Eye for and eye, and a tooth for a tooth? Really??? July 7th, 2009

You ever had one of those times where your reading something and you've read it 100 times before and for once, something new sticks out? I had one of those times tonight at a bible study. Matthew chapter 5 vs 38-42 talks about retaliation. I don't know about all of you, but for the most part, whenever i read this part I always thought that it was coming from the viewpoint that we are the victims. You know, like we were being persecuted or something. That basically, if someone just comes up and for no apparent reason we are suppose to let them strike us, take something, etc. For some reason tonight, I wasn't happy with the answers i was hearing or with my theology. What i'm about to say might shock some of you or even cause you to think i'm losing it but here me out. I DO NOT think that this verse has anything to do with persecution. In fact, the word is in no shape mentioned in this section of scripture. In fact, the portion of scripture that Jesus is referring to is found in Exodus chapter 21:24 and goes till chapter 22:15. What's enteresting to note is, that this portion of scripture is dealing with what happens when you, your livestock, or any other thing that might belong to you injures, kills, or does anything harmful to someone else. Back then, it was, if YOUR ox gores another person, the ox dies. If YOU poke someones eyes out, YOU lose an eye and so on. I've read this from the view point that i am the victim and i'm just suppose to let it happen. I don't think this is what Jesus was saying. I think what Jesus was saying is this...If someone slaps you...(they have a reason to slap you, we've probably offended them somehow or done something to deserve it like slapped them first...why else would they slap you???) don't just let them slap you back, but pay them restitution..let them do it twice. If someone is suing you...they have a reason, we've done something wrong, guess what..don't just give them what you stole or took to begin with, give them something more to show them your really sorry. If you are forced to walk a mile, walk two...Ok for starters, why would you be forced to walk with someone unless you did something to be forced to? Maybe in todays day and age, your car somehow wrecked their car and they no longer have transportation...don't just pay to have their car fixed, but offer to drive them places till their car gets fixed. It's dealing with what to do when we've wronged people. Think about it, we always command Satan to give us back 7 fold when he steals something...why shouldn't we give back more than what we took, damaged, etc when we do something wrong to someone else. The world would meet bare minimum...Christ says....go above and beyond...just food for thought...