Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth:
You've heard the old saying: 'An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.'
Jesus is about to flip the script on revenge culture.
📚 Historical Context
In the Old Testament, the phrase "an eye for an eye" originated from the Mosaic Law in books like Exodus and Leviticus, serving as a guideline for proportional justice in ancient Israelite society to prevent excessive revenge and maintain social order. Jesus quotes this in the Sermon on the Mount to contrast it with a higher standard of love and mercy, highlighting the evolution from the old covenant's focus on retribution to the new covenant's call for grace. This context underscores how God's laws adapted to the needs of His people across different eras.
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