Eye for and Eye

Most everyone would agree that if someone commits a crime the punishment should not exceed the damage done to the victim by the crime, at least until they become the victim, then all holds are removed and no amount of punishment is to much. If you do a quick internet search on the term an eye for an eye it will tell you that the phrase was first stated by Cicero in106 BC as he spoke about letting the punishment fit the crime. However the truth is that the phrase truly originated as a part of the mosaic law way back in 1500 BC. The concept of an eye for eye, is part of the Mosaic Law used in the Israelites’ justice system. The principle is that the punishment must fit the crime and there should be a just penalty for evil actions. If there is serious injury, you are to take life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burn for burn, wound for wound, bruise for bruise.

Exodus 21:23-25 ESV But if there is harm, then you shall pay life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burn for burn, wound for wound, stripe for stripe. 

This concept remains a core principle of criminal justice to this day. There are even traces of it in the Eighth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, according to which excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted. When someone hurts us; we want to hurt them back. Getting even is a natural response to being wronged, but God calls us to live above our natural responses. Retaliation for harm done is the world’s way of making things right. But God’s way is to heap burning coals on his head by refusing to stoop to the level of the offender. Proverbs 25 tells us If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink, for you will heap burning coals on his head, and the Lord will reward you. When we retaliate with evil for evil, we join our offender in his error, his sin. In the sermon on the mount Jesus told us not to return evil for evil, but to overcome evil with good. Getting even is a natural response to being wronged, but God's way is almost always opposite of my way.

Romans 5: 38-42 ESV 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. 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. 

When we retaliate we take matters out of God’s hands and insist on fixing things ourselves. These commands against retaliation are for individuals, and they should not be applied in matters of law enforcement. When we try to apply Jesus’ words about loving others to matters of national security, they fall apart. Jesus’ followers are to seek to practice every scriptural principle in their personal and family lives. But governments must operate by a different standard. Government was instituted by God for the common good of a people. There are times when a nation must retaliate in order to preserve its freedom and its people, such as the United States’ response to Japan’s bombing of Pearl Harbor in 1941. A nation is given permission by God to exercise force and retaliate against other nations in defense of its citizens.

Romans 13:1-2 ESV Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed