Eye for Eye and Tooth for Tooth Matthew 5:38

Matthew shared how Jesus told His disciple's if their “righteousness” did not “exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees” they would, “in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.” Jesus then shared about “murder and adultery” and He told His disciples, “Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God's throne: Nor by the earth; for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King. Neither shall you swear by your head, because you cannot make one hair white or black.” Jesus continued, “But let your communication be, Yes, yes; No, no: for whatsoever is more than these comes of evil”, and in chapter five and verse thirty-eight of his book, Matthew shared how Jesus told His disciples how they “heard”,“an eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth” where we read:

You have heard that it has been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth:

The verse reads, “ You have heard that it has been said, ...” Matthew began with the words, “you have heard” which means “the disciples' were endowed with the faculty of hearing, not deaf, attended to and considered” “that it has been said” which means “that there was declaration, utterance and proclamation”. Jesus referred again to words His disciples “heard” previously.

The verse goes on to say, “... An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.” Matthew continued with the words, “an eye” which means “and eyeball for sight” “for an eye“ or “in place of an eyeball for sight”, “and a tooth” which means “and a tooth for chewing” “for a tooth” or “in place of a tooth for chewing”. Jesus referred to the Old Testament law which stated, “If men strive, and hurt a woman with child, so that her fruit depart from her, and yet no mischief follow: he shall be surely punished, according as the woman's husband will lay upon him; and he shall pay as the judges determine. And if any mischief follow, then you shall give life for life, Eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot” (See Exodus 22:21-24).

When we consider Matthew's words in this verse, we see how Jesus made reference to the law of “revenge”. Whenever a person caused the loss of an “eye or tooth”, judges were to exact an equal punishment of the loss of an “eye or tooth” upon the perpetrator. The idea was for there not to be a greater retribution than the offense caused. God knows the tendency for people to desire give “pay back” for anyone who hurts or attacks them, and His passion is to “save” both those who have been hurt as well as those who hurt through His Son Jesus.

Next time Jesus said not to “resist not evil ...turn … the other cheek”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.