#EYE FOR AN EYE AND A TOOTH FOR A TOOTH HOW TO#
#EYE FOR AN EYE AND A TOOTH FOR A TOOTH CODE#

Was He refuting the law? According to scholars, no.

He continued in verses 43-44: вЂњYou have heard that it was said, вЂLove your neighbor and hate youвЂ™re your enemy.вЂ™ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.вЂќ If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also,вЂќ ( Matthew 5:38-39, NIV). He told the people, вЂњYou have heard that it was said, вЂEye for Eye and tooth for tooth.вЂ™ But I tell you, do not resist an evil person.

#EYE FOR AN EYE AND A TOOTH FOR A TOOTH HOW TO#

His statement came at the conclusion of His discussion on how to live in a way that honors God. Some people find JesusвЂ™ quotation of Leviticus 24 confusing and contradictory ( Matthew 5). вЂњInstead, God intended it as a limit-so no man or judge would be able to make up His own judgement.вЂќ Did Jesus Contradict 'An Eye for an Eye'

вЂњMany people have taken вЂeye for eye, tooth for toothвЂќ as a command,вЂќ he wrote. The phrase, вЂњan eye for an eye,вЂќ could also be stated as, вЂњOneвЂ™s punishment must be equal to but not greater than the crime.вЂќДavid Guzik from the Enduring Word suggests GodвЂ™s statement actually reveals GodвЂ™s mercy. GodвЂ™s legal system, however, elevated reasonable and fair justice. In ancient Egypt, those who stole a substantial amount could lose a nose, their hands, or feet, or face execution. In many parts of the ancient world, the accused often experienced cruel and severe punishments. Scripture made it clear by including the sojourner and native-born alike that all mankind has equal value and therefore must be treated equally. For example, a child who murdered their mother or father was tortured in horrific ways, laid on a bed of thorns, then burned alive, while a parent who killed a child merely had to hold the dead body for three days and nights.

#EYE FOR AN EYE AND A TOOTH FOR A TOOTH CODE#

For example, ancient BabylonвЂ™s Hammurabi Law Code treated slaves, commoners, men, women, and the nobility differently. This wouldвЂ™ve been a revolutionary concept during Bible times when neighboring nations enforced varying penalties based on oneвЂ™s status. Our courts operate in a similar manner today when one makes restitution for medical bills, lost wages, and any physical and emotional suffering experienced.ДЄn eye for an eye demonstrated that all life had inherent and irreplaceable value. In other words, the one at fault needed to compensate the victim for all damages incurred. In fact, many scholars suggest Rabbis of the Talmud never took the phrase вЂњan eye for an eyeвЂќ literally but rather viewed it as a guideline for appropriate monetary compensation. These ordinances were not meant to encourage revenge or to be used in interpersonal relationships. Leviticus 24, which speaks of вЂњan eye for an eyeвЂќ coincides with Exodus 21 both detail laws for governing the nation. How Cultures Enforced 'An Eye for an Eye' With these rules for living established, God then gave the priests, ancient IsraelвЂ™s governing body, what scholars refer to as the Levitical laws. The people were to honor, obey, and worship God and treat one another with the same kindness and respect with which they wanted to be treated. GodвЂ™s original directives, then, guided the people in their relationships with God and one another and clarified what loving interactions donвЂ™t look like. Jesus summarized and simplified GodвЂ™s rules when He said the most important one was to love the Lord as the One true God with all that we are and to love our neighbors as ourselves ( Mark 12:30-31, NIV). Rather, in teaching Israel how to relate to God and one another, they pointed them to freedom. These guidelines for living were never meant to confine. And so, two months into their journey to the Promised Land, God called Moses, their leader up to Mount Sinai to receive whatвЂ™s known as the Ten Commandments. After living under such oppression in a pagan land, the Israelites hadnвЂ™t a clue how to relate to God or govern themselves. He gave Moses what scholars refer to as the Levitical law shortly after their escape from Egypt. What Does 'An Eye for an Eye' Mean - Historical ContextДЄs with all biblical text, GodвЂ™s statement regarding вЂњlife for life,вЂќ вЂњfracture for fracture,вЂќ вЂњeye for eye,вЂќ and вЂњtooth for tooth,вЂќ must be read in its historical and literary context.

Eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth