Bible eye for an eye5/31/2023 ![]() Provide things honest in the sight of all men. Romans 12:17-19 - Recompense to no man evil for evil. We never have to allow anyone or anything to create that block by allowing God's eternal Presence to express, we will always prevail.Matthew 5:38-39 - Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: (Read More.)Įxodus 21:24 - Eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, Nothing is more damaging to our strength and well-being than allowing stress and anger to block us from feeling the power and joy of God's love. Instead of wasting time and energy on resentment and anger, we gain the infinite strength and serenity of God. When we surrender our own attempts to struggle and resist, and instead focus on allowing God to express through us, the stress and strain of life are instantly eased. We know and affirm that the only energy at work in the world is the Power of God. It represents the clearest path to the kingdom in our individual lives as well. Nonresistance remains a powerful political attitude in the world today, as was made clear last week with the dramatic events in Egypt. And the downtrodden victim has become a gracious gift-giver, an expression of the love that is God. The soldier, who had been dominant thanks to the power of Rome, is now the recipient of a gift, thanks to the power of love. Now the energy of the situation has completely shifted. The first mile may be forced, but the second will be a freely given gift. Instead of begrudging the Roman soldier the mile of service that he demanded, go two miles instead. ![]() Jesus responds to the situation by emphasizing the power of nonresistance. Their own Law was powerless in the face of greater Roman might. Jews understandably found the forced labor to be humiliating, but they were unable to refuse or resist. One of the most hated conditions of Roman occupation was that the Roman soldiers, as they marched across the land, could legally force any Jewish male to carry the soldier's pack for a distance of one mile. The land of Israel at the time Jesus spoke was under the domination of Rome evidence of this foreign occupation was everywhere, causing much anger and resentment among Jews who were nonetheless powerless to act against it. Of the several examples Jesus uses in the passage, one in particular would have shocked and confused his original listeners. We must understand the spiritual power of nonresistance. If we are to continue to grow into a full expression of the Power of God, however, we must embrace a new perspective. "An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth" is sufficient for a primitive level of justice when we are struggling through the wilderness dimension of our human adventure. Not all actions allowable under the Law are right and appropriate for our new level of awareness. It’s not that the Law of Hebrew scripture is wrong it’s that Jesus is calling us to a more advanced dimension of spiritual awareness. But in the bigger picture, how does this help me? Comment:Īgain and again in the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus takes his listeners beyond the well-established standards of the Law into a new dimension of spiritual understanding. Why? I've been doing this recently and it's been a humbling experience for me. ![]() Why did Jesus Christ teach that we should not seek revenge? It's my understanding that we should actually pray for our enemies. But if any one strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also" (Matthew 5:38-39 RSV). “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 one who is evil.
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