I believe we are to love our enemies and not hurt them…and that this is about those who go against us for believing in Jesus Christ. We are not supposed to use violence against those who go against our beliefs.
Jesus says not to resist an evil man. Jesus is not telling us this to protect the evil man. Jesus is telling us this so that we can possibly escape more harm from the evil man.
I do not believe that we can’t defend ourselves ever.
I do not believe a father is to just sit and watch his wife or daughter get raped, tortured, and murdered.
There was a place for acceptable killing of a thief in the Old Testament. If a thief was killed in the day time by the occupant of the home, it was not an acceptable. However, this is not so for the thief that comes in the night. I believe that this is because the thief that came in the day is expecting the house to be empty and wants to harm no one, and the thief coming at night knows the house has occupants in it for it is nighttime. Therefore, the thief coming at night is prepared to kill the occupants.
Exodus 22:2 “If a thief is caught breaking in at night and is struck a fatal blow, the defender is not guilty of bloodshed;
Jesus did make some changes to the Old Testament. No eye for an eye, and to turn the other cheek. However, we see from Matthew 24:43, Jesus is not changing the Old Testament rule about giving the thief at night a fatal blow, nor does Jesus expect us to do nothing when a possible murderous thief of the night was coming.
Matthew 24:43 But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into.
How do you think the owner of the house keeps out the thief if he cannot use force?
I believe that Jesus is not telling us anything for the safety of the enemy, but rather, Jesus is showing us, his loved, how to better protect themselves from an evil person.
Luke 11:21 “When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own house, his possessions are safe. 22 But when someone stronger attacks and overpowers him, he takes away the armor in which the man trusted and divides up his plunder.
Remember, when Jesus comes again, it will be as a thief in the night. When Jesus comes again, lives will be taken. The evil will be put in the lake of fire.
When John the baptizer was baptizing, he baptized some soldiers. The soldiers asked John what they should do. John did not tell them to stop being soldiers because it was a sin. He told them to not extort money, and do not accuse people falsely. This shows us that it is not wrong to be a soldier and defend oneself, one’s people, one’s city, and one’s country.
Luke 3:14 Then some soldiers asked him, “And what should we do?” He replied, “Don’t extort money and don’t accuse people falsely–be content with your pay.”
Read these scriptures:
Matthew 8:8 The centurion replied, “Lord, I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed. 9 For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and that one, ‘Come,’ and he comes. I say to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”
10 When Jesus heard this, he was amazed and said to those following him, “Truly I tell you, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith. 11 I say to you that many will come from the east and the west, and will take their places at the feast with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. 12 But the subjects of the kingdom will be thrown outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
13 Then Jesus said to the centurion, “Go! Let it be done just as you believed it would.” And his servant was healed at that moment.
Jesus did not tell the centurion to stop having soldiers and that it was a sin. Jesus healed the man’s soldier.
Read what Peter says about God having people to govern and punish wrongdoers.
1 Peter 2:13 Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human authority: whether to the emperor, as the supreme authority, 14 or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right.
Read this scripture:
Romans 13:4 For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer.
Paul is speaking to believers. Paul is telling believers that if they do wrong, then they should expect to be punished by the sword, and that it is right for them to be put to death by our government.
Romans 13:1 Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which is from God. The authorities that exist have been appointed by God.
Romans 13:6 This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, who give their full time to governing.
Romans 13:7 Give to everyone what you owe them: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.
Paul tells Ananias God will strike him after he told others to strike Paul in the face. We have the law of the land and people in power are supposed to uphold the law.
Acts 23:2 At this the high priest Ananias ordered those standing near Paul to strike him on the mouth.
3 Then Paul said to him, “God will strike you, you whitewashed wall! You sit there to judge me according to the law, yet you yourself violate the law by commanding that I be struck!”
Paul tells the Corinthians that we can be bold at times and it is not always wise to let fools hurt you.
2 Corinthians 11:16 I repeat: Let no one take me for a fool. But if you do, then tolerate me just as you would a fool, so that I may do a little boasting. 17 In this self-confident boasting I am not talking as the Lord would, but as a fool. 18 Since many are boasting in the way the world does, I too will boast. 19 You gladly put up with fools since you are so wise! 20 In fact, you even put up with anyone who enslaves you or exploits you or takes advantage of you or puts on airs or slaps you in the face. 21 To my shame I admit that we were too weak for that!
