You know how some people say the "eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth" principle is barbaric? Isn't it proof of?

[oakley]

the equity of God's laws, because it prevents going overboard with punnishment - taking two eyes for one eye; taking two teeth for one tooth? Same with the law that limits the number of lashes to be administered. It's designed to prevent the criminal from being viewed as sub-human.

Now, my question also needs to be linked to what Jesus said about that in Matthew 5:21-48 (far too much to copy here). How does Jesus explain this principle?

[croslea]

The earlier law was to show how God viewed sin. The wrong done to other people was to paid for in the same measure, this included wrongs committed to God himself. With the coming of Christ and his sacrifice on the cross, the wrongs done to God were paid for in the same measure. In that we were all required to die for our sins, but Christ took our place and paid the price of sin so that we might be forgiven. In this the law was fulfilled for mankind.

Hence, he now calls for all men to forgive one another as Christ has already paid for our many wrongs. We all sin against God. Without God's forgiveness, even if they took out the other eye, it does not change your situation, you still remain a sinner. Be blessed.

[bedyw25]

the eye for an eye was direction in legalistic processes, punishment fit the crime kind of thing.
The interesting thing is, in matthew, Jesus said "you heard it was said" about an eye for an eye and then proceeded to direct followers to "turn the other cheek"
interestingly, this makes much more sense in the context of the period. The religious leaders at the time (often criticized by Jesus for their hypocrisy) used this law as a basis for revenge, a case which the original passage does not indicate. So in the minds of Jews of the day, eye for an eye may have been for revenge, which it wasn't originally intended. Jesus corrected this view.

[napayshni65]

It completely disregards intent. The most important factor in a crime.
The matthew bit just clarifies that if you dislike someone even without committing an act against them, you can be punished under jesus' law. IE thought crime.

IE is there a difference between sadistically murdering your cat, accidentally hitting your cat when it runs accross the street, or trying to rescue your dumb cat from a tree. If in every case the cat dies is the only just thing to do in each case to find a small animal i own and kill it?

[montgomery69]

Rubbish. Eye for an eye makes the world blind. If somebody does something bad, we should do the same back to them. If someone takes an eye from you, you take an eye from them. But if we do that, and all start taking each others eyes in retaliation by the end of it none of us will have eyes, and we'll be blind. Nobody cares what an old book says.
--

Thumb it down all you want but nobody ever appreciates your crap or people like you on the forum.

[donough]

Matthew 7:12 answers that question. It reads...
So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.
This compliments Romans 13:8-10 Love....the fulfillment of the Law
Love your neighbor as yourself,
Love does no harm to it's neighbor
Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.

Also read Galatians 5:14,15.

[vemados]

"Eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth" were actually the first laws developed by the Babylonians during the beginning of the dawn of civilization and actually predate Judaism and Christianity.

[burt]

You quote the Old Testament Law. It is often said to act as a restraint - that to exact revenge on someone who blinded you in one eye, you must do no more than that to him.

In a rough and bloodthirsty community that is very moderate, and in context very advanced for its time.

In todays community it is quite unacceptable, as Jesus made clear.

I'd agree with you.

[ealahweemah72]

Hello,

Jesus was trying to show that it wise wise to try a different route when dealing with revenge. Revenge may satisfy the hurt party but then again in starts a cycle of retaliation and counter retaliation which can continue on for decades or centuries. Somewhere someone has to bite the bullit, their pride and forgive in order to stop this.

Cheers,

Michael Kelly

[curney13]

Actually the ancients were struggling to verbalize an even more horrible universal truth, and that is that we must become conscious of all the suffering the we have unconsciously caused.

Kuma