Eye for an Eye

Chuckle: I ate one time at a Pizzeria. That's a weird name. Sounds more like something you would get from eating bad pizza!"

Good Quote: "Revenge, at first though sweet, Bitter ere long back on itself recoils." --John Milton

"You have heard that the law of Moses says, 'If an eye is injured, injure the eye of the person who did it. If a tooth gets knocked out, knock out the tooth of the person who did it. But I say, don't resist an evil person! If you are slapped on the right cheek, turn the other too" (Matthew 5:38-39 NLT).

As long as I can remember, I have heard the phrase, "An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth." The phrase has it's origin in the law that was given by God to the judges of the Old Testament. In effect, the law said: "Make the punishment fit the crime." Although it was not intended to approve the exacting of revenge on someone, some were using it to justify vendettas against other people. To this day, people try to justify their acts of reprisal and revenge with words like, "I was just treating him the way he treated me."

It's a human tendency to want to "get even" when we are wronged. Jesus understood how dangerous such attitudes could be to the harmony among His people. It's no different today. Jesus says we are to do good to those who do us wrong. He even tells us we are to love our enemies. We are not to keep score but to love and forgive. I don't need to tell you that this is an unnatural reaction -- it is a supernatural reaction. As Christians, we must recognize that only God can provide us the strength and will to love and forgive as He does. When someone does an evil thing to you, Jesus would have us pray for the perpetrator rather than planning vengeance.

Jesus continues: "If you are ordered to court and your shirt is taken from you, give your coat, too. If a soldier demands that you carry his gear for a mile, carry it two miles. Give to those who ask, and don't turn away from those who want to borrow" (Matthew 5:40-42 NLT).

The Jews of Jesus' day were no different than people today -- they found these statements offensive and unacceptable. Any Messiah who would turn the other cheek was not the military leader they wanted to lead a revolt against Rome. They hated their Roman oppressors and wanted retaliation against them. And wouldn't you know it, along came Jesus with this radical and senseless response to injustice.

Instead of demanding our rights, He wants us to give them up freely without rancor or bitterness. The message from our Lord is that it is much more important to give justice and mercy than it is to receive justice ourselves. Wow! what a concept! By displaying Christ-like love and kindness to those who offend us, we can overcome evil with good. Forgiveness and kindness are much more powerful weapons than revenge and anger.

The next time someone treats you wrongly, stop and think about this teaching, count to ten or 100, whatever it takes, then return love and kindness. You may be surprised at the reaction of the one who receives undeserved love and forgiveness. After all, isn't that what Jesus did for us.

Love, Jerry & Dotse