An eye for an eye vs. turn the other cheek?

Question

I don't know where to find these well known verses of the Bible so I do not know the context here. IF YOU DO consider the context and tell me why does the Bible so frequently contradicting itself (aside from the many times of translation and multiple authors)? Where can I find this in the Bible and what do you guys have to say about it?

I don't ask this to be contrary. I believe in God and I believe it is most reasonable that Jesus what indeed His Son and out Savior AND whether the Bible is 110% perfect in conveying God's Word it is still a WONDERFUL book but I am not so fully well read with the Bible that I can answer my boyfriend when he wants to be the Devils Advocate

Answer 1

Exodus 21:24 "eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand,"

Matthew 5:38-42 "You have heard it 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." (Jesus)

Which is not a contradiction, Jesus life and death gave us freedom from the old covenant(the law), by and through the new covenant(grace). The Old Testament emphasized law and punishment for sin, while the New Testament is about grace and forgiveness for sin.

Answer 2

I can't believe noone actually told you where you can find these texts.
Look at Mathew chapter 5 verses 38, that's when Jesus teaches about this business.
Throughout Jesus's teachings he is constantly challenging the more "strict" Jewish which had taken God's teachings (given to Moses) very much literal and so these had become strict routines/duties with no meaning - i.e. they had forgotten that God looks at the heart, therefore no need for a pure heart anymore.
The speech in which he mentions the eye for an eye business being "replaced" by the give the other cheek is one of those examples. He's kinda saying - watch out! they're being an ars*; fine, but that doesn't mean you should also behave like them and be an ars* too. Sort of: don't hold a grudge against them and certainly do not do what they are doing.

Do you "actually" know whether the Bible contradicts itself? I'm not saying it does or it doesn't. I'm just saying you should check the facts YOURSELF. Don't just take for granted what people say, even if you think they are well literate on the subject. You'd be surprised the amount of crap i've heard out there about both Christianity and Islam from people who were SO convinced of their arguments.
Always keep questioning everything you hear - specially from your own faith.

Answer 3

Simple. The eye for an eye idea is from the Old Testament and was commonly accepted in Mesopatamian times. (See Hammurabi's Code for evidence of this.) Later, the New Testament was written. The early Christians were not the same people who wrote the Old Testament millenia earlier.



Another common explanation is that before the printing press, people who made copies of the Bible would often add stories and parables that they heard from their own lives. The people that added these stories did not know every single line of the Bible, so their additions turned out to be contradictory. In fact, you know that story about Jesus where he says, "Let he who is without sin cast the first stone"? That story wasn't in the earliest copies of the New Testament. This evidence suggests that new parts were later added to the New Testament. (There's a whole book about this. It's called: Misquoting Jesus.)

Answer 4

Actually perhaps you're thinking about the sermon on the mount? Jesus addresses these very things. He quotes from the old testament, saying, it has been written an eye for an eye, but I say to you, if someone takes something from you, do not seek to get it back. If someone strikes you on your cheek, turn the other to him. If someone asks you to go one mile with them, go two. Jesus was not contradicting the law; He was showing people a new way to live, with forgiveness instead of returning evil for evil. Later in the bible, scripture tells us that the law was a schoolmaster to bring us to Christ. With all due respect, I don't dwell on things in the bible that I can't figure out, and yes, there are some. There are so many thousands of jewels in there to read, understand, live by. I do believe it is the word of God, and I have seen my life blossom by studying, and living, His word.

That's what I have to say about it, anyway *smile*.

Answer 5

you've already suggested the answer. the hot testomony is NEW and the single we are below. the interest for eye is the regulation and what the man advantages. Christians do not get what they deserve, they flow to heaven by using works of yet another guy (Jesus Christ) Like a will. someone dies and also you flow to the interpreting of the will. Do they examine the will that he wrote ten years in the past or do they examine the single which he wrote very last year.. They examine the most cutting-edge will and overlook about the different because it isn't valid. examine AND OBEY the hot testomony..

Answer 6

I think "an eye for an eye" is from Leviticus, meaning that if someone purposely hurts you, they should suffer the same. The whole forgiveness thing wasn't big in the old testament, and personally, I think its because humans were pretty slow-witted. These are the same people who built a golden calf after being told no idols, so they weren't the brightest guys on the block. Evolution hadn't gotten to the point of deep thought yet. By the time Jesus came around, which I think was timed pretty well, people kinda had that thinking concept down and could see more than black and white, they were starting to comprehend grey areas. The bible seems to have evolved along with us.

Answer 7

In Matthew 5:38-42 Jesus teaches about retaliation. The passage reads like this:

"You have heard it said an eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.
But I say to you, do not resist an evil person; but whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. If anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, let him take your coat also.
Whoever forces you to go one mile, go with him two. Give to him who asks of you and do not turn away from him who wants to borrow from you.


Basically what this passage is saying is this:
When we are wronged our first reaction is to get even. Jesus said that we should do good to those who wrong us. Our desire should not be to keep score, but to love and forgive. This is not natural---- it is supernatural. Only God can give us the strength to
love as he does. Instead of planning vengeance pray for those who hurt you.

Answer 8

"Turn the other cheek" comes from Jesus; and the teachings of Jesus replaces the whole of the Old Testament entirely.
Turn the other cheek does not mean being stepped on/over. Justice demands sternness and strength in action, calmly stopping wrongs. Stopping wrongs is the strength in forgiving but sternly enforcing laws.
Not blindly killing while in passion, out of control. Being out of control will lead to regret.

Answer 9

Well I'd say turn the other cheek, but, that does not mean let everybody run over you. You can say something civil, not judgeful, but get your point across with out trying to be rude.
God WILL punish anybody who does you harm in some way or another.

Oh, sorry I don't know the exact verses for these.
But I hope this helps.

God Bless.

Answer 10

Eye for an eye is old testament and turn the other cheek is new testament. The difference is the old testament was a convenant made between God and the Jews; the new testament is the convenant God has made with everyone through Christ's blood.