“You shall pay for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot burn for burn, wound for wound, stripe for stripe.” (Exodus 21:25)

 God seems to extract harsh judgements for those who commit these offences. 

It would seem in this passage from the Torah (the laws of Old Testament) condones an extreme and retaliatory brand of justice. This passage is often used to contrast harsh justice to Yeshua’s message of grace and mercy.

“You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and tooth for a tooth”, but 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.” (Matthew 5:38-39)

It appears that Yeshua is telling his disciples that the Torah prescribed one method of dealing with offenses, but He is now prescribing a different one.  Where the Torah endorsed strict, retaliatory justice, Yeshua endorses mercy and grace.  But is this really what He is teaching His disciples?

So, when Yeshua makes the statement, “You have heard that it was said, an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth”, what is He trying to say?

These laws served a two-fold purpose.  First, they were for the protection of those who incur damages at the hands of others.  Most importantly, however, they were for the person who was liable for the damages (the offender), to take personal responsibility for the harm of others.  These laws were never created for retaliation.  Not to extract more punishment than was inflicted.

This legislation addresses and instructs them how they should attempt to compensate for the damage they have caused, giving the court a basis of value by which it can define the compensation. 

What Yeshua does, on the other hand, is address the victim.  By saying, “if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.”  He specifically addresses the response of the victim, rather than the responsibility of the offender, who has already been address by the Torah laws.  

He makes it clear that when we are wronged, when we incur damages, we are not to demand restitution.  We are to treat others with the same mercy which we would desire to receive if the tables were reversed. 

The law addresses the offender, while Yeshua addresses the victim.  Yeshua upholds Torah completely and instructs us on how to live beyond the letter of the law to the greater spirit of holiness that the Torah embodies.

  It would honor our Master if we remember this principle the next time someone wrongs us, and we are tempted to demand what we deem is justice. 

            “Do unto others, as you would have them do to you. “