The point I wish to make is that Jesus said lots of contradictiory things that believers can use to justify cruelties to others including the one about taking up the sword.
But on the other hand in order to unify all of what Jesus and to rationalise contradictory statements one has to divest them of their power. I prefer to let Jesus words contradict so that I can question them and see them as suggesting the powerful problems we have to confront and deal with.
but thanks to tec and psac and myelaine for your thoughts.