I just read a quote on Reddit in a response by a random person that is hitting me like a ton of bricks.

[wnylib]

43. I think that turning the other cheek is too often

misinterpreted or misunderstood. I see it as meaning don't become like the person who slapped you. Don't get down in the mud with them.

There are times when you must take action. It does not always mean fighting back physically, although it might in some settings. There are other ways to fight back when necessary.

I was once married to an abusive man who was physically violent, threatened to kill me, and tried a couple timea. Turning the other cheek would have been suicidal. So would fighting back physically due to size differences. Accepting the occasional apology was meaningless.

But divorce was a good alternative to forgiveness without remorse or change. Better than physically fighting back. Better than literally standing still and turning the other cheek while he killed me.