Eye for an Eye

9. July 2008 by Bernice Davis.

Hello: 

Our text for today is:  

Matthew 5:38 ”You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ 39 But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. 40 And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. 41 If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. 42 Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.    

Today, in our lesson, Jesus discussed the theology of retribution.    The principle involves providing equitable retaliation for a wrong act committed.   I think all of us have heard the phrase, an eye for an eye” and a “tooth for a tooth”. Most of us have taken it to mean that if someone does an injustice towards you then you have the right to retaliate.   Let’s look at the origin of this phrase in scripture.    It is first found in Exodus when Moses was giving the children of Israel laws on how to function as a community while they were in the wilderness.    

Exodus 21:22 ”If men who are fighting hit a pregnant woman and she gives birth prematurely but there is no serious injury, the offender must be fined whatever the woman’s husband demands and the court allows. 23 But if there is serious injury, you are to take life for life, 24 eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, 25 burn for burn, wound for wound, bruise for bruise. 26 ”If a man hits a manservant or maidservant in the eye and destroys it, he must let the servant go free to compensate for the eye. 27 And if he knocks out the tooth of a manservant or maidservant, he must let the servant go free to compensate for the tooth.  

As you can see the context in which this was written deals with compensation for offending or committing a crime against someone.   Depending on the seriousness of the crime it demanded the same level of retaliation and had lower degrees of punishment for “less serious offenses.”   

Okay, each day we will discuss one of these issues and its origin and on Friday, we’ll put it all together. 

See you tomorrow.   

God Bless. 

Don’t forget to pray and read God’s word daily 

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