‘You have heard that it was said, “An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.” But I say to you, Do not resist an evildoer. But if anyone strikes you on the right cheek, turn the other also.’

Anyone who kills an animal shall make restitution for it, life for life. Anyone who maims another shall suffer the same injury in return: fracture for fracture, eye for eye, tooth for tooth; the injury inflicted is the injury to be suffered. One who kills an animal shall make restitution for it; but one who kills a human being shall be put to death. You shall have one law for the alien and for the citizen: for I am the Lord your God.

Matthew 5:38-39

‘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 an evildoer. But if anyone strikes you on the right cheek, turn the other also;

‘An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth’ is a well-known saying; it isn’t obvious that it comes directly from the Old Testament. What do we make of it, given that Jesus famously commands a better way?

The saying comes in the context of a judicial system, rather than individual piety. ‘An eye for an eye’ establishes two essential principles: proportionality and judgement by a third party. When people are hurt, especially gravely hurt, they often want to lash out in revenge. This law ensures that justice is served rather than revenge – it limits retribution. ‘An eye for eye’ states that punishment must fit the crime, but never exceed it. Because judgement is arbitrated by a third party – the law – it affirms that justice is not just about individuals, but about the whole community looking after its members, witnessing to hurt and refusing to condone evil.

How can you tell whether you want justice or revenge?

Think about how we should respond when others treat us badly

If we always did bad things to those who do bad things to us, would that be ‘fair’?

Or is there another way?

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