Exodus 21 · a question people ask
Did Jesus cancel "eye for eye"?
Jesus quoted it: "You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.’" (Matthew 5:38). Then he said, "But I tell you, don’t resist him who is evil; but whoever strikes you on your right cheek, turn to him the other also" (Matthew 5:39). In the same sermon he said, "Don’t think that I came to destroy the law or the prophets. I didn’t come to destroy, but to fulfill" (Matthew 5:17). The law itself already said, "You shall not take vengeance" (Leviticus 19:18), and Paul writes, "Don’t seek revenge yourselves" (Romans 12:19). Christians agree that Jesus' followers are not to pay back harm for harm: "Repay no one evil for evil" (Romans 12:17). They read what he was answering in more than one way.
How Christians read it
Where Christians differ, Favor sets out the main views side by side and doesn't pick one.
Jesus answers a misuse of the law
Those who hold this view read "eye for eye" as a rule for judgment, not for getting even. They point to the judges beside it here (21:22) and in Deuteronomy, where "the judges shall make diligent inquisition" (Deuteronomy 19:18) before "eye for eye" (Deuteronomy 19:21), and to the law's own "You shall not take vengeance" (Leviticus 19:18). On this view Jesus speaks to people who took a rule for the courts as leave to repay harm themselves.
Exodus 21:22 · Deuteronomy 19:18-21 · Leviticus 19:18
Jesus calls his followers past the law's measure
Those who hold this view read "But I tell you" (Matthew 5:39) as Jesus setting a higher standard than the measure the law gave (21:23-25) for how his followers answer harm done to them. They point to what follows, "love your enemies, bless those who curse you" (Matthew 5:44), and to his words, "unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, there is no way you will enter into the Kingdom of Heaven" (Matthew 5:20).
Matthew 5:39 · Exodus 21:23-25 · Matthew 5:44 · Matthew 5:20
The verses
““Don’t think that I came to destroy the law or the prophets. I didn’t come to destroy, but to fulfill.”
““You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I tell you, don’t resist him who is evil; but whoever strikes you on your right cheek, turn to him the other also.”
““‘You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the children of your people; but you shall love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD.”
“Repay no one evil for evil. Respect what is honorable in the sight of all men. If it is possible, as much as it is up to you, be at peace with all men. Don’t seek revenge yourselves, beloved, but give place to God’s wrath. For it is written, “Vengeance belongs to me; I will repay, says the Lord.””