Matthew 5:39

First, the method. Jesus said, “When someone slaps you … ” There are two ways to slap someone: with an open palm or with the back of your hand. In the original Greek language, the word was ῥαπίζει – pronounced rhapizei – which means to strike and is where we get the English word rap (think Edgar Allan Poe “some one gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door”). On its own, this word could be any kind of hit from a punch to the use of a blunt force weapon. Yet most translations use slap for a reason which has everything to do with where the slap lands.

The target of the strike is the right cheek. Jesus’ words were δεξιὰν σιαγόνα or dexion (meaning the right-hand side) siagóna (meaning the jawbone or cheek). Jesus describes it as follows: when someone rhapizei your dexion siagóna – strikes or hits your right side’s jawbone or cheek.

Why is this important? Remember, Jesus lived in first century Palestine. Toilet paper wasn’t used until the sixth century in China, and it wasn’t commercially patented in America until 1857. During ancient times in the Middle East, people used their left hand for sanitary purposes. The Jewish crowds who were listening to Jesus preach would have considered their left hand to be unclean. They would only strike someone using their right hand.

…

In the Roman Empire, a backhanded slap was reserved for those whom the assaulter feels are inferior. In other words, if I were to slap your left cheek with an open fist, I would be insulting you, but I would see you as my equal. But if I were to deliver a backhanded slap, I would still be insulting you, but I would also be demonstrating how I think I am better than you – you wouldn’t be worth an open fist.

More…

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I encourage people to read the entire article above.

The lesson of the parable is that turning the other cheek means that your aggressor must acknowledge you as an equal deserving respect. Two points for your consideration:

1. I have never heard this Bible passage accurately preached in church.
2. When (and how) will we respond to being slapped with an open palm on the left cheek?

There is a long list of the train of abuses and usurpations already perpetrated against the moral people of this nation by an evil Deep State government. And these attacks on our Republic have been going on for too long. We turned the other cheek because we are asking to be treated as equals.

From the Declaration of Independence:

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.–That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, –That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.

So we turned the other cheek and the result is not what Jesus intended. Instead of acknowledging us as equals, we are subjected to a two-tiered justice system, politically motivated incarcerations, government sponsored riots and assassinations. No one wants war and a civil war is the worst kind of war. But here we are.

I pray for a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence to guide our actions in this war. I also pray that people understand that we cannot afford to lose this war to evil.

David DeGerolamo