Women: A Different Standard










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Eye for an Eye

In my previous post, I linked to an article about Islam and its attack on a Christian.  I want to follow that up by saying that nowhere in the Bible are Christians encouraged to mistreat each other.  One possible exception is when God said:  “An eye for an eye”, but even that was written for our protection.


God knows how impulsive and angry human beings can get.  He saw the incident where Moses came across an Egyptian fighting a Hebrew, and Moses killed the Egyptian for abusing his people.  I believe God was saying:  If someone attacks you and you lose your eye, don’t take his life; the maximum you have a right to is an eye for an eye.  The problem is that, like a lot of things, people don’t ask themselves what’s behind the words.


In the New Testament, Jesus would sometimes start with a verse like this and take it a step further.  “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 strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.  And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well” – Matthew 5:38-40.


If anyone was tempted to resort to the Old Testament Law, it must have been Jesus.  He had rights.  He had the right to defend Himself; He stayed silent.  The amount those soldiers beat Him, He could lawfully have returned the beatings; but as you saw in His quote above, Jesus set a higher standard than that of the Law, and He was willing to give up His rights and take that punishment, for He knew it was the only way you and I could be set free.  I don’t know about you, but that leaves me wanting to thank Him and live my life His way.


Ok, time for church.