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Wednesday January 15 - Display kindness & humility
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’”
Matthew 5:38
Jesus moves on to another ‘but I say’ topic, ‘eye for eye and tooth for tooth’, with which so many people struggle. What do you think when you read today’s verse? Perhaps you imagine the perpetrator who rips out another’s eye, then has his own eye ripped out as punishment. No doubt we’ve all got a different perspective when it comes to punishment for wrongdoing. You may even have personal experience of traumatic events and/or of being the wrongdoer.
Let’s look a little deeper at what the phrase ‘eye for eye’ means. There are several other associated passages in the Bible: Exodus 21:24, Leviticus 24:20 and Deuteronomy 19:21. Contrary to common belief, the phrase ‘eye for eye’ is an idiom, and therefore not meant to be applied literally. For example, if someone tells you to take a shower, you’re not meant to dismantle it and take it away, but get under it and have a good wash!
Put another way, if the wrongdoer is already blind, there’s no punishment in taking one of his eyes! Rather, according to the oral Torah, which goes hand in hand with the written Torah, ‘eye for eye...’ is an instruction for the injured party to be compensated financially. Although financial compensation doesn’t fully lesson the pain, it’s a recognition of the damage caused.
Father, I pray that you would help me to trust you and not feel that I must fight for my own interests. Amen.
Thursday January 16 - Watch you don’t react!
“But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also.” Matthew 5:39
In our day and culture, we don’t talk much about a slap on the cheek! In Jesus’ time the slap on the cheek meant a back-handed slap across the face which was intended to show contempt or disrespect. Jesus saying “turn the other cheek” would have been a shock to some who may have thought he was dismissing the importance of setting boundaries! It’s been said that the ‘slap on the face’ is a metaphor for unanticipated offence or insult, so that Jesus is saying not to return insult for insult. In other words, don’t retaliate or overreact, either in your actions or your heart. He is making it clear that the way of God is different: the God of love always seeks to constrain violence, not provoke it.
Jesus turns the world’s method of justice upside down; rather than his disciples insisting on payback, he encourages and inspires them not to defend themselves with impulsive reactions, to which people are very prone. Equally, it is vital not to focus on personal retribution, but to show self-control. You may be thinking that Jesus is saying that you should willingly subject yourself to abuse from others. Far from it! By not seeking vengeance we are actually able to reveal to others the true nature of God. What changes does this topic encourage you to work towards in your own life?
Father, I pray that you would give me grace so that I refrain from retaliating to hurts in like manner. Amen.
PRAYER FOR TODAY
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PRAYER FOR TODAY