Resistance

 But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.
Matthew 5:39 ESV
https://bible.com/bible/59/mat.5.39.ESV

Jesus seems to contradict the old testament here. The old law is 'an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth'. Jesus directly contradicts that here.

If someone takes your eye out, Jesus implies, don't seek to take their eye out. Jesus's way is of peaceful non resistance. What He is saying is to resist the temptation to return evil for evil.

Jesus isn't calling for passivity here. He goes even further and famously says we should 'turn the other cheek'. When dealing with apparent contradictions in Scripture, context is key.

Moses was delivering God's law. His judicious ruling was painfully fair- 'an eye for an eye' and by implication a life for a life: the death penalty. Jesus's context was very different- speaking to ordinary Jews under Roman occupation. If a civilian Jew/Ukrainian tried to take a Roman/Russian's eye out, it wouldn't end well. Jesus is calling for potentially lethal situations to be diffused by appealing to the consciences of the oppressors.

'O Father God, please help us to be the change we want to see in the world. If we want to see peace, may we be peacemakers, in the name of the Prince of Peace we pray, amen'

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