Violence is a Weapon of the Weak
Standards of Christian Living – Part V
Violence is the Language of Dialogue
We live in a society that is both prone and accustomed to violence, especially gun violence—oftentimes, it has become the language of dialogue. Just the other day, a lawn care contractor I disagreed with over his charges escalated the situation after I disputed his calculations and called out something he said. Out of the blue, he threatened to fight me physically—a form of violence. To me, it was so juvenile, and I responded that I don’t do that.
Violence has become not only an instrument of the powerful but also of the weak. For those who cannot prevail in a fistfight—not that I advocate it, though it is at least less likely to result in loss of life—guns have become an equalizer, a leveler.
Individuals inflict politically motivated violence on others when they cannot prevail with their arguments in the marketplace of ideas or because of selfish ambitions. Nations, too, commit violence against other nations in pursuit of nefarious geopolitical interests.
Many mistakenly equate the ability to inflict violence with strength, but it is actually the opposite: a sign of weakness—moral and intellectual weakness, and, in the case of a nation-state, a failure of diplomacy. The Bible reminds us:
“He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty,
And he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city.”
— Proverbs 16:32
Others have expressed similar truths:
“Violence is the last refuge of the incompetent.”
— Isaac Asimov“Nonviolence is not a weapon of the weak. It is a weapon of the strongest and bravest.”
— Mahatma Gandhi
I quote these individuals solely because their views align with the Bible, not as an endorsement of them.
Violence, in essence, is a sign of weakness. People often resort to it because they lack self-control—anger is frequently both its seed and its fuel.
Jesus’s Conflict Resolution Model
I am not naive enough to think there is never a place for violence. At times, violence is necessary to restrain evil and enforce justice—even the violence of war can be necessary. Jesus took a whip to drive out the money changers and sellers from the temple—John 2:14–16. We also see Him as the commander of the armies of Heaven—Revelation 19:11–16
These are divine acts, not permissions for human aggression but they show that violence is not inherently evil, though its use must always be a last resort.
However, in a world where violence has become the norm, not the exception, Jesus offers us, in Matthew 5:38–42, a model to follow. Jesus began by quoting the law:
“You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ …”
— Matthew 5:38
This was the law, but Jesus is about to raise the standard, as we have seen Him do throughout this series. First, the context for this teaching is that it was under Roman rule, which was oppressive, and where Roman soldiers often acted arbitrarily. One example is when they compelled Simon of Cyrene to carry Jesus’s cross—Matthew 27:32. They had the force of arms on their side.
This is not unlike our current society, where we see people committing violence against those who disagree with them politically or religiously, government and law enforcement officials abusing their powers, and instances of racial violence. America is now deeply polarized, and history shows that in many cases, such division precedes violent upheaval.
Jesus is prescribing a different approach. He is calling us to move beyond an “eye for eye” and a “tooth for tooth” mentality—our human instinct to retaliate for wrong done to us—because it only perpetuates a cycle of violence, like the mythical ouroboros, the snake that devours its own tail.
Self-Restraint is the First Step
In verses 39–41, Jesus provides a framework for how to avoid being targets of violence. He teaches three key principles—self-restraint, de-escalation, and discernment of the true source of violence. First is self-restraint:
“But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also.”
— Matthew 5:39
When someone slaps you, your natural instinct is to slap back. However, Jesus says not to respond in kind. Martial arts involve fighting skills, but a core discipline is self-control—the principle that you don’t react impulsively to aggression or even insults.
We see Jesus practice this whenever He is insulted or when He was struck several times during His trial. In that instance, He said:
“If I have spoken evil, bear witness of the evil; but if well, why do you strike Me?”
— John 18:23
Unlike the Pharisees, Jesus never asks us to do anything He Himself would not do. We are called to practice His example of self-restraint.
De-escalation Disarms the Enemy
Second is de-escalation. Many years ago, a nephew of mine, while in college, told me about an incident he witnessed involving a Christian brother who got into a fistfight with another person. He watched as a verbal disagreement unfolded and quickly escalated.
Later, when he spoke with this Christian brother, he expressed surprise at how fast things got out of hand. The brother responded by saying, “I went with him two miles.” He was referencing verse 41—and apparently meant it. However, he clearly misunderstood what Jesus was saying.
“If anyone wants to sue you and take away your tunic, let him have your cloak also. And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two.”
— Matthew 5:40-41
What is Jesus teaching us? He is teaching us to de-escalate dangerous situations. If you’re in a vulnerable position, the last thing you want to do in the face of violence and aggression is to escalate it. Even as a believer, I used to be the kind of person who wouldn’t back down when threatened, confident that God would defend me—but I was wrong. I had to learn this principle of de-escalation.
This is not excusing men who commit violence or blaming women in those situations. I’m concerned when I see women escalate disagreements with men into physical confrontations. Emotionally strong and wise men do not harm women, but women—being physically weaker—who refuse to back down are far more likely to get hurt. This is practical safety advice meant especially for women, and it applies to men as well.
De-escalation might seem like cowardice, but it’s not—it’s how you disarm your enemy in the face of aggression. Self-restraint is controlling yourself, de-escalation is influencing your human opponent because you refuse to fuel their rage, and spiritual warfare is overcoming the supernatural and demonic forces that operate in the shadows.
The True Source of Hostility
This brings us to the third—and most important—principle, one that may not be immediately apparent from the passage, yet it reveals the source of most violence. In the first part of verse 39, Jesus says:
“But I tell you not to resist an evil person…”
— Matthew 5:39
Here, He uncovers a truth that was not widely known or understood then—and still isn’t fully understood now. By qualifying the person as evil, Jesus points us to the true source of enmity, hostility, violence, and aggression. The Bible calls Satan the evil one. Jesus taught us to pray:
“…deliver us from the evil one.”
— Luke 11:4
Have you ever seen utterly senseless violence? If you watch crime TV, you have. We see this repeatedly, like with the recent murder of Charlie Kirk. You need to understand that these things are orchestrated by demons and can only be addressed spiritually—through spiritual warfare.
Many of God’s people do not know or understand this and instead resort solely to human efforts—legislation, activism, protests, debates, and so on. I’m not saying there is never a place for these actions, but you will not win if that is all you do.
The Apostle James says:
“Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.”
— James 4:7
The devil has his weapons of war, but we have ours—and far more powerful: the Word of God, faith, prayer, and holiness. If you want to learn more about how to walk in everyday victory, buy and read my book—The Enemy You Fear Fears You.
Remedy for Violence
Jesus adds one final principle that directly addresses the roots of violence. Much of violence arises from grievances—racial injustice, poverty, economic deprivation, or oppression. Jesus provides an antidote:
“Give to him who asks you, and from him who wants to borrow from you do not turn away.”
— verse 42
He is prescribing generosity. If we, as individuals, especially the well-to-do, learn to be our brother’s keeper, and if governments respond to the legitimate needs of their citizens—especially marginalized communities—we can collectively dampen the sparks that ignite violence.
The Value of Principles
Having said all this, you need to understand that principles only help when you know how to apply them wisely. As the Bible says about handling truth carefully:
“…rightly dividing the word of truth.”
— 2 Timothy 2:15
For example, “do not resist an evil person” does not mean you should do nothing to protect yourself. If you can defend yourself in the face of aggression and violence, it would be foolish not to.
Another way to apply these principles is to protect yourself by avoiding or removing yourself from dangerous situations. Do not remain in a risky place assuming that God will automatically protect you. Jesus did this many times—not out of fear, but to set an example for us to follow.
In my next post, I will unpack Matthew 5:43–48, the last “You have heard…” / “But I say to you…” combo. God bless, and stay tuned.
To access the previous teachings of this series, please click below:
Part III: God Deals With the World As Is
Part IV: What is Your Promise Worth?