The Way
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. Matthew 5:39 NASB
Resist – “The command ‘do not resist evil’ (5:39) is not to be taken simply to refer to personal hostilities or village-level animosity. The word ‘resist’ is antistenai, almost a technical term for revolutionary resistance of a specifically military variety. Taken in this sense, the command draws out the implication of a good deal of the sermon so far. The way forward for Israel is not the way of violent resistance, . . . but the different, oblique way of creative non-violent resistance.” “Love and mercy, as practiced codes of living, are to characterize Israel as the true people of the creator god. People like that are the ones he will vindicate when he comes in his kingdom. Forgiveness is to be the hallmark of all social relationships.”[1]
Is Wright right? Are we to be defined by forgiveness? Are we to turn the other cheek as a radical statement of a different way of living? Do you believe that Yeshua was calling Israel and all those bound to Israel to follow this path, the path of mercy, hesed and a refusal to claim vengeance?
It seems hard to deny Wright’s analysis, doesn’t it? Yet look at what we have done. Are we ready to forgive those who for one reason or another think we have become legalists in our fervent return to Torah? Are we ready to extend the hand of kindness to those who question our most sacred doctrines like the Trinity or personal salvation? Or, on the other hand, are we who have found the Hebraic meaning so much more potent ready to offer shalom to our brother and sisters who still cling to the traditions? Are we really a people of forgiveness or do we still harbor the attitude of “I’m right – You’re wrong.”
Forgiveness does not mean overlooking differences. Did YHVH overlook your sins when He forgave. Of course not. He knew them intimately, just as you did. He knew every twinge of shame, every morsel of self-justification, every ounce of rebellion. He knew—and He forgave by accepting all of it and loving you anyway. His was forgiveness born from intimacy. Is yours? Do you forgive because you have taken the burden on yourself, because you have opened the window to a broken heart and let the darkness out? Or are you still fighting for your rights?
Topical Index: forgiveness, resist, antistenai, Matthew 5:39
[1] N. T. Wright, Jesus and the Victory of God, pp. 290-291.
AT GOD’S TABLE SUFFERS CYBER ATTACK
You might have noticed that the web site has been down quite a few times in the last couple of weeks. We have been attacked and in the process, the site has crashed. Right now we are taking steps for higher security and possibly rebuilding the site. The tribulations of cyber communication. But what this means is that you can help. If you discover that the site is down, please send an email to Mark Randall at
torahtalkonline@gmail.com
This way he will know that the site is compromised. Since he and I do not monitor it 24 hours a day, you can help us with this until we get things improved. That will just take time and money, but we will get it done.
Thanks.
Ugh. Cyber attacks. I know it’s an additional cost, but I have used Sucuri on my sites to monitor them and repair them. I think managewp also monitors but it doesn’t help secure and clean. Interesting case study for today’s Word! 🙂
In this broken world, forgiveness IS fellowship for me! And, surely, it has to be how G-d fellowships with me. Forgiveness is first. Which means, basically, that I have to come contrite; not only to Him, but to everybody else, too! My fracture and awfulness stand in the way like porcupine quills; I am abrasive and defensive and just plain callous and ignorant pretty much all the time. Because I have this dim glimmer that I am, anytime anybody is then kind enough to endure me anyway, I pretty much assume that they are forgiving me just about everything I am to get close to me. I find myself incredibly grateful these days if anybody happens to manage that! I need constant forgiveness. Surely everybody else does the same?
Thanks for telling us about the cyber trouble. Now I know how to pray. I am grateful anybody is getting through at all! including Skip! May order prevail over chaos. And, thanks everybody for forgiving me pretty much all the time! I am in everybody’s debt. It keeps me sorry and grateful. To everybody in my life! Hurray for forgiveness! It is not optional!
“His was forgiveness born from intimacy”-Skip. I take this to mean that He knew us intimately, that we make mistakes due to circumstances when our choices were in error, through ignorance and unintentional.
Whereas, some folks do not bother to know us as an individual, far from intimately, but will choose to hurt and oppress.
In your case, you have a contrite heart, seeking forgiveness for whatever you thought was offensive, but to me, you were simply voicing your experiences which could be a release for your emotions which is not wrong, but beneficial to some. There! I hope you feel much better 😉 Don’t worry too much what some may presume. Love and blessings. Shalom!
“The way forward for Israel is not the way of violent resistance, . . . but the different, oblique way of creative non-violent resistance.” And that non-violent resistance is not to accept insults, as I have learnt from a rabbi recently, but that we have the right to defend and resist/correct an insult, or offense. We are not to allow others to hurt us physically not emotionally, BUT, turning the other cheek means not to respond to slander in kind! We are commanded to resist evil. That IS liberating.
To be slapped on the right cheek would be interpreted more as an insulting act of contempt than a violent physical attack, but is more damaging/hurting than a physical attack.
In no sense does v. 39 require us to subject themselves or others to physical danger or abuse.
Should we mandate pacifism at all costs? Why do we deem it right to defend others but not ourselves?
Shalom.
That sounds right, Ester. I am not fit to defend others from evil if I am not defending myself, first. To let evil have its way with me is silent acquisance, which it must have to prosper. Evil ‘needs’ good to stand by and do nothing. If it meets with a resounding “No! That’s WRONG!” then it has to answer for itself. Cowardice, I have learned to my sorrow, is not patience, and not standing up to evil is not tolerance: it is agreement with the sons of Belial. There is a fine line between “creative non-resistance” and simply letting evil flourish because we stood by and did nothing. And it starts with us. Evil needs to think twice before it messes with me, or those around me. We need to learn how to make evil answer for itself, which it never can, as it never can make sense, even to those who do it. There lies its weakness, and we must learn how to call it out. Thank you for your wisdom. I am trying to learn!
Laurita, I am so glad we are learning to be actively involved as co-workers with YHWH, and not rely on Him to do what is within our ability to do first.
Passivity applies to someone who accepts the actions or opinions of others without speaking up, and then living to regret it when harm has been done, with the attitude that it’s “not my business”.
‘Judging’ in Hebraic perspective is to teach. We should have gone beyond, as you have, forgiving but also having the knowledge that repentance is genuine is most rewarding. Love to you!
Seems there is some smushing together of concepts here. Forgiveness is not about letting people get by with stuff. Forgiveness is not about you. It is about me. It is me letting go of offense and my perceived right to punish you by allowing YHVH to judge righteously. Harboring unforgiveness damages me and my relationship with my God. (But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.) Does that mean I can’t address wrongs done to me or others? If I allow wrong, where is the mercy/chesed in that? Mercy cannot exist without justice. And justice alone precludes forgiveness. Melchi’zedek. King-Priest. Righteous Judge.
“creative non-violent resistance” looks like what against scud missiles?