Section 5:38–42

Jesus’ followers should not resist a person who wants to do something bad to them

In this section, Jesus continued to explain the difference between the way that Jewish religious leaders interpreted the law of Moses and the correct interpretation of the law. Many Jews believed that the principle of “An eye for an eye” permitted them to personally retaliate in proportion to the evil done to them. But the principle of “eye for eye” was a guideline for the courts to follow so that they did not punish an offender more (or less) than his offense deserved. It was not for individual revenge.

Jesus was certainly against revenge and retaliation. But his teaching went even beyond forbidding retaliation. Jesus taught that his followers must not even resist a person who wants to do something bad or insulting to them. A believer should seek to do good to others, even if they do wrong to him.

Here are some other possible headings for this section:

Seek good for others when they do wrong to you
-or-
Do good to others

Paragraph 5:38–42

5:38a

You have heard that it was said: This clause is the same as in 5:21a, 5:27a, and 5:33a. Translate it here as you did there.

5:38b–c

The two clauses in 5:38b–c indicate that the punishment for purposely harming another person must be the same as the harm caused.

5:38b

Eye for eye: In the phrase Eye for eye, words are left implied to make this saying like a proverb. This phrase means that if a person causes someone to lose an eye, his own eye must be removed. Jesus quoted this commandment from the Old Testament (Exodus 21:24; Leviticus 24:20; Deuteronomy 19:21).

In some languages, it may be more natural to include some of the implied information in your translation. For example:

An eye ⌊is the payment⌋ for an eye
-or-

⌊The person who injures/blinds⌋ the eye ⌊of his fellowman must have⌋ his own eye ⌊injured/blinded⌋.

This punishment was the maximum punishment that God allowed. It was a guideline for the courts so that they did not punish an offender more (or less) than his offense deserved. This rule was not for personal revenge.

5:38c

tooth for tooth: You should translate this clause similarly to 5:38b. Here are some other examples:

A tooth ⌊is the payment⌋ for a tooth

-or-

⌊The person who knocks out⌋ the tooth ⌊of his fellowman must have⌋ his own tooth ⌊knocked out⌋.

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