Avenging, Matthew 5:38-42

This post concerns avenging those who treat you badly.

Avenging as a post discusses what to do when treated badly, Matthew 5:38-42. “You have heard that it … said, ‘An eye for an eye and a 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. And if … would sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you.”

Jesus targets a perversion by the Pharisees of God’s rule on retaliation in Leviticus 24:19-20. “If anyone injures his neighbor, as he has done it shall be done to him, fracture for fracture, eye for eye, tooth for tooth; whatever injury he has given a person shall be given to him.” The Pharisees warped this rule, meant to limit punitive action to the extent of injury, to being a personal right when harmed.

The people of neighboring countries showed much more forceful retaliation. If you hurt someone, he would feel justified in murdering you. God gave the above rule to provide a just payment for offenses. They could only recover the exact offense done to them—no more. But the Pharisees taught retaliation as a right, devoid of love and care for others. They could then return harm with more harm.

Jesus raises harm and retaliation to a higher level while not elevating the person harmed with a special right. Instead, the person should think of doing good to the offender.

This fits what the Apostle Paul wrote, Romans 12:19. “Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, …, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.”

So, what did we learn?

1.We should never repay evil with additional evil.

2.We should provide a loving response to harsh treatment.

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#NoVengences #treatOffendersWithLove #eyeForEye