Retaliation

  

Matthew 5:38  

"Ye have heard that it hath been said, 

An eye for an eye, and 

a tooth for a tooth:"

   The law of tit for tat, "An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth;" was in fact the beginning of mercy. Its original aim was definitely the limitation of vengeance. In the very earliest days the vendetta and the blood feud were characteristic of tribal society. If a man of one tribe injured a man of another tribe, then at once all the members of the tribe of the injured man were out to take vengeance on all the members of the tribe of the man who committed the injury. And the vengeance desired was nothing less than death. This sounds kind of familiar within our generation. We don't live in a tribal society, but a growing gang society. 

   This was never a law which gave a private individual the right to extract vengeance; it was always a law which laid down how a judge in the law court must assess punishment and penalty, " And the judges shall make diligent inquisition: and, behold, if the witness be a false witness, and hath testified falsely against his brother;" (Deut. 19:18) This law was never intended to give the individual person the right to indulge even in the vengeance of tit for tat. It was always intended as a guide for a judge in the assessment of the penalty which any violent or unjust deed must receive.

   Ancient ethics were based on the law of tit for tat. It is true that the law was a law of mercy; it is true that it was a law for a judge and not for a private individual; it is true that it was never literally carried out; it is true that there were accents of mercy speaking at the same time. But Jesus obliterated the very principle of that law, because retaliation, however controlled and restricted, has no place in the Christian life.

   My Friends, A Christian never thanks of his rights, but of his duties and not of his privileges, but of his responsibilities .Jesus compelled us to go one mile; and in some cases, we must willingly go two miles for a brother or sister in Christ. 

Amen!

Reading: Matt. 5:38-42

Ref: HG SB

May God Bless You

And Your Family

Minister Robert A. Lail

The Cross Life Ministry