Matthew 5:38 ¶ Ye have
heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth:
39 But I say unto you, That ye resist
not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the
other also. 40 And if any man will sue
thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloke also.
41 And whosoever shall compel thee to go
a mile, go with him twain. 42 Give to
him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou
away.
This is a very intriguing passage which opens up a lot of
discussion about the intent of the Law given to Moses itself. Let me post what
I wrote about this in my discussion of the Law.
“Leviticus 24:17 And he
that killeth any man shall surely be put to death. 18 And he that killeth a beast shall make it
good; beast for beast. 19 And if a man
cause a blemish in his neighbour; as he hath done, so shall it be done to him;
20 Breach for breach, eye for eye, tooth
for tooth: as he hath caused a blemish in a man, so shall it be done to him again.
21 And he that killeth a beast, he shall
restore it: and he that killeth a man, he shall be put to death. 22 Ye shall have one manner of law, as well for
the stranger, as for one of your own country: for I am the LORD your
God. 23 And Moses spake to the children
of Israel, that they should bring forth him that had cursed out of the camp,
and stone him with stones. And the children of Israel did as the LORD commanded
Moses.
…we see the eye for an eye and
tooth for a tooth admonition which skeptics insist was a very barbaric standard
of justice. However, it must be noted that there is another side to this. In a
brutal and violent world justice was uneven and the social status of the victim
was important as was the social status of the guilty party. As we see by
context God is leveling the playing field by insisting on one standard of
justice for all.
If a beast was killed its
value was restored and if a man was killed the murderer was to suffer death.
This was for everyone, not just, as laws typically were, weapons against the
poor and powerless to maintain a social regime. I have read in some historic
cultures that if a commoner’s shadow even crossed a nobleman’s the commoner
could be killed and the rich quite often simply took that which belonged to the
poor without compensation. See David’s anger at the parable Nathan tells him in
2Samuel 12. This is why I think looking at this admonition as comparable to
arsonists in Rome being burnt alive or a person who threw acid in someone’s
face today in an Islamic nation having acid thrown in their face as ordered by
a court is the wrong way of looking at this passage.
This is about equal justice in
a world where there was none. Verse 22 here in Leviticus 24 is the key to
understanding this doctrine in context.” UNQUOTE
God, and Jesus Christ is God
as God the Father is God, is the Supreme Court of the Universe
Hebrews 12:23 To the general assembly and church of the
firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the
spirits of just men made perfect,
Revelation 19:11 And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white
horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in
righteousness he doth judge and make war.
He is explaining
the detail of the meaning of the Law to these Jews specifically under Roman
occupation so be careful how you apply this to yourself.
Verse 39 is a reference whose
context is very important to keep us from doing wrong and saying that it is
God’s will. In the Southern United States among African-Americans there is a
custom whereby a man might slap another man who has offended him in some way or
just as a challenge. The challenge is to his manhood. It is an insult called,
“takin’ his manhood.” If the person slapped doesn’t respond violently he has
lost his manhood. The person doing the slapping is gambling on the belief that
the person slapped is weaker and afraid. Ultimately, though, it is an insult
and an effort to dominate.
Evil in
this context is a malicious act, an act of violence intent to do some king of
harm.
See this context;
Genesis 37:20 Come now therefore, and let us slay him, and
cast him into some pit, and we will say, Some evil beast hath devoured him: and
we shall see what will become of his dreams.
And then, later in Matthew as
Jesus said, it is trouble;
Matthew 6:34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for
the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day
is the evil thereof.
We can also see evil as
trouble and calamity that comes from judgment and the opposite of peace, and it
is caused by God.
Isaiah 45:7 I form the light, and create darkness: I make
peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things.
Traditionally, this passage
has been interpreted as a call to not only not get personal revenge but of a
complete disdain for the demands of machismo and response to tyranny. Eternity
is a long time and the disrespect you might have to endure here is meaningless
so if you appear to be groveling and submissive that’s okay. However, I find
that a rather lazy way to view this passage.
Look at the context. Here is a
command not to seek personal revenge. Then, there is a command to go beyond
what the Law requires of you. This is a way to show your obedience to Christ. Commentators
report that Romans were quartered in Jewish homes and Jews could be required to
carry their equipment for a set distance as laborers.
Remember what Paul commanded
the Christian.
Romans 12:18 If it be possible, as much as lieth in you,
live peaceably with all men.
Paul warns us to live our
lives for Christ not engaging the world in foolish disputations and arguments
trying to prove a point. We have more important work to do. When I am tempted
to post a harsh political argument on Facebook and Twitter I am often compelled
to remember that I am on there to post my videos and to witness for the God of
the Bible and the God of history. I often then delete posts I’ve made because
my purpose there is not to make a clever political point or start an argument.
My purpose there is to release my content and see what God does with it.
Christians need to get the
chips off their shoulders. The enemy is doing terrible things to us and to this
country and we can’t see it as it happens as we keep our chins held too high
and our noses in the air usually out of joint. See God’s desire in the
following.
1Timothy 2:1 ¶ I exhort
therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and
giving of thanks, be made for all men; 2
For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet
and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. 3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight
of God our Saviour; 4 Who will have all
men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.
Our best form of
resistance to the world is to obey Christ, not holding the things the world
regards as important as important. Choose your battles carefully and wisely and
don’t compromise your faith in getting what you perceive as your proper
respect.
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