(Day 24)
Another commandment Jesus mentioned
during the Sermon on the Mount is the Retribution Law:
* Law
of Retribution
(Matthew 5:38) You have heard that it was said, 'An eye for an eye
and a tooth for a tooth.'
 |
| an eye for an eye |
This is where we find this law:
(Leviticus 24:19-22) 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. Whoever kills an animal shall make it good, and whoever kills a person
shall be put to death. You shall have the same rule for the sojourner and for
the native, for I am the LORD your God.
The intention of the Law of
Retribution is restitution, not vengeance. When someone damages or looses
someone else’s property, he is required to restore it. The courts of justice
were in charge of determining which retribution was fair, in case the exact
object couldn’t be replaced.
Some have taken these verses as a
“license for vengeance”, but this is not the spirit of the Law. The Bible
speaks of justice, but not of taking justice into our own hands. We must leave
vengeance in God’s hands and justice into the hands of capable authorities.
The Torah itself clearly states that
we should not avenge ourselves.
(Leviticus 19:18) You shall not take vengeance
or bear a grudge against the sons of your own people, but you shall love your
neighbor as yourself: I am the LORD.
If someone has been evil or unfair
with me, does this give me the right to act in the same way towards him? Jesus
teaches us how we must act:
(Matthew 5:39-42) 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 anyone 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 teaches us to overcome the
offenses, not by taking vengeance or lowering ourselves to the level of the
offenders, but by acting appropriately. When we take vengeance or repay “evil
for evil”, the offense is not removed, it is multiplied.
(Romans 12:17-21) Repay no one evil for evil,
but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so
far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge
yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written,
"Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord." To the contrary,
"if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something
to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head." Do not
be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
(1 Thessalonians 5:15) See that no one repays anyone
evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone.
(Proverbs 20:22) Do not say, "I will
repay evil"; wait for the LORD, and he will deliver you.
PRAYER
Lord, I must admit that in my heart
there are times when I wanted to take vengeance when someone has wronged me. But
I recognize that I must not take vengeance in my own hands. Vengeance is yours,
Lord.
I will not lift my hand against my
enemy, so that evil is not multiplied. I will not pay evil for evil. On the
contrary, I have decided to do that which is good. Teach me, Lord, to love
those around me as you love them. Teach me to be humble and merciful.
I will wait for you, Lord, because you
will deliver me. I trust that you will bring sentence. Be my Judge, Lord. Plead
my cause and deliver me from evil.
[1 Samuel 24:12,15; Prov. 20:22; 1
Tes. 5:15]
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