Was Jesus a Pacifist?
The question of whether Jesus was a pacifist often arises in theological debates and cultural conversations. While many believe He opposed all violence, does this align with the broader Biblical narrative—or even Jesus’ own words? Is there a need for war at times? Let’s explore what Scripture reveals about war and peace.
Understanding Shalom: The Biblical Concept of Peace
To understand Jesus’ teachings on peace, we must grasp the Biblical concept of shalom. Derived from the Hebrew root shalem, meaning “to make whole” or “restore,” shalom signifies wholeness, harmony, and restoration—far deeper than mere tranquility or the absence of conflict. This is the peace we are called to intercede for when we ‘pray for the peace of Jerusalem’ (Psalm 122) today.
The Fall
Let’s journey back in time to the Fall. The Fall – the moment when Adam and Eve disobeyed God’s command not to eat from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, shattered true shalom. Sin brought enmity, conflict, and brokenness into the world, in every sphere – spiritual, physical and relational. Genesis 3:15 highlights this fracture: “I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.”
This verse sets the stage for human conflict and God’s redemptive plan, fulfilled in Jesus.
Jesus’ Role in God’s Redemptive Plan
If we know Jesus is the fulfillment of this plan, how does He embody God’s approach to conflict and peace? Understanding Jesus’ stance requires recognizing two truths about His relationship with God the Father. Jesus declared, “I and the Father are one” (John 10:30), and, “The Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing” (John 5:19). Malachi 3:6, “I the Lord do not change,” affirms that Jesus’ teachings and actions perfectly align with God’s unchanging character.
Continuity Between the Old and New Testaments
In light of these truths, we can examine God’s approach to conflict in the Old Testament to discern its continuity with Jesus’ character and mission, and whether or not he was a pacifist. The Old Testament shows that God’s justice, mercy, and desire for restoration often required decisive action against evil—a principle reflected in Jesus’ life and ministry.
God’s Approach to Conflict, War and Pacifism in the Old Testament
The conquest of Canaan is a striking example of God’s command to engage in war, serving as a foundational moment in His redemptive plan. Far from arbitrary violence, the conquest was rooted in God’s justice and His desire to establish Israel as a holy nation—a people set apart to bear His name and prepare the way for the Messiah (Genesis 12:2-3). To fulfill this purpose, Israel was tasked with uprooting entrenched evil in Canaan, where idolatry, child sacrifice, and moral corruption ran rampant. There was no room for pacifism.
For over 400 years, God withheld judgment, allowing these nations an opportunity to turn from evil. Yet the Canaanites persisted in wickedness (Leviticus 18:21). When their sin reached its full measure, God decisively judged them, using Israel as His instrument. Pacifism was impossible.
Jesus: Confronting Evil and Restoring Shalom
After this brief examination of God’s approach to conflict in the Old Testament, we turn to Jesus. Yeshua’s mission shared the same purpose as the Old Testament wars: to confront and uproot evil, bringing true shalom. Yet His methods were distinct, revealing the ultimate goal of God’s strategy against sin. Far from avoiding conflict, Jesus directly battled the powers of darkness, hypocrisy, and injustice.
Jesus’ “Turning the Other Cheek,” Pacifism and Peacemaking
Those who view Jesus as a pacifist often cite His teachings on “turning the other cheek” (Matthew 5:39) and being a “peacemaker” (Matthew 5:9).
In context, turning the other cheek is not about passively accepting injustice but breaking the cycle of retaliation. In first-century Jewish culture, a slap on the right cheek was more than violence; it was a calculated insult meant to demean. Jesus’ instruction challenges His followers to rise above vengeance and respond in a way that exposes wrongdoing while demonstrating the righteousness of God’s kingdom.
Peacemaking or Pacifism in the Bible?
The call to be peacemakers does not mean avoiding conflict or tolerating sin. In Scripture, many of the greatest peacemakers were warriors appointed by God. Figures like Joshua, David, Gideon, and Deborah confronted evil and led battles under God’s direction to secure justice and establish peace.
They achieved peace not through passivity or pacifism but by engaging in conflict to protect God’s people and uphold righteousness. Jesus’ use of “peacemaker” reflects this Biblical pattern: true peace is achieved not by coexisting with evil but by defeating it to establish justice and harmony in alignment with God’s will.
What Does Peace Require?
In the New Testament, Paul affirms that God grants governments and earthly leaders the authority to punish wrongdoing and uphold justice. In Romans 13:4, Paul writes: “For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer.”
This shows that God’s design for peace often requires confronting evil decisively. Jesus’ teachings do not dismiss the need for just authority; instead, they show that true peace comes when evil is confronted with righteousness and shalom is restored.
“I Have Not Come to Bring Peace, but a Sword”
One of Jesus’ most striking statements on conflict is in Matthew 10:34: “Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.”
The “sword” is not a call to physical violence but a metaphor for the division His message would bring. Jesus came to confront sin and spiritual darkness, and His truth would inevitably divide families, communities, and nations. In Luke 12:51, He expands on this: “Do you think I came to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but division.”
Jesus’ mission was not about preserving false peace rooted in compromise with evil. His teachings demanded a choice: align with the kingdom of God or remain enslaved to sin. The “sword” of His message cuts through complacency, exposing that true peace often carries a price.
Jesus’ Actions: Confronting Evil Head-On
Jesus showed through His ministry that shalom requires active engagement with evil. A vivid example is His cleansing of the temple (John 2:13-17). With a whip, Jesus drove out the money changers, overturned their tables, and rebuked them for turning His Father’s house into a den of thieves.
This act of righteous anger was not a momentary outburst but a calculated confrontation of corruption in God’s sacred space. Similarly, Jesus rebuked the Pharisees and teachers of the law, calling them hypocrites and exposing their self-righteousness (Matthew 23). His sharp, uncompromising words dismantled spiritual oppression and led people back to God’s truth.
Jesus’ Sacrifice: The Ultimate Battle
The cross is the clearest demonstration of Jesus’ mission to confront and defeat evil. On the surface, His crucifixion may seem like surrender, but Scripture reveals it as a decisive victory over sin and death. Genesis 3:15 foretells this with violent imagery, declaring that the offspring of the woman would crush the serpent’s head.
At the cross, Jesus fulfilled this prophecy, triumphing over Satan and the powers of darkness. Paul writes in Colossians 2:15: “And having disarmed the powers and authorities, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.” Jesus’ sacrifice was nothing short of a brilliant strategic strike at evil’s root. By taking on sin’s penalty, He broke its power and opened the way for humanity’s restoration to God, making true shalom possible.
The Return of the King: Final Victory
Jesus’ first coming focused on sacrifice and reconciliation, but His second coming will bring final judgment and the full restoration of God’s kingdom. Revelation 19:11-16 portrays Yeshua as a warrior-king, leading heaven’s armies to defeat evil: “With justice He judges and wages war. His eyes are like blazing fire, and on His head are many crowns. He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and His name is the Word of God.”
This imagery shows that Jesus’ mission includes the destruction of evil to establish eternal shalom. It will mark the final battle, eradicating evil and fully realizing God’s kingdom.
Confronting Evil Without Hatred
While God may call individuals or nations to confront and even wage war against evil, we are not to hate those we confront on a personal level. Jesus’ command to “love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you” (Matthew 5:44) underscores this principle. God’s instruction throughout Scripture teaches that personal vengeance has no place in a believer’s life.
Yeshua’s earthly forefather David exemplified this when, though pursued unjustly by King Saul, he refused multiple opportunities to take Saul’s life (1 Samuel 24:6, 1 Samuel 26:9-11). David forwent personal vendetta and trusted God’s justice, declaring, “The Lord forbid that I should lay a hand on the Lord’s anointed.”
His actions illustrate the spiritual truth that “our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil” (Ephesians 6:12). By loving our enemies, even in confrontation, we reflect God’s heart, which seeks both justice and redemption.
Modern Warfare, Jesus and God’s Faithfulness
And what about today? In Israel, we are seeing local believers actively confronting injustice, serving those in need, and courageously shining the light of Jesus in the darkness. These efforts, supported by the wider Body of Messiah around the world, reflect God’s ongoing faithfulness and His redemptive work in our time.
The prophetic reestablishment of Israel in 1948, foretold in Ezekiel’s vision of dry bones (Ez 37), along with its supernatural preservation through countless wars that defy reason, echoes the same divine faithfulness witnessed throughout the Bible.
Moments like these remind us that ultimate triumph comes not by human might but through God’s hand. Just as Joshua’s conquests and David’s battles were part of God’s redemptive narrative, so too are the events happening in the world today. Together, we stand firm against evil, trusting God to bring restoration and shalom.
Prince of Peace and Lord of Hosts
The Biblical narrative reveals Jesus as both the Prince of Peace and the Lord of Hosts. The two titles seem to be at odds, with “Lord of Hosts” signifying a commander of armies. Yet, true shalom is not achieved by avoiding conflict, but by confronting and defeating evil through God’s power and righteousness.
Pacificists for Jesus?
At the same time, Jesus’ command to love our enemies reminds us that His justice is never devoid of mercy. As His followers, we can hate war and the pain and destruction that comes with it, but we are called to reflect this balance of justice and mercy together. We should stand firm against sin while pursuing the peace that flows from God’s victory, a peace that surpasses all understanding.
It’s not an easy calling, but this tension is something we see Jesus model on earth, and God model throughout history. Is it something we, too, can pursue?
Yeshua: The Hebrew Name of Jesus (ישוע) – Free PDF Download
What was the name that the disciples called Jesus? Yeshua! What did it mean to them, and what does it mean to us today?
Whether you’re just finding out about Hebrew words and how they can impact your faith, or you have been referring to Jesus by His Hebrew name for decades, we’ve created the perfect guide for you.
Articles Related to Was Jesus a Pacifist? A Biblical Perspective on War
Estimated reading time: 9 minutes