RESOURCES — SHORT ARTICLES

 

SHORT ARTICLES BY TOM ELSEROAD
	2021-02-08	What Does It Mean 'An Eye For An Eye'? (Ex.21:24)
		Exo 21:23  But if any harm follows, then you shall give life for life, Exo 21:24  eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, Exo 21:25  burn for burn, wound for wound, stripe for stripe. The principle is that the punishment must fit the crime and there should be a just penalty for evil actions. Interestingly there is no indication that the law of “an eye for an eye” was followed literally. There is no biblical account of an Israelite being maimed as a result of this law. However capital cases were applied. Remember Ahab and Jezebel? Very evil people. They abused the law and had two false witnesses (Du.17:6-7) testify against Naboth, and they stoned him to death (1Ki.21:10-15). Most other crimes were paid with payment in goods. If you injured a man's hand so he could not work, you compensated that man for his lost wages. Besides the Exodus passage quoted above, the “eye for an eye” concept is mentioned in Leviticus 24:20 and Deuteronomy 19:21. Lev 24:20  fracture for fracture, eye for eye, tooth for tooth; as he has caused disfigurement of a man, so shall it be done to him. Deu 19:21  Your eye shall not pity: life shall be for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot. The context of both of these passages was a case being judged before a civil authority as a judge. So “an eye for an eye” was intended to be a guiding principle for lawgivers and judges. It was never intended to justify vigilantism or settling grievances personally There are many movies today that have vigilantism or getting even, or perhaps ahead as their theme. By New Testament times Scribes and Pharisees had taken the “eye for an eye” principle and applied it to everyday relationships. They taught that seeking revenge was acceptable. If someone punched or insulted you, you could punch or insult him back. Jesus corrected their wrong understanding in the Sermon of the Mount (Mt.5:38-39). Mat 5:38  "You have heard that it was said, 'AN EYE FOR AN EYE AND A TOOTH FOR A TOOTH.' Mat 5:39  But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. Jesus is separating the responsibility of the government to punish evildoers from our responsibility we have on a personal level to love our enemies. We should not seek retribution for personal unfavorable plights. We are to ignore personal insults (the meaning of “turn the other cheek”) Enforcing “an eye for an eye” is the magistrate’s job; forgiving our enemies is ours. This is illustrated today when a victim publicly forgives a convicted criminal, but the judge justly demands the sentence be carried out. Jesus’ command to turn the other cheek applies to personal relationships, not judicial policy. The principle of “an eye for an eye” is meant as a judicial policy, not as a rule for interpersonal relationships. The Christian is radically different from those who follow the natural inclination to respond in kind. The believer in Christ is guided by Jesus’ words to forgive. Pastor Tom Elseroad

 

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