapping.
Christianity is not easy, it certainly involves crucifying oneself to be more like Christ.

An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth in the OT was to hold back taking revenge on someone who injured you in some way. Our natural inclination is that when someone hurts us, we get mad and want them to pay 10 fold. No. Christ made it even more difficult by telling us to love our enemies. How can we live without grace and the sacraments?? We can’t do it.

 

[White_Peony]

My favorite example of turning the other cheek is when Mother Teresa walked into a bakery and asked for some stale bread for the small, starving child in her arms. The baker spat in Mother Teresa’s face. Without even wiping the spittle off her cheek or giving a cold look, she said, “Thank you for the gift. Now how about some bread for the child?”

Turning the other cheek is not reacting in an unChrist-like manner when humiliated.

 

[PennyinCanada]

My favorite example of turning the other cheek is when Mother Teresa walked into a bakery and asked for some stale bread for the small, starving child in her arms. The baker spat in Mother Teresa’s face. Without even wiping the spittle off her cheek or giving a cold look, she said, “Thank you for the gift. Now how about some bread for the child?”

Turning the other cheek is not reacting in an unChrist-like manner when humiliated.

What an amazing woman. May she pray for us!

 

[Don_Jackson]

It seems like a relatively straightforward concept, but I was thinking of differing interpretations, and the one that most stood out to me was that after being struck turning the other cheek could be construed not as an act of submission, but of defiance, essentially daring your aggressor to strike again.

Has anyone else ever tried to interpret this? What did you come up with?

Being slapped, kicked, stomped on, even killed is no biggy, We all have to physically die to live forever. Therefore, I am reminded of Matthew 10:28 - "And do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather, be afraid of the one who can destroy both soul and body in Gehenna."

 

[austenbosten]

I always took it as learn to love and forgive others. If a man insults you, do not seek vengeance…just ‘turn your cheek’ and move on and pray for that man.

Remember Jesus told His Disciples to carry swords and was kicking over tables in chairs in furious anger at the money-changers in the temple, so He was not arguing pacifism; but merely do not become bitter and vengeful if someone wrongs you. A man gives you the bird…don’t be filled with anger and seek to hunt him down and punish him for his wickedness…merely turn your cheek and let God sort them out.

Vengeance is Mine saith the Lord

 

[Crumpy]

It seems like a relatively straightforward concept, but I was thinking of differing interpretations, and the one that most stood out to me was that after being struck turning the other cheek could be construed not as an act of submission, but of defiance, essentially daring your aggressor to strike again.

Has anyone else ever tried to interpret this? What did you come up with?

 

[PeterGStanley]

How about how saying a kind word or action to one person can go a long way and affect many others - something as simple as Good Morning or God bless you.Or as above Mother Teresa’s reaction - that one response still reverberates even on this page and affects many. The same thing happens with negative words and actions and can affect many in ways we would not think of.By turning the other cheek negative words and actions can be stopped and not past on to others and you break the chain. I’ve always seen it this way when hearing these particular words from Jesus - not as an act of submission or a challenge .

May you all have a great day and God bless all of you.

 

[TheAdvocate]

Here is the best interpretation of the passage I’ve heard.

Notice that Jesus specifically said, “If someone strikes you on your right cheek.” That is because in order to strike someone in the face on their right cheek, that would mean that you used the back of your hand, the more painful way. This was the way that someone superior would hit his inferior, such as a master would hit a slave, or a husband his wife. The other way to slap someone was with your palm; this is how one would strike an equal. So when Jesus says, “Turn the other cheek,” the left cheek, what he is saying is, invite them to hit you with the palm, in other words, telling them, “If you’re going to hit me again, hit me like an equal.”

 

[Matt_Collins]

I have always believed that this passage is often used to justify both cowardice and pacifism.

This admonition of Our Lord is something that applies on a personal level. I certainly am free to make the choice to turn the other cheek in response to an insult or attack from an aggressor, as Our Lord did. But I dont have the right, much less the obligation, to make that choice for others. Especially not for those who have been put under my care and protection.

The father of a family, a police officer, a sodlier, or the president of a country all have the obligation to defend those under their care and protection. This distinction is essential for us to understand if we are going to apply Our Lord’s teachings properly.

Taking one of Our Lord’s teachings and applying it in a vacuum, as if He never taught anything else related to it, is a recipe for heresy, and has always been a temptation (tactic?!) of cowards, communists, and other enemies of the Church.