This passage does not condemn self defence, but revenge. Robertson's commentary says:Originally posted by av1611jim:
Mt 5:38
¶ Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth:
Mt 5:39
But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.
Mt 5:40
And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloke also.
Mt 5:41
And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain.
Mt 5:42
Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away.
You figure it out.
A. T. Robertson's NT Word Pictures (public domain):
"An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth" (ophthalmon anti ophthalmou kai odonta anti odontos). Note anti with the notion of exchange or substitution. The quotation is from Ex 21:24; De 19:21; Le 24:20. Like divorce this jus talionis is a restriction upon unrestrained vengeance. "It limited revenge by fixing an exact compensation for an injury" (McNeile). A money payment is allowed in the Mishna. The law of retaliation exists in Arabia today.
"Resist not him that is evil" (me antistênai tôi ponêrôi). Here again it is the infinitive (second aorist active) in indirect command. But is it "the evil man" or the "evil deed"? The dative case is the same form for masculine and neuter. Weymouth puts it "not to resist a (the) wicked man," Moffatt "not to resist an injury," Goodspeed "not to resist injury." The examples will go with either view. Jesus protested when smitten on the cheek (Joh 18:22). And Jesus denounced the Pharisees (Mt 23:1-39) and fought the devil always. The language of Jesus is bold and picturesque and is not to be pressed too literally. Paradoxes startle and make us think. We are expected to fill in the other side of the picture. One thing certainly is meant by Jesus and that is that personal revenge is taken out of our hands, and that applies to "lynch-law." Aggressive or offensive war by nations is also condemned, but not necessarily defensive war or defence against robbery and murder. Professional pacifism may be mere cowardice.