"You have heard that it was said, 'Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.' But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.
It's a very famous passage noted for a crucial key "Don't retaliate". However, many people used this passage to invent a sub-standard and quasi-biblical system of religion which is based on human devised achievement. It's very difficult to figure out a way to describe this "Sanctimonious doormats" since most of time we all get used to the idea made up by human wisdom but not divine truth. Before the further discussion, we have to admit one thing first. Human relationships and law courts are two distinct categories. For example, if a person commits a crime, we will never expect to hear the judge say, "I'm so sorry that you did this, and I want to be merciful. Therefore, you're forgiven. If you do it again, I'll forgive you again, seventy times seven, again and again." Sometimes, people carry a meaning too far to keep the original the simplest one "Don't start a vengeance thing". The sentence "Don't resist an evil person" doesn't mean to allow evils walk all over us, abuse us, and steal all our own. On the contrary, it reminds people to take divine reactions. In John 18:22-23, we can see how Jesus approaches it.
When he had said these things, one of the officers standing by struck Jesus with his hand, saying, “Is that how you answer the high priest?” Jesus answered him, “If what I said is wrong, bear witness about the wrong; but if what I said is right, why do you strike me?”
There is no retaliation here, and don't let the devil take over faithful spiritual. It shows us that we still have to be sure that we have reason to do what we do and also confirm that it is valid for divine accomplishment. Absolute pacifism is absolutely misinterpreted from the passage Matthew 5:38-42. So if a God-given institution neither protect the good nor overrule the evil, who will still uphold that and have faith of God's justice?
“If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses.
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