Understanding “An Eye for an Eye”

Most Christians are familiar with major Old Testament stories like Adam and Eve in the

Garden, Moses leading the Israelites through the Red Sea, and Jonah being swallowed

by a whale. However, much of the Old Testament is often overlooked. Understandably,

our focus is on Jesus—His life and His teachings. Even when people read through the

Bible, they often find Genesis and Exodus engaging but get bogged down when they

encounter long lists of laws and details about sacrifices and temple measurements.

Many shy away from this part of Scripture, especially the portrayal of God as

demanding justice through strict measures like "an eye for an eye".

We live in a culture fascinated with revenge. From movies where bad guys get what

they deserve to the political arena, vengeance is celebrated. Secretly, many of us feel

that people who have wronged us deserve punishment, despite God’s clear command:

“Vengeance is mine, I will repay” (Deuteronomy 32:35; Romans 12:19; Hebrews 10:30).

Still, the temptation to take matters into our own hands remains strong. People often

turn to Old Testament passages like Exodus 21:24—“eye for eye, tooth for tooth”—to

justify retaliation. But is this what God intended?

To understand this phrase, we need to go back to the original context in Exodus 21.

This is where God gave Moses laws to govern the nation of Israel after their release

from Egypt. These laws, including the "eye for an eye" command, were meant to ensure

that punishments fit the crime and did not exceed the offense. In particular, this phrase

was used in cases of violence that harmed a pregnant woman or her unborn child, the

punishment was to match the severity of the injury.

This law was a matter of justice, not personal revenge. It was designed to ensure

fairness in legal settings, preventing excessive punishment for minor offenses. But over

time, this law began to be misunderstood, with people using it to justify personal

retaliation.

In the New Testament, Jesus directly addresses the misuse of the "eye for an eye"

principle. In Matthew 5:38-42, He says: “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 the one who is evil. But if

anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also...”

Jesus redefines how His followers should approach offenses. Instead of seeking

revenge, He calls us to forgive, turn the other cheek, and respond to wrongdoing with

kindness. Rather than upholding a personal right to retaliate, Jesus teaches us to leave

justice to God and the courts while showing generosity and grace to those who wrong

us.

This doesn’t mean allowing people to take advantage of us, but it does call us to give

generously to those in need and to avoid harboring a desire for revenge. Jesus’ call is to

love even our enemies, reflecting the same love He showed us while we were still

sinners (Romans 5:8).

Paul echoes Jesus’ teaching in Romans 12:19-21: “Beloved, never avenge yourselves,

but leave it to the wrath of God... If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give

him something to drink... Do not be overcome by evil but overcome evil with good.”

By leaving vengeance in God’s hands, we allow healing to begin. Retaliation keeps

wounds open, but forgiveness brings peace.

As followers of Christ, we are called to a higher standard when we are wronged. Instead

of seeking revenge, we are to trust in God’s justice and respond with grace, just as

Jesus did. By doing so, we reflect His love; demonstrate the power of forgiveness; and

experience peace in our own lives. So let us commit to living in peace, overcoming evil

with good, and trusting that God’s justice will ultimately prevail.