lex talionis: The Law of Retaliation
Matt
5:38
Ye
have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for
a tooth:
Matt
5:39
But
I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite
thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.
Matt
5:40
And
if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him
have thy
cloke also.
Matt
5:41
And
whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain.
Matt
5:42
Give
to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn
not thou away.
All
of us have in one time or another have wanted to get even. “REVENGE”.
A
lot of us were brought up with T.V. shows and movies that will
promote revenge.
Even
countries will take revenge on certain groups or people. Todays
current events are filled with violent acts of evil. The news we
watch and/or read, are all about what the devil has been doing for
the day.
We
live in a nation that claim 70% of the people are Christian.
I am not here to judge your
walk with the Lord, but we will know them by there fruit.
(Matthew 7:17-18) Lets
face it, we live in a country that for the most part does not live up
to a 70% Christian culture.
Jesus
tells us to turn the other cheek. To truly be able to do this takes
great restraint. We have to always remember that vengeance is the
Lord's. (Romans
12:19)
Before
the days of Moses revenge was sought privately.
People
would punish the wrong doer out their anger, and they would take it
way
too far. There many stories in the bible about this
very thing. Genesis 4:23-24
Lamech, For
I have slain a man for wounding me. Genesis
34 Simeon and Levi, got
revenge for the violation of their sister Dinah. There
are several more instances of people seeking revenge.
They all end badly.
God
gave Moses this law to bring order to the Israelites. The
Mosaic law laid down the rule of punishment by the magistrate, to
bring judgment,
which the wrong doer had committed against a complainant. Leviticus
24:20 Exodus 21:24.
It was life for life, eye for eye,
tooth for tooth, this
is, no doubt, for the magistrate. This
was to satisfy the injured person.
This
law is for the protection of man against himself.
But
the Jews introduced this principle of retaliation back into private
life. Each man became judge for himself when and how far it should be
inflicted. Thereby the principle of revenge was cultivated, and all
appeasement became dishonorable.
Jesus
brings this law up in the sermon on the mount, and adds to it, for
the followers of the new covenant.
If
we did not have this 1 law, it would be unsafe for you to go
anywhere.
It is the Golden Rule: Matt
7:12 Therefore
all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even
so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.
We
are to walk in the Love and Glory of our Lord Jesus, to bring His
peace upon everyone we come in contact with, of any culture, or any
walks of life. We do not know when we will every have the chance to
witness the gospel to any person before their departure. The things
that happen in this life are just temporary, but when someone leaves
this life it will be forever. I don't want to see anyone go to Hell.
So if your ever persecuted in your walk with our Lord always show the
Love Jesus to them. It will be a lasting impression of your Godly
restraint.
I
will leave you with this last verse that
says it all:
Matt
5:44
But
I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good
to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you,
and persecute you;
