Since Christ is the God of the Old Testament, He was not in any way nullifying this principle or the rest of the Old Testament teaching. If a person stole your property, then it is okay to take their property as well.Д¬hrist corrected this teaching. If someone punched you in the face, it is okay that you punched him back. Give to him who asks you, and from him who wants to borrow from you do not turn away.вЂќДЄpparently, the Pharisees were teaching the Jews that it was acceptable to seek personal revenge. And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also.В If anyone wants to sue you and take away your tunic, let him haveВ yourВ cloak also. вЂњYou have heard that it was said, вЂ An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.вЂ™ But I tell you not to resist an evil person.

While Jesus was giving the Sermon on the Mount, He noticed how the Jews in His day was misapplying this verse in the Old Testament. What does Jesus Christ teach about the eye for an eye principle? The judges are wise enough to make a judgment that would result in better compensation for the offended party rather than make things even worse for both sides. How can the offender make amends or help the injured if his hand would also be cut off? Obviously, one of the ways to recompense for the damage done was for the offender to work with his hands (maybe for the rest of his life) and help the injured party earn a living. It would be irrational to think that way. Imagine if someone who destroyed another personвЂ™s hand and be compelled for his hand to be cut off as well. Now, in most cases, the judges donвЂ™t carry out these punishments literally, but rather they use it as a guide. If you killed my brother, then I will kill your whole family. If you cost me my hand, then you will pay your hand and foot for it. The natural tendency of people is not just to get even, but to never be cheated. The eye-for-an-eye principle and other aspects of this verse were meant to ensure that the punishment would fit the crime and most especially to make sure that the penalty should NOT GO BEYOND the crime. The KEY to understanding this passage is to learn its INTENT. We donвЂ™t see that a literal eye was paid for an eye or a tooth for a tooth. In fact, if we read in Exodus 21:26-27, we read that if a man struck the eye of his servant or knocked his tooth, that man should let go of this servant. Yes, a judge in Israel may demand a life for a life, stripes for stripes or wound for wound for certain crimes, but we donвЂ™t see any indication that the eye-for-eye and tooth-for-tooth principle have been carried out. We donвЂ™t see any verse in the Bible that shows this principle to be literally carried out. This passage is NOT generally meant to be a literal requirement of executing judgment. To set the record straight, let us be clear here. But ifВ anyВ harm follows, then you shall give life for life, EYE FOR EYE, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot,В burn for burn, wound for wound, stripe for stripe.вЂќ вЂњIf men fight, and hurt a woman with child, so that she gives birth prematurely, yet no harm follows, he shall surely be punished accordingly as the womanвЂ™s husband imposes on him and he shall pay as the judgesВ determine.

We first read of this popular from Exodus 21:22-25:

However, is this what the Bible really teaches? Does the eye-for-an-eye principle promotes the merciless execution of justice? What does the Bible really teach about вЂњan eye for an eyeвЂќ and вЂњa tooth for a tooth?вЂќ A misguided interpretation of a Biblical passage It is taught that we should do our best to get even with those who have wronged us. Since it is in the Bible, many people claim that it is our duty not to let anyone take advantage of us. The expression вЂњan eye for an eye and a tooth for a toothвЂќ has been widely used to justify vengeful feelings.

Eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth