We must always remember that Jesus came to “fulfill” the Law of God–not abolish it. Jesus came to show us what God really meant because we just plain get it wrong so very often! You’ve heard an “‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’, but what does that really mean? Join me once again as we look at the truth of Jesus, the truth upside down in this world.
“An Eye For An Eye Will Make The Whole World Blind” ~~ Mahatma Ghandi
I love what Jesus is saying here, why? Because it’s a great illustration of how the Israelites–JUST LIKE US TODAY–take Scripture out of context and apply our own distorted truth to it!
Matthew 5:38-39 (TNIV)
38 You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ 39 But I tell you, do not resist an evil person.
This comes straight from God’s wisdom in the Old Testament Scriptures. We often look at this passage and stand strong in “exacting revenge”– “An eye for eye, and tooth for tooth” we yell!
But…..this is actually a passage that was repeated throughout the Old Testament whose purpose was to CUT DOWN on violence, not increase it!
An “Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth” actually is saying ‘”if somebody wrongs you then they need to pay back just what they’ve wronged, not more”. So, this wisdom was a way to CURB excessive revenge–not justify it!
Plus, in Exodus, in Leviticus and in Deuteronomy, where this passage, this thought, has it’s roots it’s always applied to the actions in a court of law, by judges, NOT to the actions taken by people as individuals.
May we look at the truth of Jesus and apply it to our lives learning that this truth actually brings peace, fulfillment and happiness to our lives and to this world.
Ghandi was right, “An Eye For An Eye Will Make The Whole World Blind”!