I wanted to go to what Jesus said about this in Matthew chapter five, verses 38 through 40. This is what the Holy Spirit put on my heart to read today.
Matthew chapter five, verse 38: You have heard that it was said, an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. So what is Jesus saying here? Jesus is referring to the law we just read in Exodus chapter 21. He said, you’ve heard that. That’s what the law says. That’s why you’ve heard it. You’ve heard that it said, an eye for an eye, tooth for tooth. We just heard that in Exodus chapter 21, verse 24: eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot. So Jesus is referring to this.
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. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. This is very interesting because Jesus is not necessarily referring to a pregnant woman at all. He did not talk about the pregnant woman. What happens to her babies that come out too early if they die? It does not seem like he is changing that law. That law still exists. If you cause a lady to lose her children, then life for life.
What he is saying is an extension of that very law, saying do not resist the one who is evil. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. I see in my mind the nonviolent movement with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Mahatma Gandhi. I see protestors who were nonviolent, who allowed violence to come upon them — water hoses, slaps, hits, beatings, dogs — all sorts of violence happened to them simply because they were protesting. They were peacefully righting a wrong, and they allowed the authorities who wanted to stop the protest to carry on their violence without retaliation. That is what this reminds me of.
More importantly, it reminds me of what our Lord, Yeshua the Messiah, Jesus Christ did himself. Let’s read it again so we can stay in context. Matthew chapter five, verse 38: 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. 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. Give to the one who begs from you and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you.
God bless, Shirah Chante,your relationship coach and artist
P.S. This is just one powerful moment from the episode. To hear the full teaching and how this connects to Jesus’ words in Matthew 5, listen to the entire Perfect Body podcast Mishpatim: An Eye for An Eyeepisode.
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