Turning the other cheek

Q.
Ed asks,

How many believe that defending your family is not allowed by God? IF someone broke into your house to harm your family should you turn the other cheek, or defend your family at all costs?


A.
Indications are that Jesus wasn't inclined to turn the other cheek here:

And when he had thus spoken, one of the officers which stood by struck Jesus with the palm of his hand, saying, Answerest thou the high priest so? Jesus answered him, If I have spoken evil, bear witness of the evil: but if well, why smitest thou me? John 18:22-23

However, I have a hunch he literally did here:

Pilate then took Jesus and scourged Him. And the soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on His head, and put a purple robe on Him; and they began to come up to Him and say, "Hail, King of the Jews!" and to give Him slaps in the face. John 19:1-3

The reason being that by this time Jesus was in the hands of Pontius Pilate to whom God had given earthly authority.

So Pilate said to Him, "You do not speak to me? Do You not know that I have authority to release You, and I have authority to crucify You?" Jesus answered, "You would have no authority over Me, unless it had been given you from above; for this reason he who delivered Me to you has the greater sin." John 19:10-11

And as such Jesus meekly "humbled Himself under the mighty hand of God, that He may be exalted in due time"

I believe it's safe to put "turning the other cheek" in the same category as "plucking ones eyes out if they cause one to do evil" not to be taken literally, but the lesson is less clear nonetheless, as stated by Peter:

For what credit is there if, when you sin and are harshly treated, you endure it with patience? But if when you do what is right and suffer for it finds favor with God. For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps, WHO COMMITTED NO SIN, NOR WAS ANY DECEIT FOUND IN HIS MOUTH; and while being reviled, He did not revile in return; while suffering, He uttered no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously; 1 Peter 2:20-23

Believers are sometimes called to suffer for Christ's sake at the hands of those who have God given earthly authority over us. In doing so, the unseen reality is that believers are humbling themselves under the mighty hand of God---just as Jesus had done, resulting in the salvation of man.

When we humble ourselves under the mighty hand of God, He lifts us up in His time.

Steve

Blaspheming the glorious ones---what's that?

"Bold and willful, they do not tremble as they blaspheme the glorious ones, whereas angels, though greater in might and power, do not pronounce a blasphemous judgment against them before the Lord." 2 Peter 2:10-11

Q. What is this about?

My Bible notes say that the 'glorious ones' are demons. I would've thought this is a reference to kings or government authorities - didn't kings and Caesars of that time try to make themselves out as gods? How exactly do you blaspheme a demon?

A. Both you and your bible notes are on to something. The point is that all authority over 'kingdoms' on earth is given by God.

Then saith Pilate unto him, Speakest thou not unto me? knowest thou not that I have power to crucify thee, and have power to release thee? Jesus answered, Thou couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above: therefore he that delivered me unto thee hath the greater sin. John 19:11

And the devil said unto him, All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it. If thou therefore wilt worship me, all shall be thine. Luke 4:6-7

Therefore to speak evil of that authority is to speak evil of the one who grants all authority.

Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. Rom 13:1-2

A similar thought is seen in Jude:

Likewise also these filthy dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities. Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee. Jude 1:8-9

The flow of authority stems from God..He is sovereignly in control as he ordains authority.

Earthly authorities play checkers while the spiritual authorities behind them play chess. The Alpha and Omega who ordains all authority over the kingdoms is playing multi-dimensional chess and controls the board.

So, anything we say about those in authority over us should be tempered by the 'big picture'---lest we seem to indicate that God doesn't know what he's doing. That's the bottom line in this particular instance of 'blasphemy'!

Steve