An eye for an eye?

And if any mischief follow, then thou shalt give life for life, Eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, Burning for burning, wound for wound, stripe for stripe. – Exodus 21.23-25

The Old Testament standard for revenge and retribution was simple. An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, foot for foot, burning for burning, wound for wound, and stripe for stripe.

It was not of course to be taken literally. It was a general standard. Retribution should be fair and equivalent. It was not to be too harsh or too lenient. As much as possible sentence in civil cases was to be fair.

 And to be honest that sounds like a pretty good law doesn’t. It is the standard that still should be applied in civil cases today. Of course we all hear about cases where this is ignored and ridiculous sums are given for minor loses, but that should be what the courts or arbitrators strive for.

But Jesus changed it all up for Christians.

“You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. If anyone wants to sue you and take away your tunic, let him have your cloak also. And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two. Give to him who asks you, and from him who wants to borrow from you do not turn away.

But that doesn’t really sound fair, does it?

Jesus’ words really sound impossible and it can be very hard to accept them and live by them. Imagine, if someone sues you you give them more than they ask. If they want you to carry a load a mile for them you give them two miles. Give what people ask of you.

Just like the original law what we are looking at here is not obedience to the letter of the law, but the spirit. The principle here is just as clear as the law was.

We are not to worry about revenge or retribution. We are to be dead to self. The law made sure we got what we deserved. Jesus’ law says we don’t worry about it because we can trust God to sort it all out.

It is a matter of faith. Do I really need to exact my eye for an eye, or can I trust God to take care of it for me?