By: Celeste Deysel
Growing up with siblings often meant reaching for a ruler when Mom divided the last slice of cake. It was an unspoken rule that everyone got an equal share, or even a smaller slice for your sibling, if necessary, but never a larger one. That was just fairness in action.
The concept of justice is deeply ingrained in us from childhood. When someone wrongs us, our instinct is to seek justice and to make the offender pay for their actions. So, when we read Matthew 5:38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ It might seem like Jesus is encouraging us to pursue our brand of justice. He is quoting the Law, right? But then, He throws us for a loop by telling us to endure injustice instead of seeking revenge. Matthew 5: 39 “But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also.” It’s like saying, “Let it go,” when all we want to do is stand up for ourselves. Parents of small children just started singing along, but I digress.
Here is some food for thought: Jesus had every reason to seek retribution. He was sinless and blameless, and yet he endured the ultimate injustice – crucifixion based on charges from false witnesses (Matt 26:61 “and declared, “This fellow said, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God and rebuild it in three days.”). Yet, not once did he defend himself or fight back. He endured it all for our sake.
The verse “an eye for an eye” was originally part of the Law given to Moses so that judges could administer justice fairly. However, the Law was never intended for personal revenge. When Jesus spoke about this matter, he did not nullify the Law of restitution, but rather distinguished between governmental and personal responsibility. But does this mean that we should just accept all the misfortunes and injustices that come our way?
Not really. God is a God of justice. As stated in Isaiah 61:8:
“For I, the LORD, love justice; I hate robbery and wrongdoing. In my faithfulness I will reward my people and make an everlasting covenant with them.” (NIV)
The justice we seek here on earth should not be self-serving. The main goal of pursuing justice should be to reconcile people to God. An outline of the type of justice we should be striving for is given in Isaiah 1:17:
Learn to do right; seek justice. Defend the oppressed. Take up the cause of the fatherless; plead the case of the widow. (NIV)
Jesus affirmed this brand of humble justice in Matthew 25:34-40:
Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’
37 “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’
40 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’ (NIV)
In Jesus, we have peace. Small, petty injustices should not concern us, because we have hope beyond this lifetime. We should rejoice in difficulties. Romans 5:3-5:
3 Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5 and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. (ESV)
As for all the wrongs committed against us, we can trust that God will have vengeance. In Hebrews 10:30-31 it says:
“For we know him who said, “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” and again, “The Lord will judge his people.” It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” (NIV)
The justice we seek should not be for our own sake. That is a tough pill to swallow, but it is also a reminder of the incredible depth of love and grace that Jesus showed us. So, the next time we are tempted to seek revenge or hold onto a grudge, maybe we can take a page from Jesus’s playbook and let it slide?
After all, if he can endure crucifixion without batting an eye, surely, we can let go of that petty argument or slight offence.