Eye For Eye

Has anyone ever hurt you? I mean physically I believe it's safe to say that at one point in our lives someone has physically hurt us. As kids we get into all kinds of scrapes. But what about emotionally? Yeah. that to is a safe bet to assume that we have all had our feelings hurt at one point or another.

What did you do when that happened? Did you take revenge?

Welcome to Soldier for Christ.

You probably can already guess where I am going with this one today. And you are not wrong.

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ -Matthew 5:38

Now here when Jesus is talking he is referring to Exodus 21:24, Leviticus 24:20, and Deuteronomy 19:21.

eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, - Exodus 21:24

fracture for fracture, eye for eye, tooth for tooth. The one who has inflicted the injury must suffer the same injury. -Leviticus 24:20

Show no pity: life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot. -Deuteronomy 19:21

There were all part of the law that was handed down. And as it said, show no pity. It was pretty clear. An eye, for an eye. And in the Leviticus verse it straight out says that whoever caused the harm, the suffering, the pain, must undergo the same. Whatever it may have been. Not much to get confused there.

But then Jesus walks up and the tips this on its end and people just did not know what to do. Here is what Jesus said...

But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also. And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well. If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles. Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you. -Matthew 5:39-42

Do you see the stark contrast here? The old law was to do unto others what was done to you. Jesus came and said no. Do unto others what you would have done to you. To go one step further. Not to return violence with violence. But to... and I say this all the time... Love. It all comes back to Love. To love others as he has loved us. Period. Full stop.

People are going to wrong us in life. It's not always easy and we were never promised that. But we cannot and must not return evil for evil. We must turn the other cheek, hand over your coat, go two miles and not turn away the one who wants to borrow.

and to do this we will need to ...

Press on and fight the good fight as a Solder for Christ.