![]() ![]() Just a few verses later, Jesus would tell us to love our enemies and do good to those who mistreat us (Matthew 5:44). (Matthew 5:38-39)įriend, if you and I are going to be followers of Jesus, then we cannot look for the opportunity to get back at someone, to take vengeance for ourselves. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. 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. Not only that, but earlier in this same context, Jesus addressed the “eye for eye” idea. We are not to treat people how they have mistreated us, but we are to treat them how we would like to be treated. …whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets. My guess is most people are not familiar with all 3 verses, but likely just the first portion of verse 24, “eye for eye.” Some will cite this text to justify doing unto others what has been done unto them which is a perversion of what is commonly called the golden rule. …you shall give life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burn for burn, wound for wound, stripe for stripe. It is called by some “the law of retaliation.” The Bible says, Many are familiar with a Bible phrase that would seem to justify such behavior. It matters not what we call it: getting even, or payback, or retribution, or tit for tat the end result is always the same-someone did something nasty to me, so I’m going to do something nasty to them. When verbalized, it often comes out like this: “He’ll get his,” or “He’s gonna get what’s coming to him,” or “Vengeance is sweet,” or a variety of other sayings, some which are unfit to repeat. The one who was wronged may articulate it clear and concise or may simply reserve the thought in his heart. Someone does something nasty to another-what it is doesn’t matter, the same reaction will result whether it is serious or frivolous. The scenario plays out every day, potentially millions of times every day.
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