Hey guys, I can use some clarity on this please. Far as I am understanding God said "an eye for an eye" while Jesus said "turn the other cheek". God said to avoid strife or not associate yourself with anyone who brings strife into your life while Jesus said to always love and forgive. What gives??
The conflicts start to go away when we realize a few things...
Concerning Jesus and the commandments to love...
(Deut 6:5 [KJV])
And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.
(Deut 10:12 [KJV])
And now, Israel, what doth the LORD thy God require of thee, but to fear the LORD thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve the LORD thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul,
(Deut 11:13 [KJV])
And it shall come to pass, if ye shall hearken diligently unto my commandments which I command you this day, to love the LORD your God, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul,
(Deut 13:3 [KJV])
Thou shalt not hearken unto the words of that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams: for the LORD your God proveth you, to know whether ye love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul.
(Deut 30:6 [KJV])
And the LORD thy God will circumcise thine heart, and the heart of thy seed, to love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, that thou mayest live.
(Josh 22:5 [KJV])
But take diligent heed to do the commandment and the law, which Moses the servant of the LORD charged you, to love the LORD your God, and to walk in all his ways, and to keep his commandments, and to cleave unto him, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul.
(Matt 22:37 [KJV])
Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
(Mark 12:30 [KJV])
And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.
(Luke 10:27 [KJV])
And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself.
So the commandments of Jesus to love, are the commandments of God, even quotes from the O.T.
Also concerning the Law and Prophets, Jesus said;
Matthew 5:17 "Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. 18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled."
So with these Scriptures, the conflicts should be melting away because there is no conflict between God the Father and God the Son. The conflict is more in our interpretations of "an eye for an eye" and "turn the other cheek", but these are both qualities of God Himself, He is just, and He is merciful.
As for avoiding strife, which is conflict...
(Matt 5:10 [KJV])
Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
(Matt 5:12 [KJV])
Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
(John 15:20 [KJV])
Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.
(Acts 7:52 [KJV])
Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them which shewed before of the coming of the Just One; of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murderers:
(1Cor 4:12 [KJV])
And labour, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it:
(2Cor 4:9 [KJV])
Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;
(Gal 4:29 [KJV])
But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now.
(1Thess 2:15 [KJV])
Who both killed the Lord Jesus, and their own prophets, and have persecuted us; and they please not God, and are contrary to all men:
For Christians, conflict is unavoidable, inevitable, it will happen to whatever extent or measure as God wills. And not only conflict with the world and the ways of the world, but with ourselves, in daily spiritual warfare. Life is nearly a constant battle, in one way or another. Praise God for the peace that passes all understanding.