Is it a sin for Christians to defend themselves? We are supposed to turn the other cheek right? Fighting fire with fire, retaliation, or vengeance is more in line with what Jesus said in Matt 5:38-42 when he said to “turn the other cheek”. Defending one’s self both from slander as well as physical assault is fine. Jesus even told his disciples to two take swords with them for the time after his ascension (Luke 22:35-38). Through the bible God had Israel go to war to defend themselves, Jesus didn’t change that.
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An Eye for an Eye vs Turn the Other Cheek
In Leviticus 24:19-20, Exodus 21:23-24, and Deuteronomy 19:21, there is a system where a person can return an injury for an equal injury from another person, often referenced as “an eye for an eye”. This seems like the opposite of what Jesus said in Matthew 5:38-48 about turning the other cheek and loving your enemy. Did Jesus break the law?
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