Interestingly, this takes that quote out of the original context (as usual). Slapping someone with the back of the hand on the right cheek was done to assert dominance by a social superior over a lesser in the society at the time. “Turn the other cheek” meant to present the left cheek, meaning that the person attempting to assert dominance had one of two choices–use the palm of the right hand… or the back of the left.
Now, hitting someone with the back of the unclean left hand was taboo.
But hitting someone with the palm of the right hand was done between social equals, not a superior to a lesser.
So this was not stoicism, this was really entertaining civil disobedience. Similar instructions for passively subverting civil order are found in the next two passages–Matthew 5:40 and 5:41. Specifically the “coat and shirt” and “the extra mile”, both by engaging in malicious compliance with the laws of the Roman Empire… with a twist.
Matthew 5:40 “And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well,” is essentially saying “cause an incident of public nudity in a culture with a strong nudity taboo and make it the fault of the person claiming the debt”.
Matthew 5:41 “If a soldier demands that you carry his gear for a mile, carry it two miles.” The law in the Roman Empire at the time was that a soldier could compel a non-citizen to carry their pack (60 lbs of gear) for the duration of 1 milepost. So this is saying, “if the legionnaire tells you to carry his pack for a mile, instead of complaining… carry it for two… and make him ask for it back before he gets in trouble with the centurion.”
