At first glance, “an eye for an eye” sounds like something harsh, like payback or revenge. It feels like, “You hit me, I’ll hit you back. You hurt me, I’ll hurt you worse.” But let’s take it slowly and really understand what this meant in the Bible.
The phrase appears first in Exodus 21:24, where it stated:
“Eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot.”
Now this wasn’t God telling people to be violent or unforgiving. In fact, it was the opposite. This law was put in place to establish justice with limits. It meant that the punishment should match the offense and not go beyond it. Think of it like this: someone knocks over your pot of water, and instead of you burning their house down, this law says, “Only respond in proportion to what happened.” It was God’s way of stopping people from overreacting. So really, it was a boundary. It was about fairness, not revenge.
But when Jesus came, He didn’t cancel the law, He fulfilled and elevated it. In Matthew 5:38-39, He said:
“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 someone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other also.”
Now that sounds radical, right? But Jesus was teaching something higher: forgiveness. Mercy. Grace. Letting go.
He was saying, “I know you were hurt, but don’t let revenge harden your heart.”
“Don’t respond with fire when I’ve called you to be light.”
“Be the one who walks away in peace, not the one who fights to be right.”
So what does this mean for you today?
It means when that person offends you, gossip about you, or treats you unfairly you don’t have to retaliate. You can let God be your defender. You can walk in love and let Him handle the justice part.
Romans 12:19 says:
“Do not take revenge… but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: ‘It is mine to avenge; I will repay,’ says the Lord.”
Sometimes our greatest strength is in our silence. Our greatest power is in letting go. Because God is watching. And when He fights for you, trust me it’s more complete than anything you could’ve done with your hands.
The meaning of an eye for an eye in the Bible
The phrase “an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth” is one of the most widely known scriptures, but sadly, also one of the most misunderstood. It’s originally found in the Old Testament (Exodus 21:24, Leviticus 24:20, and Deuteronomy 19:21), and at first glance, it sounds like God was allowing people to repay evil with equal evil.
But that’s not the case. In that context, “an eye for an eye” was about justice not revenge. It was God’s way of putting a limit on punishment, so people wouldn’t overreact. It was a law meant to keep order, making sure the punishment matched the offense. If someone caused damage, they were held accountable, but it was never meant to encourage personal revenge.
Fast forward to the New Testament…
Jesus flipped the script. He said in Matthew 5:38–39 (NIV):
“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 also.”
This was Jesus raising the bar. He wasn’t canceling the law; He was fulfilling it with a deeper principle of mercy, humility, and love. He taught us that vengeance isn’t our job. God is the true judge. Our job is to live above offense and learn to let go.
Jesus’ Character in Reference to “An Eye for an Eye”
Let’s take a deep dive into how Jesus handled situations that could’ve justified retaliation:
When He Was Betrayed
Luke 22:47-51
Judas, one of His own disciples, betrayed Him with a kiss. The soldiers came to arrest Jesus, and one of His followers (Peter) struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear.
But what did Jesus do?
“No more of this!” And He touched the man’s ear and healed him.
What it shows: Jesus had the power to fight back, but He chose compassion. That moment screamed justice, but Jesus showed mercy.
When He Was Mocked, Beaten, and Falsely Accused
Isaiah 53:7 (prophecy fulfilled in the Gospels)
“He was oppressed and afflicted, yet He did not open His mouth…”
Throughout His trial, Jesus remained silent. He didn’t fight His accusers or defend His innocence. He allowed the process because he knew the bigger picture. He wasn’t weak , He surrendered.
On the Cross
Luke 23:34
“Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”
While hanging on the cross, bleeding, humiliated, and innocent , He could’ve called down angels to destroy everyone mocking Him. But instead, He prayed for them. This is the heart of “turning the other cheek.” It’s not just about enduring , it’s about rising above bitterness and letting love win.
What We Learn from Jesus’ Character
- Jesus chose mercy over revenge.
- He trusted the Father to handle justice in His own time.
- He saw people not just as enemies, but as souls in need of forgiveness.
- He taught that love is stronger than retaliation.
In Simple Words, This Is What Jesus Showed Us:
- You may feel the urge to strike back, to prove a point, to make someone feel the pain they caused but Jesus teaches us:
“Don’t let pain make you bitter. Let it build something beautiful in you instead.”
- Jesus is the standard, and though we’ll never be perfect like Him, His life shows us it’s possible to walk in love even when it hurts.
Lessons from “An Eye for an Eye”
- God doesn’t want us stuck in cycles of hurt-for-hurt. He wants us to break the cycle.
- Justice is good, but it must be balanced with mercy.
- When Jesus said “turn the other cheek,” He wasn’t asking you to be weak — He was showing you a higher strength: restraint and grace.
- It’s okay to want justice, but it’s not your job to repay evil. Let God handle that.
Conclusion
Don’t carry the weight of revenge in your heart. As hard as it is, let it go. People will wrong you, lie on you, betray you but you’re not called to be their judge. You’re called to be a vessel of light, and sometimes that means walking away, not for their sake but for your own peace. Let love lead. Let God fight. You’ll never lose when you allow Him to handle what’s beyond your control.
