“But if there is harm, then you shall pay life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burn for burn, wound for wound, stripe for stripe.”

Exodus 21:23–25 (ESV)

God gave laws to control violence in a place where there were neither police nor prisons. The laws were necessary to provide a sufficient deterrent so that people would turn from evil. Where there are inadequate consequences for wrongdoing, evil thrives. This is a big problem in our society today.

God’s law provided a just standard by which judges could effectively prosecute crimes. Criminals would be punished and victims would be compensated. This is a primary role of government.

An “eye for an eye” and a “tooth for a tooth” was a judicial standard for judges to effectively sentence. The human tendency is to pay back worse than what you’ve suffered. This would prevent that practice and ensure that the punishment the criminal received was consequential.

Now in Jesus’ day people used the “eye for an eye” concept to justify personal revenge. Therefore, Jesus corrected this in the Sermon on the Mount:

“You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. If anyone wants to sue you and take away your tunic, let him have your cloak also. And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two. Give to him who asks you, and from him who wants to borrow from you do not turn away.”

Matthew 5:38–42 (NKJV)

Now obviously, there are limits to this. (The Lord doesn’t want you to keep getting pounded!) But the idea is that we are not to harbor an attitude of revenge. Neither are we to bear grudges. Rather, we are to seek opportunities to overcome evil with good (Romans 12:21) in the hope of reconciling relationships and winning souls to Christ.

Are there people who have hurt you whom you want to “pay back”? Pray for them to repent and pray for yourself that God would give you His heart for them. Are there people whom you’ve offended? Then be quick to own your fault, humble yourself, and seek to put it right. These things are never easy, but they are the way of peace.

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