Jesus cited the oldest law, the Lex Talionis. This law is to be found in the earliest code of laws, the Code of Hammurabi, king of Babylon from 2285 to 2242 BC. It was believed that if society was not bound by this type of law, then people would look to seek revenge upon their evil-doer and punish them beyond the damage received; possibly leading to the one's death.
The Lex Talionis law was equal justice for any situation. So if an individual cause the loss of another’s eye, the eye of the one responsible should be forfeit.
The Old Testament echoed this Law three times. “If any harm follows, then you shall give life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burn for burn, wound for wound, stripe for stripe.” [Exodus 21:23-35]. This law is echoed in Leviticus 24; 19,20 and Deuteronomy 19:21.
The Lex Talionis was not meant to be a harsh law; it was the beginning of mercy. The law set out to limit vengeance. In ancient time vendetta and blood feuds were the norm. If one tribe member injured a member of another tribe, the full tribe of the injured set out to kill all members of the tribe of the individual responsible. The law limited the vengeance to the extent that only the one responsible could be punished, and then no more than the equivalent of the injury inflicted and the damage done. [1].
Jesus obliterated this law when He made it clear that retaliation and vengeance are not acceptable to God. “You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth. 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 5:38-39]
Jesus thus abolished the old law of limited vengeance and instituted the new spirit of non-violence and forgiveness.
[1] Barclay, William. Daily Study Bible: Gospel of Matthew, p.164
No comments:
Post a Comment