Matthew 5:38-48, “eye for eye and tooth for tooth” [Listen]

How we react to our “enemies” is a barometer of our spiritual maturity.

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.”

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”

A few notes as we get started:

Verse 39 mentions someone striking you on the right cheek – This was considered devastating public humiliation and would often result in retaliation

Verse 41 mentions being force to go a mile with someone – 2,000 years ago the Romans (hated enemy of the Jews) could force people into service. Rome was the occupying force in the land. Again this was VERY humiliating and considered an insult.

Verse 44 mentions “love your enemies”. The term used for love here is “agape”. The type of love that is self-sacrificing and concerned purely with the welfare of the one being loved.

Verse 45 mentions that loving your enemies will show you’re children of God. Jesus is our model here – the son of God.

Verse 48 mentions that we are to be perfect. A better translation here might bb “complete” or “mature”

God gave instructions for how the Hebrews should run their society, their nation. The passage in Exodus that contains “Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth” (Ex 21:24) is a lengthy section that puts forth instruction for the way their society should deal with different offenses. These words are used again in Leviticus 24:17-21 in the same way:

If a malicious witness takes the stand to accuse a man of a crime, the two men involved in the dispute must stand in the presence of the LORD before the priests and the judges who are in office at the time. The judges must make a thorough investigation, and if the witness proves to be a liar, giving false testimony against his brother, then do to him as he intended to do to his brother. You must purge the evil from among you. The rest of the people will hear of this and be afraid, and never again will such an evil thing be done among you. Show no pity: life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot.

These words, “Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth” were given to guide the Hebrew people as a society or nation in dealing with violations of the laws. The problem we see in the text for today is that the individual in the Jewish culture 2,000 years ago often adopted the nation’s judicial guidelines as their individual disposition.

When the judicial role God assigns to the government becomes the identity of the individual we, as individuals, will think from a foundation of power and control, not love and service.

Lev 19:18 – Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against one of your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD.

Romans 12:17-21 – Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. On the contrary:
“If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

1 Cor 4:12-13 – …When we are cursed, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure it; when we are slandered, we answer kindly. Up to this moment we have become the scum of the earth, the refuse of the world.

1Thes 5:15 – Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else.

1 Peter 3:9 – Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.

The foundation from which we deal with those around us in not earthly power or intimidation, or coercion – it should be love. Over and over again the New Testament writers say love is the reality that shows we are trusting in Jesus first.