1 Retaliation disallowed

Mt 5.38 is a good example of how the Rabbis and Scribes had corrupted the original meaning of many aspects of the Law through their commentaries on it and their teaching of it. The Law actually employed the “eye for an eye” principle in two ways, neither of which was what the Rabbis had constructed. The first way, Ex 21.22-25 and Lev 24.19-20, specified and limited the punishment of someone who injured another in a fight. The second way, Dt 19.16-21) specified the punishment of people who falsely accused others and controlled the extent of the punishment, limiting it to the punishment the false-accuser intended for his victim.

The Rabbis had corrupted this Law in teaching the “eye for an eye” principle applied to personal retaliation, which it most certainly did not. In Mt 5.39-41 Jesus explicitly rejected their use of the “eye for an eye” principle this way, saying personal retaliation is and never was allowed.

Matthew 5:38–41 (ESV)

38“You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’

39But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.

40And if anyone would sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well.

41And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles.

Exodus 21:22–25 (ESV)

22“When men strive together and hit a pregnant woman, so that her children come out, but there is no harm, the one who hit her shall surely be fined, as the woman’s husband shall impose on him, and he shall pay as the judges determine.

23But if there is harm, then you shall pay life for life,

24eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot,

25burn for burn, wound for wound, stripe for stripe.

Leviticus 24:19–20 (ESV)

19If anyone injures his neighbor, as he has done it shall be done to him,

20fracture for fracture, eye for eye, tooth for tooth; whatever injury he has given a person shall be given to him.

Deuteronomy 19:16–21 (ESV)

16If a malicious witness arises to accuse a person of wrongdoing,

17then both parties to the dispute shall appear before the LORD, before the priests and the judges who are in office in those days.

18The judges shall inquire diligently, and if the witness is a false witness and has accused his brother falsely,

19then you shall do to him as he had meant to do to his brother. So you shall purge the evil from your midst.

20And the rest shall hear and fear, and shall never again commit any such evil among you.

21Your eye shall not pity. It shall be life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot.