We, the Mashiachim, have identified a significant textual corruption in Matthew 5:39, likely resulting from a mistranslation of the original Hebrew manuscript (HM) penned by the apostle Matthew into the Greek version that all modern translations rely upon. The Greek version of Matthew 5:39 reads:
"But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also." (Matthew 5:39)
This command to "not resist an evil person" contradicts the clear biblical teaching that believers are to resist evil in all its forms, including resisting the devil, who is indeed an "evil person." As it is written,
"Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you." -James 4:7
Below are some other proofs we, the Mashiachim, believe to be significant in showing that the above underlined portion of Matthew 5:39 was an ancient scribal mistranslation:
A) The Hebrew Matthew (HM) and Shem Tob's Manuscript
The Hebrew Matthew, particularly the version preserved by Shem Tob, provides a reading that aligns more closely with the rest of Scripture. Shem Tob ben Isaac ibn Shaprut was a 14th-century Jewish scholar who included the full text of the Hebrew Matthew in his treatise Evan Bohan. We, the Mashiachim, believe Shem Tob's copy of Matthew in Hebrew was a copy of the original Gospel of Matthew, which the apostle Matthew originally penned in the Hebrew language. Shem Tob's treatise, which accompanied his copy of the Hebrew Matthew, was crafted as a polemical response to the Catholic Inquisitors who had began persecuting Jews during the Spanish Inquisition. Many scholars, including those of we the Mashiachim, believe that Shem Tob's Hebrew Matthew is an exact copy an older Hebrew text of Matthew that predates any of the the Greek translations. The text of Matthew 5:39 in Shem Tob's Hebrew Matthew reads as follows:
Hebrew (Shem Tob's Hebrew Matthew):
ואני אומר לכם לבלתי שלם רע תחת רע אבל המכה בלחיך הימין הכן לו השמאל.
Transliteration:
Va'ani omer lakhem levalti shalem ra tachat ra aval hameka b'lechek hayamin hechen lo hashemal.
Translation and Word-for-Word Breakdown:
"But I say to you, do not repay evil for evil, but whoever strikes you on your right cheek, prepare for him the left."
- ואני (Va'ani) – "But I"
- אומר (omer) – "say"
- לכם (lakhem) – "to you"
- לבלתי שלם (levalti shalem) – "do not repay"
- רע תחת רע (ra tachat ra) – "evil for evil"
- אבל (aval) – "but"
- המכה (hameka) – "whoever strikes"
- בלחיך הימין (b'lechek hayamin) – "you on your right cheek"
- הכן (hechen) – "prepare"
- לו השמאל (lo hashemal) – "for him the left"
This translation emphasizes that believers should not repay evil with evil but should be prepared to respond to insults without a return act of vengeance. After all, a slap in the face is only an insult, not a threat to life or limb. The Hebrew text does not command believers to refrain from resisting an evil person all together, as that would contradict almost the whole of Scripture, but rather simply instructs us not to seek revenge— a concept that is echoed almost verbatim in the writings of the apostles Paul and Peter:
Romans 12:17:
"Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men."
1 Peter 3:9:
"Not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing."
An important point to note is that the wording of Romans 12:17 and 1 Peter 3:9 match Matthew 5:39 from the Hebrew Matthew almost perfectly and shows that the apostles Paul and Peter were not coining a new saying, as some scholars have believed, but were instead directly quoting the words of the Lord Yeshua from the original Hebrew Gospel of Matthew.
Historical Support for a Hebrew Matthew
The idea that Matthew was originally written in Hebrew is supported by early church writers. Eusebius of Caesarea, a renowned church historian, recorded that Papias of Hierapolis (c. 60–130 AD) mentioned that "Matthew compiled the sayings in the Hebrew language, and everyone translated them as best they could." Jerome, an early Church Father and translator of the Latin Vulgate, also attested to the existence of a Hebrew version of Matthew, stating, “Matthew, who is also Levi, and who from a publican came to be an Apostle, first of all composed a Gospel of Christ in Judea in the Hebrew language and characters, for the benefit of those of the circumcision who had believed. Who translated it into Greek is not sufficiently ascertained. Moreover, the Hebrew itself is preserved to this day in the library at Caesarea, which the martyr Pamphilus so diligently collected.” Jerome's personal testimony here provides strong evidence for the Hebrew origin of the Gospel.
The Reliability of Shem Tob's Manuscript
Shem Tob's Hebrew Matthew manuscript is considered by some scholars to be a valuable witness to the Hebrew tradition of the Gospel of Matthew. The reliability of Shem Tob's manuscript is bolstered by the presence of 1st-century Jewish Hebraisms within the text, which reflect the linguistic and cultural context of the time. These Hebraisms, along with the consistency of Shem Tob's Hebrew Matthew with other scriptural teachings, suggest that it preserves a more authentic version of Matthew’s Gospel, particularly in cases where the Greek texts appear to diverge from established biblical principles.
However, before we leave this subject, there are other examples that prove the Greek mistranslation of Matthew 5:39 to be utterly false, which we shall cover briefly below:
B) Verses Commanding to Resist Evil:
James 4:7:
"Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you."
- This verse directly commands believers to resist the devil, who is the epitome of an evil person. It would be contradictory to say "do not resist an evil person" when believers are explicitly told to resist the devil, who is clearly an evil person.
Ephesians 6:11-13:
"Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand."
- Believers are commanded to stand against evil, to "withstand in the evil day," which implies an active resistance against evil people, not passive submission to evil people.
1 Peter 5:8-9:
"Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world."
- Again, believers are told to resist the devil, who is the epitome of an evil person. It would be contradictory to say "do not resist an evil person" when believers are explicitly told to resist the devil, who is clearly an evil person.
Psalm 94:16:
"Who will rise up for me against the evildoers? Who will stand up for me against the workers of iniquity?"
- God calls for His people to stand up against (i.e. resist) evildoers and workers of iniquity (i.e. evil people), clearly supporting the idea that resistance to evil people is required.
1 Kings 15:5:
"Because David did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, and had not turned aside from anything that He commanded him all the days of his life, except in the matter of Uriah the Hittite."
- This verse confirms that all David's actions all of his life, including his resistance to King Saul's evil and his battles against the Philistines, were right in the eyes of God, except only in the case of Uriah. David’s active resistance to evil people, the Philistines, who were the enemies of Israel and the Lord, is another clear example of righteous resistance to evil people.
Biblical Examples of Resisting Evil:
Yeshua Resists the Pharisees (Matthew 23:13-39): "Serpents, brood of vipers! How can you escape the condemnation of hell?" -Matthew 23:33
- In this passage, Yeshua openly resists and condemns the hypocrisy and wickedness of the Pharisees and scribes and thereby resists evil people. He does not passively allow them to continue in their evil ways but resists them with strong words of rebuke.
Yeshua Clears the Temple (John 2:13-17; Matthew 21:12-13):
- Yeshua's resistance to the corruption in the temple is a powerful example of taking physical and violent action against evil people. He made a whip of cords and drove out the money changers and those selling animals in the temple. This act of resistance was not merely verbal but physically violent:
"When He had made a whip of cords, He drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and the oxen, and poured out the changers' money and overturned the tables." (John 2:15).- Yeshua’s actions demonstrate that there are times when resisting evil may involve direct, even violent, intervention to uphold righteousness.
Paul Resists Elymas the Sorcerer (Acts 13:8-11):
- When Elymas the sorcerer opposed the teaching of the gospel, Paul did not stand by idly. Instead, he directly resisted Elymas, rebuking him and actually cursing him to be struck blind for his opposition to the truth.
"Then Saul, who also is called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked intently at him and said, 'O full of all deceit and all fraud, you son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, will you not cease perverting the straight ways of the Lord? And now, indeed, the hand of the Lord is upon you, and you shall be blind, not seeing the sun for a time.'" (Acts 13:9-11).Paul Resists Peter (Galatians 2:11-14):
- Paul also resisted Peter to his face when Peter was wrong in treating Gentile believers differently from Jewish believers. Paul confronted Peter because he was not acting in accordance with the truth of the gospel:
"Now when Peter had come to Antioch, I withstood him to his face, because he was to be blamed; for before certain men came from James, he would eat with the Gentiles; but when they came, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing those who were of the circumcision." (Galatians 2:11-12).- Paul’s resistance was necessary to correct Peter and to maintain the integrity of the gospel message.
Peter and the Death of Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 5:1-11):
- Peter, through the Holy Spirit, verbally rebuked Ananias and Sapphira for lying to God, resulting in their immediate death. This event demonstrates not only the seriousness of their sin but also the practice of actively resisting evil people within the early Church.
"Then Peter said, 'Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back part of the price of the land for yourself? ... You have not lied to men but to God.' Then Ananias, hearing these words, fell down and breathed his last." (Acts 5:3-5).- This example shows that the apostles were not passive in the face of evil people but actively resisted them.
Stephen’s Speech and Martyrdom (Acts 7):
- Stephen boldly resisted the Jewish council with a powerful speech that recounted Israel’s history of resisting the Holy Spirit and rejecting God’s messengers. His resistance of evil people was both verbal and spiritual, and it led to his martyrdom.
- Stephen’s example shows that resistance to evil people might not always include physical violence; it can also involve standing firm in the truth against evil people, even to the point of our own death.
Paul’s Exorcism of the Slave Girl’s Spirit (Acts 16:16-18):
- Paul encountered a slave girl possessed by a spirit of divination, who followed him and his companions, causing a disturbance by constantly shouting. After enduring this for several days, Paul turned and commanded the spirit to leave her, and it did so immediately. By casting out the spirit, Paul was not only resisting the evil spirit but also confronting the girl's owners, who wickedly exploited her for financial gain. This act of exorcism caused them to lose their source of income, demonstrating Paul's resistance to both spiritual and economic exploitation. This example highlights the power of resistance of evil people, as Paul stood firm against both the evil spirit and the corrupt practices of those who profited from it.
Scenario Examples of Resisting Evil People:
David Resisting King Saul’s Evil (1 Samuel 24):
- Though David had opportunities to kill King Saul, who was pursuing him unjustly, David chose not to repay evil with evil by killing Saul. However, David did not simply submit to Saul’s pursuit; instead, he continued to resist Saul’s efforts to capture him, fleeing to different locations and avoiding confrontation.
- David’s actions exemplify the balance between not repaying evil with evil while also actively resisting an evil person's intentions and actions.
David Resisting the Philistines (1 Samuel 17):
- David’s resistance to the Philistines, particularly his battle against Goliath, is a powerful example of standing against the enemies of God. David did not shrink back or submit to the taunts and threats of Goliath, but instead, he boldly confronted and defeated him in the name of YHWH. This act of resistance was not only physical but also spiritual, as David declared, “This day the Lord will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you and take your head from you.” (1 Samuel 17:46). And then he did.
Abraham Resisting the Capture of Lot (Genesis 14:1-24; Hebrews 7:1):
- When Abraham’s nephew Lot was captured by kings who waged war against Sodom and Gomorrah, Abraham did not passively accept this evil act and "not resist an evil person". Instead, he did the exact opposite of that and gathered his 318 trained servants, pursued the captors, and literally slaughtered them, recovering all the goods and rescuing Lot and his family along with the other captives.
“Now when Abram heard that his brother was taken captive, he armed his three hundred and eighteen trained servants who were born in his own house, and went in pursuit as far as Dan. He divided his forces against them by night, and he and his servants attacked them and pursued them as far as Hobah, which is north of Damascus. So he brought back all the goods, and also brought back his brother Lot and his goods, as well as the women and the people.” (Genesis 14:14-16).- This decisive action by Abraham is the ultimate act of resisting evil people. It is so significant that Hebrews 7:1 acknowledges Melchizedek’s blessing of Abraham after this event: “For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him.” Abraham’s resistance was not only righteous but afterward divinely blessed, showing the importance of resisting evil people.
Yeshua’s Command to Buy Swords (Luke 22:36):
- Yeshua commanded His followers to sell even their garments to buy swords:
“Then He said to them, ‘But now, he who has a money bag, let him take it, and likewise a knapsack; and he who has no sword, let him sell his garment and buy one.’” (Luke 22:36).- If the swords were not for resisting evil people, then what exactly were they for? This command by the Lord Yeshua shows that there are circumstances in which physical violence against evil is necessary. While the use of the sword was not to be for aggressive purposes, it was meant as a means of defense, illustrating that resisting evil can sometimes require extreme violence.
These verses and examples demonstrate that Scripture consistently teaches the importance of resisting evil people, whether it is resisting the devil, standing against injustice, or confronting the wickedness of others. The Greek version of Matthew 5:39, which commands not resisting an evil person, absolutely contradicts this broader biblical teaching. In contrast, the Hebrew Matthew 5:39 preserved by the Jews offers a reading that is consistent with these biblical principles, emphasizing not repaying evil for evil rather than a blanket prohibition against resisting evil people altogether. This further supports the Mashiachim belief that the original Hebrew text of Matthew is the true teachings of Yeshua.