Saturday study 12/20/25

 Part 2: Eye for an Eye...But I Say

Series Theme: 

Did Jesus actually change the Law of Moses?

The point is to see whether Jesus was merely repeating Moses or whether, as the New Covenant lawgiver, he changed and even overturned Torah at certain points: 

Did he change the Old Covenant law “Eye for an Eye”? 

1. "You Have Heard"

Exodus 21:12-27 “Eye for eye, tooth for tooth…”

Leviticus 24:17–22 “Whoever injures his neighbor… as he has done, so it shall be done to him.”

Numbers 35:16–34 The avenger of blood and kin-based vengeance.

Deuteronomy 19:15–21 “Your eye shall not pity: life for life, eye for eye…”

• Laws of realtion (Lex talionis) established in Genesis 9:5-6 ("blood for blood") universal Noahide laws after the flood: kill for kill ("whoever sheds man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed");
• Torah reaffirms the principle extending it to non-fatal injuries (life for life, eye for eye, etc.), ensuring justice is equitable and prevents excessive vengeance.
• Over time, this judicial principle also began to shape personal ethics—many took it as permission for personal payback, venegance in kind.
• The Old Covenant allowed regulated retaliation, even to the point of the “avenger of blood” personally killing a murderer or an intruder, in certain situations.
• This is the ethic Jesus directly addresses and changes in the Sermon on the Mount.

1. "But I Say"

Matthew 5:38–42 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye and tooth for tooth.’ But I tell you, do not resist the evil person…”

Matthew 5:43–48 “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you…” Cp. Luke 6:27–36 “Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you…”

• The fifth antithesis contrasts Torah’s principle of measured retaliation (“eye for eye”) with the new law of Jesus. 
• Instead of insisting on one’s rights, Jesus calls his followers to surrender them—even to the point of suffering or death—for the good of others, including your enemies. 
• This prepares the way for his unqualified enemy-love command at the end of this chapter.
• Jesus explicitly quotes “eye for eye” and then says: 

“Do not resist the one who is evil.” “Turn the other cheek.” “Give to the one who asks.”

• This is not a repeat nor explanation of Moses; 
• This is overturning, changing the entire judicial Mosaic system and personal mindset replacing it with absolute enemy-love.
• Obedience to this command makes one a child of God, the Father.

1. Did Jesus Practice what he Preached?

Matthew 26:47–54 

Peter uses the sword; Jesus says, “All who take the sword will perish by the sword.”

Matthew 26:57–68; 27:24-31 Jesus himself supremely embodied the command to “turn the other cheek”, enduring mockery, abuse, and violence without retaliation.

Luke 7:36-50 Forgives a woman publicly known as a sinner.

John 8:1–11 Protects and restores the woman caught in adultery, contra Torah (adultery death penalty, Lev 20:10; Deut 22:22-24)!

NOTE: common objections, both parties not present or somehow false charges.

Jesus didn't mention the missing husband, the lack of a formal trial, or the selective application of the law. Instead, assumed her guilt, "do not sin anymore," John 8.11!

Luke 23:33–34 From the cross: “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”

• On the cross, instead of calling for vengeance, he prays for God to forgive them.
• His example is the pattern for Christians until he comes back.
• 1 Peter 2:18-25 summary of his whole minitserial practice. 

1. Did the Apostolic Church?

Romans 12:9–21 

Bless those who persecute you…never avenge yourselves… overcome evil with good.

1 Thessalonians 5:14–15 “See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always pursue what is good…”

Hebrews 10:26-39 “Vengeance is mine; I will repay, says the Lord.”

• The apostolic church is unanimous: Christians are to respond to enemies with goodness, blessing, and mercy, not payback.
• The apostles repeat nor enforce the Old “eye for eye” as a Christian standard.
• Retaliation of any kind, lethal or not, is explicitly forbidden.
• Peter points to Jesus’ suffering as the model: no reviling, no threats, entrusting himself to God who judges justly.
• Hebrews reminds Christians that vengeance belongs to God, not to us—leave it in God’s hands.

1. Antithesis: Servant vs. The Son

Hebrews opens by teaching how God once spoke through Moses and the prophets, but now speaks through His Son, Jesus.

Hebrews 3:1-6 Moses is honored as a faithful servant in God's house, but Jesus is the unique procreated human Son of God, appointed heir of all things. 

Moses served in the household of God; the Son has been made the owner.  

Hebrews 8:6–13 Jesus, mediator of a better covenant; what is becoming obsolete is ready to vanish away.

Hebrews 12:22–25 Jesus, mediator of a new covenant “see that you do not refuse Him who speaks.”

• The Old Covenant, with its judicial retaliation, is described as becoming obsolete and ready to vanish away.
• The ethic of “eye for eye” belongs to a former covenant; the ethic of enemy-love belongs to the New Covenant.
• To cling to Moses’ “eye for eye” against Jesus’ “love your enemies” is ultimately to refuse the Son’s authority.

1. Takeaways 

• Old Covenant: “Eye for eye” was a temporary, judicial principle, often extended (sometimes wrongly) into personal retaliation.
• Jesus’ Teaching directly confronts that mindset and commands absolute non-violence and unconditional enemy-love.
• Jesus Practiced what he Preached—no violence, no revenge, only forgiveness, even toward his killers.
• Apostolic Church understood and uniformly forbid repaying evil for evil and call believers to overcome evil with good.
• New Covenant Authority: Jesus, as new lawgiver, greater than Moses wherever their teachings differ—especially on this topic.
• Christian then and now not permitted to live by the old “eye for eye.” 
• Christians are called to absolute enemy-love, leave it at the altar for God's coming just judgment and vengeance.

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