Not too long ago I saw a documentary about Jesus, and one of the sections struck me... apparently, in Matthew 5:3-9, Jesus is quoted as saying that if we are struck on the right cheek, to turn the other one to him also. The explanation given on the documentary was one that showed Jesus not as a proponent and peace and love, but of not wanting to be treated like a slave or second-class citizen.

Think of it this way... let's just say most everyone was right-handed, which meant that if you were struck on the right cheek, you were struck by the back of the right hand. The gesture is demeaning and insulting, and is only administered by one intending to put another in his or her place. By a husband to a wife; master to slave. To turn your other cheek is to demand that you be struck as an equal, and not as a subordinate, and back in the day, that just wasn't done. In short, Jesus said, "Don't let anyone demean you."

In today's parlance, Jesus said, "Don't let anyone make you his bitch."

Niiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiice.

I like that although Jesus teaches us all about unconditional love, He wasn't always a nice guy. Awesome.