Matthew 5:38-42 Eye for Eye

[hotcoffee]

Eye for Eye

Matthew 5:38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’[h] 39 But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also. 40 And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well. 41 If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles. 42 Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you."​

[h] Exodus 21:24; Lev. 24:20; Deut. 19:21

Exodus 21:24 in context... God is giving Moses the law to pass along to the Israelites. In the NIV I am reading the eye for eye quote begins at verse 22.

Exodus 21:22 “If people are fighting and hit a pregnant woman and she gives birth prematurely[e] 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."​

Lev. 24:20 in context.... The son of an Israelite woman [Shelomith] got in a fight with another Israelite man. During the fight the son of the Israelite woman blasphemed the Name with a curse. God told Moses to take the son outside the city, have the people who heard the curse lay hands on him, and then stone him to death. In the NIV the eye for eye quote begins at verse 17.

Lev. 24:17 “‘Anyone who takes the life of a human being is to be put to death. 18 Anyone who takes the life of someone’s animal must make restitution—life for life. 19 Anyone who injures their neighbor is to be injured in the same manner: 20 fracture for fracture, eye for eye, tooth for tooth. The one who has inflicted the injury must suffer the same injury. 21 Whoever kills an animal must make restitution, but whoever kills a human being is to be put to death. 22 You are to have the same law for the foreigner and the native-born. I am the Lord your God.’”​

Deut. 19:21 in context.... The law in this case was about false witness. In the NIV the eye for eye quote begins at verse 16.

Deut. 19:16 "If a malicious witness takes the stand to accuse someone of a crime, 17 the two people involved in the dispute must stand in the presence of the Lord before the priests and the judges who are in office at the time. 18 The judges must make a thorough investigation, and if the witness proves to be a liar, giving false testimony against a fellow Israelite, 19 then do to the false witness as that witness intended to do to the other party. You must purge the evil from among you. 20 The rest of the people will hear of this and be afraid, and never again will such an evil thing be done among you. 21 Show no pity: life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot."​

So going back to Matthew... I think what Jesus is saying here is don't get in a fight. That way, you aren't likely to harm anyone and your actions aren't going to result in harm.

 

[cheezgrits]

Old testament sounds a lot like Islam Sharia law. Even the bible contradicts itself.

But, I have to say, I do kind of like the old testament thinking. Not so much on the passive approach. Eye for eye theory is like a self fulfilling karma to me.

 

[Radiant1]

[38-42] See Lev 24:20. The Old Testament commandment was meant to moderate vengeance; the punishment should not exceed the injury done. Jesus forbids even this proportionate retaliation. Of the five examples that follow, only the first deals directly with retaliation for evil; the others speak of liberality.

New American Bible Copyright © 1991, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc., Washington, DC. All rights reserved.

 

[Radiant1]

It seems to me this is a don't sink to their level type of thing. Christian disciples are to rise above base actions such as retaliation and leave justice to God. After all, whose justice is more perfect than God's? I think perhaps if we retaliate, then the person who offended has already received their recompense through you where as if they received their recompense through God it would be a lot better justice wise. In turn, if we retaliate, we too have received our compensation; whereas, compensation from God would be much better reward wise. In addition, our retaliation may overtake the offense and then we too have offended and will deserve a recompense of our own. Having said that, sometimes leaving it up to God is much easier said than done because some people are just so horrid that we feel it demands urgent justice; we're not so patient to wait on God on His terms.

So often we refer to karma, "Karma is going to get you." For a Christian this is like saying, "Yeah, you just wait until God gets a hold of you."

There's also something I call "heaping coals". If you're decent to a person who is not so decent to you, then it is hoped that their conscience will burn for their offense. You "heap coals" upon their head. In this case, their punishment comes from themselves, which is often times fitting. At the same time, you show them what it is to be a decent human being.

 

[Zguy28]

It seems to me this is a don't sink to their level type of thing. Christian disciples are to rise above base actions such as retaliation and leave justice to God. After all, whose justice is more perfect than God's? I think perhaps if we retaliate, then the person who offended has already received their recompense through you where as if they received their recompense through God it would be a lot better justice wise. In turn, if we retaliate, we too have received our compensation; whereas, compensation from God would be much better reward wise. In addition, our retaliation may overtake the offense and then we too have offended and will deserve a recompense of our own. Having said that, sometimes leaving it up to God is much easier said than done because some people are just so horrid that we feel it demands urgent justice; we're not so patient to wait on God on His terms.

So often we refer to karma, "Karma is going to get you." For a Christian this is like saying, "Yeah, you just wait until God gets a hold of you."

There's also something I call "heaping coals". If you're decent to a person who is not so decent to you, then it is hoped that their conscience will burn for their offense. You "heap coals" upon their head. In this case, their punishment comes from themselves, which is often times fitting. At the same time, you show them what it is to be a decent human being.

I think of Jesus being patient with the Jews or of Paul enduring the trials of his journeys, especially persecution at the hands of Alexander the metal smith.

2 Timothy 4:14
Alexander the coppersmith did me great harm; the Lord will repay him according to his deeds.

Romans 12:19
Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.”

 

[inkah]

"heaping coals"

I had a best friend in early elementary school who was raging mad at her sister one time. She'd been fuming the whole time we were playing. Eventually, she stomped upstairs to let her have it. I couldn't wait!! Whoohoo! Fight FIght! She tore right into her sister too: "IF YOU DON'T STOP I'M GONNA BE SOOOOOO NICE TO YOU THAT YOU'RE GONNA REGRET IT".

Talk about a let down.

 

[Radiant1]

I had a best friend in early elementary school who was raging mad at her sister one time. She'd been fuming the whole time we were playing. Eventually, she stomped upstairs to let her have it. I couldn't wait!! Whoohoo! Fight FIght! She tore right into her sister too: "IF YOU DON'T STOP I'M GONNA BE SOOOOOO NICE TO YOU THAT YOU'RE GONNA REGRET IT".

Talk about a let down.

 

[migtig]

Eye for Eye

Matthew 5:38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’[h] 39 But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also. 40 And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well. 41 If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles. 42 Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you."​

I wish I had more time, but this one has always bothered me for a few reasons. I get the premise, be a better person...but

Scenario:
I'm in DC strolling the Mall and seeing the sights. A man pushes up next to me, says he has a gun and to get in his car located at the corner.

My literal mind says Matthew 5:39 says I'm supposed to get in the car with this creep, let him rape and murder me and of course forgive him in the process.

My inner self says oh heck no and I start fighting back immediately. I'd rather he killed me on the street than I got willingly into that car and I hope I cause him some bodily damage in the process.

So because I'd rather not willingly allow an evil person do evil unto me, it makes me a bad person?! That's some messed up logic.

 

[hotcoffee]

I wish I had more time, but this one has always bothered me for a few reasons. I get the premise, be a better person...but

Scenario:
I'm in DC strolling the Mall and seeing the sights. A man pushes up next to me, says he has a gun and to get in his car located at the corner.

My literal mind says Matthew 5:39 says I'm supposed to get in the car with this creep, let him rape and murder me and of course forgive him in the process.

My inner self says oh heck no and I start fighting back immediately. I'd rather he killed me on the street than I got willingly into that car and I hope I cause him some bodily damage in the process.

So because I'd rather not willingly allow an evil person do evil unto me, it makes me a bad person?! That's some messed up logic.

Y'all correct me if I'm wrong but I'm going to take a stab at this.... I pray about these postings... and the Holy Spirit laid heavily on my heart when I was doing the "eye for eye" verses here. I thought it was because of the first research verse about the child in the womb.... but maybe it's about the question you bring up here Migtig.

IMHO the circumstances you are describing are different than the one Jesus is talking about here. You are not getting involved in a fight. You are a victim. You would be fighting for your life.... I think that's very different... If it wasn't then God wouldn't have given all animals the instinct to defend themselves from predators. Know what I mean?