DOWNLOAD ENCOURAGER HERE: Autumn 2023
A few weeks ago, in our Gospel reading Jesus was commenting on the Old Testament law “An eye for an 
eye and a tooth for a tooth.” His comment is probably one of the most difficult for us to understand and to put into action in our lives.
Matthew 5.43-44 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbour and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.”
An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth makes logical sense. There is an element of justice here; what harm you cause me, I will cause you. The payback is equal, no one can call foul. This was especially important in tribal societies where payback was often escalating. You hurt a member of our tribe, we maim a member of yours, you kill one of ours, we kill a few of yours…. There was no end.
To stop this, a justice system of equal retribution was installed. A part of the problem with this was there was no mitigating circumstances. What if the injury was a mistake? It was still an eye for an eye.
The problem with both systems is getting locked into cycles of violence. Even with an eye for an eye family members can still feel that justice wasn’t really served, that they want a greater punishment to make up for their personal loss.
These days we talk about trying to break the cycle of violence. It’s a great idea, but who breaks it first? Mostly we want it to be the other person. Let me get my last jab in, then let’s stop the violence.
Jesus says, if we are to be his disciples, citizens of God’s kingdom, then we need to be the ones prepared to break the cycle, to be the ones to turn the other cheek, give our cloak and walk an extra mile.
We might worry that this makes us look weak, a doormat for others to step on, but in reality it takes great personal strength to be willing to say, the violence stops here. That I will genuinely love and pray for those who do me wrong.
When Jesus asks this of us, he isn’t a leader cushioned from the effects of others, demanding of us that which he has no intention of doing himself. As we approach Easter we will see Jesus betrayed by a friend, deserted by his companions, arrested, beaten, humiliated, and nailed to the cross.
As he looks down, he doesn’t berate those who have left him, or swear revenge on those who are killing him, but he showed compassion for the criminal next to himself and asks forgiveness for those who have no idea what they are really doing.
Following Jesus example is incredibly difficult. We all want our last jab, but if the cycle of violence is to be broken we need to be the ones with the courage to stand up and say “it stops here, with me.” 