"You Have Heard it Said, 'An Eye for an Eye.'"

Scripture

“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.” (Matthew 5:38)

Reflection

As we continue our reading in the Sermon on the Mount (now for the fourth week in a row in oue Sunday lectionary of readings), it seems Jesus’ sayings become more and more difficult to swallow!

How many times have we appealed to “an eye for an eye . . .” as if it demanded justice appropriate to the crime? In fact, the Old Testament law that Jesus quotes was put in place to limit and to restrain escalating violence in retaliation of a wrong committed, not to demand it.

It’s one thing to restrain retribution and appropriate consequences; it’s quite another not to resist. Jesus' call to non-violence seems an assault on our system of justice, to say nothing of common sense.

I wonder if it is helpful to distinguish between evil committed against us as individuals or a community of believers (Jesus’ “you” is plural, not singular) in contrast to violence against our neighbor. What does it mean to love our neighbor and to “do justice” in the face of threat?

Prayer

Gracious God, Empower us to live by Jesus’ words of non-violence. Give us wisdom and discernment as we seek to do your will. In Jesus’ name. Amen.