"38Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: 39But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also." (Matthew 5: 38-39)
Where does the statement about rendering an eye for an eye, or a tooth for a tooth come from?
First reference is found in Exodus:
"And if any mischief follow, then thou shalt give life for life, 24Eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, 25Burning for burning, wound for wound, stripe for stripe." (Exodus 21: 23-25)
But before eye or tooth, there is the mention of life.
Guess what? Jesus gave up His life that we may receive His life!
"As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep." (John 10: 15)
Paul later writes:
"3For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. 4When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory." (Colossians 3: 3-4)
Referring back to Exodus 21 again, the first subject in the chapter has nothing to do with retribution, but a Hebrew servant:
"1Now these are the judgments which thou shalt set before them.
2If thou buy an Hebrew servant, six years he shall serve: and in the seventh he shall go out free for nothing. " (Exodus 21: 1-2)
This Hebrew servant is a picture of our Lord Jesus Christ, who declares:
"I love my master, my wife, and my children; I will not go out free:
6Then his master shall bring him unto the judges; he shall also bring him to the door, or unto the door post; and his master shall bore his ear through with an aul; and he shall serve him for ever." (Exodus 21: 5-6)
What kind of servant would first love his master, then his wife and children? Jesus, who obeyed His father, making Himself into the form of a servant (Philippians 2: 7)
The ear represents the entire human body, according to Hebrew culture:
"Sacrifice and offering thou didst not desire; mine ears hast thou opened: burnt offering and sin offering hast thou not required." (Psalm 40: 6)
Which is rendered in the New Testament, through the Greek translation of the Old Testament:
"Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me:" (Hebrews 10: 5)
And the Messiah is depicted in this wise regarding the opening of His ear:
"The Lord GOD hath opened mine ear, and I was not rebellious, neither turned away back." (Isaiah 50: 5)
The passage of eye for eye and tooth for tooth should most of all remind us that Jesus took every beating for us, that for ever sin we should have suffered for, He suffered instead!
