Why Followers of Christ Cannot Defend Themselves with Retaliatory Violence

If we assess the situation exclusively on the basis of the Gospel texts, then Jesus Christ indeed establishes an absolute prohibition on using any force in response to aggression. There are no exceptions, legal reservations, or permissions for “self-defense” or “just violence” in His words.

The impermissibility of any forceful response in the Gospels is argued on the basis of three key points.

1. A direct verbal prohibition against resisting with force

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus radically abolishes the ancient legal principle of equal retribution (“an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth”), which regulated the legitimacy of responding to aggression:

“But I say to you: do not resist the evil one. But whoever strikes you on your right cheek, turn to him the other also” (Matt. 5:39)

The word “do not resist” (Greek: antistenai) in the context of that time meant precisely a forceful, armed, or legal counteraction. Instead of resisting, Christ demands that the chain of violence be completely broken.

2. A prohibition against defending a righteous cause with the sword

The clearest example of using force for protection is the scene in the Garden of Gethsemane. The apostle Peter draws a sword to defend Christ—an absolutely innocent Man—from unlawful arrest by an armed crowd. This is a classic example of protecting one’s neighbor from aggression. Yet Jesus firmly puts a stop to it:

“Put your sword back in its place, for all who take up the sword will perish by the sword” (Matt. 26:52)

Christ makes no exception even for His own defense. Moreover, in the Gospel of Luke He heals the ear of the attacker whom Peter had managed to strike (Luke 22:51), thereby completely eliminating the consequences of the use of force by His disciple.

3. The different nature of Christ’s Kingdom

At His trial before Pilate, Jesus directly explains why His followers cannot use force to fight or defend themselves. Forceful defense is a characteristic of earthly systems, but not of His teaching:

“My kingdom is not of this world; if My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight [would wage war] for Me, so that I would not be handed over to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here” (John 18:36)

Why is force impermissible according to the Gospel?

The logic of the Gospels is as follows:

• The nature of evil: Violence cannot be defeated by violence. By responding to force with force, a person becomes like the aggressor and multiplies evil.
• The commandment of love: Christ requires us to love our enemies (Matt. 5:44). Inflicting harm on or physically destroying an enemy technically makes it impossible to fulfill this commandment.
• Christ’s example: The highest criterion for the legitimacy of a Christian’s actions is imitation of Christ. He defenselessly accepts beatings, abuse, and death, praying for the forgiveness of His enemies who crucified Him (Luke 23:34).

Thus, if one follows the text of the four Gospels strictly and literally, any retaliatory violence, physical resistance, or armed defense constitutes a violation of the direct commandments of Jesus Christ.

• The commandments of the Sermon on the Mount: Jesus says directly: “Do not resist the evil one. But whoever strikes you on your right cheek, turn to him the other also” (Matt. 5:39), and also “Love your enemies, bless those who curse you” (Matt. 5:44).
• Jesus’ words at His arrest: When the apostle Peter attempted to defend Christ with a sword in his hands and cut off a servant’s ear, Jesus healed the wounded man and said to Peter: “Put your sword back in its place, for all who take up the sword will perish by the sword” (Matt. 26:52).
• Christ Himself as an example: Jesus did not raise rebellions against the Roman occupiers, did not defend Himself by force, and voluntarily went to the crucifixion, praying for His executioners. His followers are called to imitate Him in meekness and absolute trust in God.