In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus says:
“You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ 39But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also Matthew 5:38–39
Of course that phrase was written in the Law of Moses:
“When men strive together and hit a pregnant woman, so that her children come out, but there is no harm, the one who hit her shall surely be fined, as the woman’s husband shall impose on him, and he shall pay as the judges determine. 23But if there is harm, then you shall pay life for
life, 24eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, 25burn for burn, wound for wound, stripe for stripe. Exodus 21:22–25There it is, clearly stated. So is Jesus implying that the Law of Moses was wrong? Probably not. Maybe a few examples will help us to understand both the Mosaic provision and Jesus’ command.
In the book of Genesis we read the account of Jacob’s only daughter, Dinah being raped by the prince of a local kingdom. First, her brothers, Simeon and Levi, “con” the inhabitants of the city into circumcising all of their men, and then they attack them:
On the third day, when they were sore, two of the sons of Jacob, Simeon and Levi, Dinah’s brothers, took their swords and came against the city while it felt secure and killed all the males. 26They killed Hamor [the king] and his son Shechem [the rapist] with the sword and took Dinah out of Shechem’s house and went away. 27The sons of Jacob came upon the slain and plundered the city, because they had defiled their sister. 28They took their flocks and their herds, their donkeys, and whatever was in the city and in the field. 29All their wealth, all their little ones and their wives, all that was in the houses, they captured and plundered. Genesis 34:25–29
Simeon and Levi clearly go way beyond an appropriate response to the offense.
There is another instructive example in the life of King David. David and his men had been protecting the flocks and shepherds of an extremely wealthy sheep-owner named Nabal. When they ask for some provisions from one of Nabal’s lavish feasts as gratitude for their kindness, he insults and humiliates David’s men. Here’s David’s response:
So David’s young men turned away and came back and told him all this. 13And David said to his men, “Every man strap on his sword!” . . .God do so to the enemies of David and more also, if by morning I leave so much as one male of all who belong to him.” 1 Samuel 25:12–22
When Nabal’s wife reasons David out of his rage, he acknowledges to her:
“Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, who sent you this day to meet me! 33Blessed be your discretion, and blessed be you, who have kept me this day from bloodguilt and from working salvation with my own hand! 1 Samuel 25:32–34
And finally, Jesus’ own apostles are not immune to this same disease of the heart. On one occasion Jesus rebukes James and John for suggesting that they call down fire on a town because it has rejected Him. (Luke 9:52-55)
So it seems that the “eye for an eye” provision in the Law of Moses addresses precisely the problem that we see in these examples. Left to ourselves, we don’t just want justice; we want unbridled revenge. So the “eye for and eye” provision is not designed to encourage revenge, but to mete out just and appropriate retribution when tangible wrongs have been committed.
So Human nature being what it is, we can well imagine Jesus’ hearers using the “eye for an eye” provision as an encouragement for revenge. . . anywhere and anytime. And that seems to be precisely what He wants to eliminate. Instead of a “you deserve revenge attitude” Jesus is enjoining an “overcome evil with good” attitude.”
Finally we must notice that Jesus, Himself practiced what he preached. When it came to obstructions between God and his people Jesus went so far as to fashion a whip and drive the offenders out of God’s temple, but we never see him taking personal offense, and that seems to be the example that He insists that we follow:
When He was reviled, He did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but continued entrusting Himself to Him who judges justly. 1 Peter 2:23
