1.“An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth” – from Exodus 21:23-24 – “But if there is serious injury, you are to take life for life, eye for an eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot” and Deuteronomy 19:21. This command is understood by some to always be applied literally, often mocking the “justice” of both persons losing an eye, hand, foot, or tooth. But the application of this law involved a more nuanced understanding…

• Numbers 35:31 (“Do not accept a ransom for the life of a murdered, who deserves to die. He must surely be put to death.”) implies a commensurate compensation is acceptable in other cases, while no adequate compensation is possible to the murdered person. 

• Also, regarding the verb “to give/take” in Exodus 21:23 – “In the surrounding verses, “to give” always is used in connection with money (verses 19, 22, 30, 32), and in the sense of compensation (verse 30). This contrasts with the verb “to make whole,” which is used everywhere else in the Ordinances for paying back, always meaning to restore in kind, or in money exactly equivalent.” (From J. Jordan, The Law of the Covenant, pp. 116-117). 

• The judges who rendered the verdict of ‘guilty’ in non-capital crimes had the task of weighing many factors in deciding on the appropriate compensation for the victim to receive.

• The “eye for an eye” type of phrasing actually was expressing a principle of equivalence and proportionality of value. 

• Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 5:38-39 clarifies that this principal of proper social justice should not control our personal relationships. 

 

2.“Turn the other cheek”– from Luke 6:29 – “If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also.” This has been sometimes quoted as requiring one never to act in self-defense or defend others against evil. But note that in the parallel teaching in Matthew 5:39 “the right cheek” is specified. This passage assumes a right-handed person; thus striking the right cheek would be a slap of shaming, rather than another blow to physically hurt them. Thus, we are called as Jesus’ disciples to allow ourselves to be humiliated as well as to be taken advantage of (though we are also called in other Biblical texts to defend and care for those who are being taken advantage of).   

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3. “Do not judge” – from Matthew 7:1 – “Do not judge or you too will be judged.” This statement is often taken out of its context, missing the point of Matthew 7:5 that judging is right and good to do, if done with humility and a loving desire to help the other person. “You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your neighbor’s eye.” (Similarly in the parallel verses of Luke 6:37-42.)

 

4. “Let him who is without sin cast the first stone” – from John 8:1-11 (NIV). Some quote this story to suggest that Jesus here repudiates the Law, since no one is perfectly sinless, and that He forgives her instead of condemning her. But, in fact, He does neither!…

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[1]But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. [2]At dawn he appeared again in the temple courts, where all the people gathered around him, and he sat down to teach them. [3]The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group [4]and said to Jesus, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. [5]In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?” [6]They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him. But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. [7]When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.” [8]Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground.

[9]At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there. [10]Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” [11]“No one, sir,” she said. “Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.” (NIV)

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(vs.1-6) Jesus was caught in a trap – either repudiate the Old Testament Law for punishing adultery (Lev. 20:10; Deut. 22:22) and get in trouble with the Jews as advocating disobedience to God’s laws, or act as Judge and condemn her to death and get Himself in trouble with the Romans, who reserved to themselves the right to condemn someone to death. Jesus realized their improper motive was to trap Him, rather than a pure desire for justice. He stalled, but they kept pressing Him.

 

(vs. 7-8) So He used the Law regarding witnesses in a criminal trial against them: At least two witnesses were required to enable a ‘guilty’ verdict. The witnesses would be first to throw stones at the convicted person, followed by everyone else who was there. And if the witnesses were found to be malicious or lying, then they were to receive the punishment meant for the person being accused. (See Deut.17:6-7 and 19:15-19.) Thus, in this account Jesus meant “without sin” in regard to their testimony. He was challenging the woman’s accusers- which of them was willing to stand before God, who knows all things, as her accuser (and possibly get in trouble with the Roman authorities, as well, for participating in an unauthorized stoning)?

 

(vs.9-10) In the Sanhedrin, the Great Jewish Council, whenever a vote was taken, the youngest member voted first and the oldest voted last, to ensure that the younger members would not have their vote influenced by the vote of their respected elders. In this case, the younger accusers looked to their elders for leadership in what to do. When their elders quietly left to avoid the trap which Jesus had now set for them, they also left.

 

(vs.11) Also, note that Jesus does not “forgive” her – she didn’t seek His forgiveness. No judgment could be rendered on her according to the Jewish law anyway without the legal witnesses. But He makes it clear to her that He knows her sins and He calls her to change. 

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