Matthew 5:38
“You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’
English Standard Version (ESV)
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Jesus quotes the "eye for an eye" principle, not to abolish it as a judicial standard, but to expose how people had twisted it into a justification for personal revenge. They used it to claim the right to inflict harm back on others, rather than understanding it as a limit on punishment and a safeguard against excessive vengeance.
Jesus is in the middle of unpacking the true meaning of the Law, contrasting the common interpretations of his day with God's deeper intent. He's just addressed the prohibition against murder and now shifts to retaliation, directly quoting the principle of "an eye for an eye" that people believed justified personal revenge. This sets the stage for him to reveal how his followers are called to a higher standard of non-retaliation and grace, moving beyond mere legalistic application.
You've heard the phrase 'an eye for an eye.' But what did it really mean in its original context? Was it a green light for personal vengeance?
Jesus starts by quoting the principle of 'an eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.' This wasn't a call to personal revenge. It was actually a judicial principle found in the Old Testament law (Exodus 21:24, Leviticus 24:20).
A Limit, Not a License
Think of it as a limit on punishment, not an encouragement. It meant that justice should be proportional. If someone took an eye, their punishment should be one eye, not two, and certainly not their life. It was meant to curb excessive retaliation and ensure fairness in judicial rulings. The civil magistrate was the one responsible for applying this principle, not individuals.
The Scribes' Misuse
The problem Jesus addresses is how the religious leaders of His day (the scribes) had twisted this. They used this principle as a justification for private revenge, allowing people to inflict the same injury back on the offender, often exceeding the original harm. They focused on the 'eye for an eye' part without the crucial context of judicial application and proportionality, turning a law of restraint into a license for vengeance.
Jesus doesn't just correct a misunderstanding; He introduces a radical new way of living. What happens when the principle of justice is replaced by the spirit of mercy?
While the Old Testament law provided a framework for judicial justice, Jesus pivots dramatically in the verses that follow (though we're only looking at v. 38 here). He’s setting the stage for His followers to live by a different standard—one that goes beyond mere legal fairness.
Beyond Retaliation
The principle of 'an eye for an eye' was for the courts, to ensure just punishment. But Jesus is teaching about how His followers should interact in their personal lives. Instead of seeking to balance the scales when wronged, His disciples are called to a path of self-denial and sacrificial love.
Understand the original words
ophthalmos · Greek Noun
The organ of physical sight, frequently used in biblical imagery to represent spiritual perception, desire, or the legal principle of proportional retribution (lex talionis).
odous · Greek Noun
A part of the body used in legal contexts within the Old Testament law to illustrate the principle of equivalent justice and fair compensation for injuries.
This is the Old Testament passage Jesus is directly quoting, showing the original judicial context of the 'eye for an eye' principle given to regulate societal justice, not private revenge.
Leviticus 24:20This verse further elaborates the principle of 'an eye for an eye' within the context of the Mosaic Law, highlighting its application as a measure of justice for injuries.
Deuteronomy 19:21This passage reinforces the 'eye for an eye' principle, specifically in the context of false witnesses, demonstrating its use as a deterrent and a just penalty administered by authorities.
Romans 12:17Paul echoes Jesus' teaching by urging believers not to 'repay evil for evil,' directly contrasting the natural impulse of retaliation with the call to 'bless those who persecute you' and overcome evil with good.
1 Corinthians 6:7This verse addresses the misuse of legal systems and personal grievances among believers, suggesting it is 'already a defeat' to take matters to court, aligning with Jesus' call to forgo seeking personal retribution.
clarkeMatthew 5:38: "Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth:"
An eye for an eye - Our Lord refers here to the law of retaliation mentioned See Exodus 21:24 , (see the note there, and see Leviticus 24:20 (note)), which obliged the offender to suffer the same injury he had committed. The Greeks and Romans had the same law. So strictly was it attended to at Athens, that if a man put out the eye of another who had but one, the offender was condemned to lose both…
calvinMatthew 5:38-41: "Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth:"
You have heard that it was said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth. 39. But I say to you, Do not resist evil: but whoever, shall inflict a blow on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also: 40. And to him who wishes to enter into a law-suit with thee, and to take away thy coat, allow him thy cloak also: 41. And whoever shall constrain thee to one mile, go with him two.
To him…
Jesus quotes the "eye for an eye" principle, not to abolish it as a judicial standard, but to expose how people had twisted it into a justification for personal revenge. They used it to claim the right to inflict harm back on others, rather than understanding it as a limit on punishment and a safeguard against excessive vengeance.
Jesus is in the middle of unpacking the true meaning of the Law, contrasting the common interpretations of his day with God's deeper intent. He's just addressed the prohibition against murder and now shifts to retaliation, directly quoting the principle of "an eye for an eye" that people believed justified personal revenge. This sets the stage for him to reveal how his followers are called to a higher standard of non-retaliation and grace, moving beyond mere legalistic application.
Jesus is in the middle of unpacking the true meaning of the Law, contrasting the common interpretations of his day with God's deeper intent. He's just addressed the prohibition against murder and now shifts to retaliation, directly quoting the principle of "an eye for an eye" that people believed justified personal revenge. This sets the stage for him to reveal how his followers are called to a higher standard of non-retaliation and grace, moving beyond mere legalistic application.
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A Higher Law
This isn't about a lack of justice, but a higher form of justice rooted in mercy and grace. It’s about refusing to engage in the cycle of retaliation. Jesus is preparing His disciples for a life where they will be wronged, but instead of responding in kind, they are to absorb the injury and respond with love, trust, and a willingness to suffer loss.
"“You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’" — Jesus quotes the "eye for an eye" principle, not to abolish it as a judicial standard, but to expose how people had twisted it into a justification for personal revenge. They used it to claim the rig…
