Jesus is not referring to what the government or a judge should do but rather how a disciple of Christ should respond when she is offended. He does not remove capital punishment but rather he focuses on insults and offenses such as a slap on the cheek, a law suit, going an extra mile, and one who asks for money. Please note that Jesus does not reference the life for a life law. OH my – this was revolutionary! And to the teachers of the law, highly offensive.
Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you. And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. And if anyone would sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. “ You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. Now we come to the New Testament and find Jesus quoting from Leviticus 24 in Matthew 5:38-42. It was to restrain man from being out of control and in anger – giving too severe of punishment. This law was not meant to be seen as an act of vengeance but rather it was to check vengeance. The punishment was to fit the crime…an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth. So, God set up a system to protect the Israelites from too severe or too minor of consequences.
In an act of a vengeance, you may request a penalty too severe for the crime. Imagine a culture with no police or judges…and a neighbor knocks your kid’s tooth out.
You shall have the same rule for the sojourner and for the native, for I am the Lord your God.” Whoever kills an animal shall make it good, and whoever kills a person shall be put to death. If anyone injures his neighbor, as he has done it shall be done to him, fracture for fracture, eye for eye, tooth for tooth whatever injury he has given a person shall be given to him. Whoever takes an animal’s life shall make it good, life for life. “Whoever takes a human life shall surely be put to death. Let’s look at this phrase in its context. “An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth” As we near the end of our study in Leviticus we find a familiar phrase…