Are we supposed to give an eye for an eye or turn the other cheek?

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?

The Bible presents the principle of proportional justice. The law of “an eye for an eye” served to deter from violence and death, while ensuring just punishment, and was never intended to authorize personal revenge (Exodus 21:12-26, Leviticus 24:17-22, Proverbs 24:29). Throughout the Old Testament, believers are advised to “turn the other cheek,” refrain from seeking revenge, and to wait for God’s perfect timing and justice (Lamentations 3:30-33, Proverbs 20:22). Jesus reiterates this truth and corrects the misunderstanding that personal retaliation was acceptable to God (Matthew 5:38-42). Believers are instead called to return evil with good so that their conduct becomes a reflection of Christ in a world that desperately needs Him (Matthew 7:12, 1 Peter 3:10-17).

FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT

• God introduced the idea of proportional justice within Israelite society by establishing laws to ensure the humane treatment of slaves. These laws restrained abuse and upheld moral conduct. The law was extensive, but some highlights include the penalty of death for a master who killed a slave or caused the death of an unborn child. Additionally, if a master struck a slave and caused the loss of an eye or a tooth, the slave was to be set free. God’s care and protection of His people stood in contrast to the brutality of societies of the time (Exodus 21:12-26).
  
• The concept of an “eye for an eye,” is not one of revenge but of God’s moral boundaries for the Israelite people and showed His great love for them (Leviticus 24:17-22).
• Bearing false witness against a fellow Israelite was grievous, and God put strict laws in place to discourage fellow believers from falsely testifying against another (Deuteronomy 19:16-21).
• Genesis 9:6, “Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed, for God made man in his own image,” conveys how sacred God considers human life and the responsibility man bears when he takes a life.
• The author of Lamentations instructs the Israelites to “turn the other cheek” to their captors, the Babylonians, because it was God’s will that they were in exile. The Israelites were instructed to take hope that in God’s perfect timing, they would be free from affliction (Lamentations 3:30-33).
• A wise person does not seek revenge but rather waits on God’s justice (Proverbs 20:22, Proverbs 24:29).
• God’s people should repay evil with kindness with the hope of repentance by the evil doer (Proverbs 25:21-22).
• There are several examples of David refusing to repay evil with evil such as when he spare’s Saul’s life despite Saul’s attempt to kill him because David says he will not harm the Lord’s anointed, and when David refuses to retaliate against Shimel, who curses him and throws stones recognizing that the ill will against him is from God (1 Samuel 24:4–13, 1 Samuel 26:8–11, 2 Samuel 16:5–12).
• We should not take vengeance or bear a grudge against fellow believers (Leviticus 19:17–18).

FROM THE NEW TESTAMENT

• Jesus did not contradict the principle of proportional justice but clarified that the law of “an eye for an eye” was never intended for personal revenge or retaliation (Matthew 5:38-39). He then gives examples of how believers should respond rather than retaliate, such as yielding their tunic, offering to go the extra mile, and assisting the beggar (Matthew 5:40-42).
• Later in the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus reinforces the principle of non-retaliation through his teaching of the Golden Rule, affirming that this concept was included in the original law of Moses: “So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets” (Matthew 7:12).
• The exhortation to turn the other cheek and love our enemies is echoed in Luke 6:27-36 when Jesus reminds His listeners that God is merciful and calls them to show mercy in the same way. He notes that it is easy to do good to those who do good to us, but challenges believers to practice the harder action of extending mercy to those who mistreat them.
• Within society, there is a rightful place for justice and consequences to be carried out by the court of law, but the Christian, as an individual, is not to repay evil for evil, and is instead called to leave vengeance to God. The apostle Paul extends this principle by exhorting believers to overcome evil with good (Romans 12:17–21, 1 Thessalonians 5:15).
• The apostle Peter explains that refusing to repay evil for evil is essential because when others witness our restraint in the face of unjust treatment, they may feel convicted, and our good conduct strengthens our credibility as we share the good news of salvation (1 Peter 3:10-17).

IMPLICATIONS FOR TODAY

In our sin nature, our instinctive reaction when harmed is often to seek payback or to “get even.” On the surface, the mindset of “what you do to me I will do back to you” can seem fair and just. God’s command of ‘an eye for an eye’ however, (Leviticus 24:19-20) was never about vengeance, but established proportional justice and was meant to limit punishment rather than condoning personal revenge. Justice is something God calls us to uphold. Revenge is not. Scripture makes it clear that Christians are not to personally retaliate.

God’s law of proportional justice provides a framework for Christian ethics in this area. Instead, when we have been wronged, we are called to trust God’s justice and repay evil with kindness. This does not mean that we ignore all wrongs, do not enforce or invoke the law on someone, or hold people accountable. It means we do not seek revenge. Jesus warned against taking the law into our own hands. While Christians are to model Christlike selfless love, there is a rightful place for loving exhortation (Matthew 18:15-17, Luke 17:3). Self-preservation or protection is not the same as retaliation. Holding someone accountable is not the same as being aggressive.

Personal retaliation is never appropriate for a Christian. The guiding standard, often referred to as the Golden Rule, is treating others as we ourselves desire to be treated (Matthew 7:12, Luke 6:31). This is often difficult, and can come with real physical and emotional cost, yet the possibility that faithful obedience might lead others to trust in Jesus’ saving grace and receive eternal life makes such a sacrifice profoundly worthwhile.

UNDERSTAND

• The concept of “an eye for an eye” pertains to the principle of just punishment under the law.
• Jesus clarified that a Christian should not take personal revenge but instead “turn the other cheek.”
• Christians may defend and protect themselves, hold others accountable, and dealing with wrongs yet they must do so as a faithful witness of the gospel, not out of retaliation.

REFLECT

• When someone wrongs you, what reactions in your heart reveal a desire to “get even” rather than trust God’s justice?
• How might choosing not to retaliate in a difficult situation reflect Jesus’ command to “turn the other cheek”?
• In what practical ways can you respond with kindness when you are mistreated?

ENGAGE

• What are the meanings of giving an eye for an eye or turning the other cheek, and how can we explain that they are not at odds?
• In what ways can believers uphold justice in society while still obeying the command not to repay evil for evil?
• How do we discern the difference between legitimate self-defense and sinful retaliation?