You want my shirt too?

"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.

Matthew 5:38-42 [NIV]

I really struggle with this. I wish it said if someone strikes you on the cheek, that I had full permission to go after them with a tire iron. Or if someone pulls out in front of me, as it were.

How far are we supposed to take this?
At what point are we enabling a sluggard?
Is it wrong to enable someone to be lazy?
Should we give to the point that we ourselves become the borrower?
Do I ask too many questions?

A pig by nature wants to roll in the mud no matter how many times you bathe him. A dog returns to his vomit. A fool returns to his folly, no matter the many rebukes he receives.

I wonder if Jesus might be talking about two different natures here: His and ours.

If flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God (1 Corinthians 15:50) and without holiness no one will see the Lord (Hebrews 12:14); then maybe Jesus is pointing out a kingdom mind set. Those who are IN the kingdom of God will do as the King does. Those who are a part of the kingdom of this world will do as that king does.

Jesus is always pointing to His Father and the Kingdom of God. Jesus' words seem so strange to my ears because of my sinful past. Jesus' words are other-worldy. The more I realize that I am now a part of the heavenly kingdom, the less those words sound so strange.

Seek first His Kingdom and His righteousness... Matthew 6:33.