Matthew 5:38-42 addresses personal vengeance, not self-defense or courtroom justice — and does not require total pacifism.

Winger distinguishes: (1) the OT eye-for-an-eye principle was for court systems, not personal vengeance; (2) being slapped on the right cheek (backhand or weak-hand) is an insult or minor injury, not a lethal threat; (3) turning the other cheek is about not retaliating to minor insults, not unlimited passive submission to deadly force — Jesus says turn the cheek, not keep turning indefinitely; (4) yielding in lawsuits is about personal generosity, not surrendering multimillion-dollar claims; (5) going two miles with a Roman centurion shows gracious generosity beyond what is required. He critiques total pacifism as evil because it renders us unable to protect victims. Paul's appeal to Caesar is cited as a legitimate use of legal systems to protect oneself. Jesus telling disciples to take swords is cited as an endorsement of self-defense in principle.