Scripture to Read: Matthew 5:38
As we start in Matthew 5:38, Jesus says, “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.’” Many people today still want to practice the Law when it comes to getting revenge on someone who has hurt them. Jesus quotes from Exodus 21:22–25, Leviticus 24:19–23, and Deuteronomy 19:17–21 as He shares in Matthew 5:38. God’s standard has always been holiness. God has always expected His people to obey Him and His Word. There has also always been a consequence for every sin. As we know from God’s Word, sin always results in death (Romans 6:23, James 1:14–15). So, as Jesus quotes the Law of God the Father, He reminds everyone that there is a payment for every action. God had Moses write it as such in Leviticus 24:19–20, “If a man injures his neighbor, just as he has done, so it shall be done to him: 20 fracture for fracture, eye for eye, tooth for tooth; just as he has injured a man, so it shall be inflicted on him.” God made the payment costly if anyone purposely injured someone else. God expected the Israelites to live differently than those who had no relationship with Him. God made it clear that the consequence of sin would be severe. But God’s desire was for His people to love their neighbor, as God had said previously in Leviticus 19:18, “You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the sons of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself…"
Challenge & Application
God required payment for the sin of purposely hurting someone; so, how do we see God’s Law still applied today?
God expects His followers to imitate Him; so, what does imitating God look like for us today?
Don’t forget to pray using the A.C.T.S. (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication) method!