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To: Korth
Christ did not intend this to be taken literally. It was hyperbole.

The context affirms such. In that same context he said cut off your hands and pluck out your eyes if you sin. We all sin (Rom. 3). If literal, Christianity would be full of blind cripples. Yet the body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, and we are not to harm that temple.

To prove that Jesus was speaking in exaggerated tones, cf his response to being slapped. (John 18:22) Jesus objected to being slapped, proving that Mt. 5:39 was figurative.

To further prove Jesus was employing hyperbole, cf Paul's response to being slapped. (Acts 23:3) Paul objected.

Jesus was teaching that we are to do all we can to live in peace. "If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men." (Rom 12:18)

But it is not always possible to live in peace. If an aggressor attacks our children, are we supposed to do the pseudo-Christian thing, and let the enemy have his way with our children? Or are we to do the godly thing, and take care of our family?

Common sense tells us we provide safety for our family.
"But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel." (1 Tim 5:8)




15 posted on 08/30/2002 10:42:31 AM PDT by hoosierskypilot
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To: hoosierskypilot
I had to do research on the words of Jesus before I could embrace Christianity.

Turn the other cheek: in those days, a master would back-hand a servant across the face as a reprimand (much like my dad - no just kidding) so to turn the other cheek stops the master from back-handing the servant again - a non-violent response which stops violence. And the master must face the servant as a man standing up for himself. Jesus never said: Be a doormat and be stupid!
28 posted on 08/30/2002 7:35:10 PM PDT by M. T. Cicero II
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