seekeroftruth
Well-Known Member
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 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.
So... an eye for an eye.... and turn the other cheek are in the same spot in this sermon. I guess this is where people get lost.The old testament says.... if someone bops you in the nose and steals you ox.... then you should go bop him back and get your ox.
The new testament says..... if someone bops you in the nose and steals you ox.... walk the ox to his stalls and allow him to bop you again if he so desires.
Here's the "eye for an eye" verse from Exodus.
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.
And here's the law from Deuteronomy and Leviticus.Deuteronomy 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.
Leviticus 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.’”
In Biblical days.... a pregnant woman was as valuable as a pregnant cow or ox. Humans were the labor force. Sure they used oxen.... but it was humans that laid their back into building the pyramids. See where I'm going with this? That pregnant woman was a possession. When Jesus was teaching.... he said.... "all this stuff you are fighting over.... it really doesn't matter as much as Loving One Another".
There was no consistent law until Exodus, Deuteronomy, or Leviticus. Oh there were laws.... whatever the head guy came up with was the law. That's how they got Daniel in the lions den... they tricked the head guy into making a law. Then the next head guy would make another law to take care of the problems of today. It got to where there were so many different laws..... people couldn't keep track.
Then God came up with "fair" laws. If someone hurts you.... hurt them back..... word will get around and they'll stop hurting you.
By the time Jesus arrived to start His Mission.... he changed the tune. People were too busy arguing over the laws and bopping each other in the eye.... that no one really took the law serious. Having laws is useless if no one understands or follows them.
Jesus made it easy..... "Love one Another".
How can you bop a guy in the nose.... or poke out his eye.... if he's been nothing but kind to everyone? Word will get around and they'll look down on you for being a bully.
It's not always about pay back..... sometimes it's about pay forward.
