Moses said "an eye for an eye" is Gods Law--Christ said it is against Gods laws-who is right???

Question

Exodus 21: 23And if any mischief follow, then thou shalt give life for life,

24Eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot,

25Burning for burning, wound for wound, stripe for stripe.

Matthew 5: 38Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth:

39But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right

cheek, turn to him the other also.

Answer 1

The ten Commandments, or "The Covenant", was Law according to the Old Testament. Jesus revealed "The New Covenant", in Matthew 22: Jesus first quotes OT scripture:

"...I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living."

[Then this follows...]

"33
And when the multitude heard this, they were astonished at his doctrine.
34
But when the Pharisees had heard that he had put the Sadducees to silence, they were gathered together.
35
Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying,
36
Master, which is the great commandment in the law?
37
Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
38
This is the first and great commandment.
39
And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
40
On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets."

-- So, according to Christian theology as I understand it, the idea of Commandments as given his people by Moses was interpreted in a more global way by Jesus. Now as to which is "right" -- I suppose that depends on your viewpoint as to how you wish to accept New or Old Testament doctrine. There is a lot to be said in favor of both views. Could both be right? Seemingly not, but consider the following, from Rabbi Ira Blue which I heard on the BBC "Morning Meditation" some years ago:

Two devout Jewish men were in a serious disagreement. Being good Jews, they agreed to take the dispute to the Rabbi for arbitration. The first went into the Rabbi's office and told his story of what had happened. After listening, the Rabbi said, "You're right."

The second man then went in, and told his version, completely different in it's point of view from the first. Afterwards, the Rabbi told him, "You're right."

During the interviews, the Rabbi's wife had been listening from the next room. When the second man left, she came in and protested, "For goodness sake, Hymie, these two men told you two completely different stories about the same thing, and you told them both that they were right. They can't BOTH be right!"

To which the Rabbi smiled and said, "You're right, too."

Answer 2

First of all you need to put in the whole quote.
Exodus 21:22-23 reads : When men fight, and one of them pushes a pregnant woman and a miscarriage results, but no other damage ensues, the one responsible shall be fined according as the woman's husband may exact from him, the payment to be based on reckoning.But if other damage ensues, the penalty shall be life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burn for burn, would for wound, bruise for bruise. So this issue deals not just with a miscarriage but other injuries as well. So lets say you have a pregnant wife and a man pushed her down some stairs and she miscarried the baby would you just walk away and not call the police, press charges get an attorney and sue the guilty party for damages? And what if your wife died? Would you just turn the other cheek and walk away? We are all human, and I am not Jesus, I understand the lesson about forgiveness but this involves three people not just two.
To be able to just walk away would take get will power.
Do do you know who Billy Graham is: well many years ago some strange man came into to his house and threatened his family with bodily harm. Billy Graham, the husband and father emerged and he decked the man and had him arrested. Billy Graham also believes in peace but......
I don't think any of us know what we would really do unless we were in that situation.

Answer 3

Both are right both are GOD's will but are from different time periods this is the true evolution for man, or where little is known little is expected. It is far more difficult to forgive than to seek justice, in the beginnings man did not have the restraint necessary to forgive so the guidelines were direct plainly stated in a language those of that time easily related to. but by the use of the profits as to lay down a foundation or path to lead to the teachings of the coming CHRIST and the only one capable of making us understand the new way.

also for those who did not get the message of CHRIST the old laws limits their wrath or revenge against their fellow man, and in doing so proves its worth and why these laws were given to us in this manor.

Answer 4

Jesus fulfilled the law of moses and taught a new law. Both laws brought the people of the time that were taught them closer to God.
The people of the New Testatment were given way stricter laws to live by because God felt they needed that extra guidance. Sort of like smaller kids needing stricter rules to keep them safe. As society progressed on Jesus said that the people were now ready to be given more freedom. The apostles after the death of Jesus were actually having problems with people regressing back to the old mosaic laws and chastized them for turning their backs on Christ's new laws. Equalized it to crucifying him all over again.

both laws are laws of God. One is just no longer in use because God felt his children were ready for a higher law, or that we grew up a bit, so to speak.

Answer 5

God's revelation of Himself is progressive. The Old Testament reveals God's holiness- his hatred for sin. The New Testament reveals his unmerited favor. The Old Testament puts an upper limit on the penalties. The New Testament puts a lower limit on the penalties.

Answer 6

There is no change. The eye fir an eye is the law in respect to governing to be the guideline for those in authority to rule. Jesus made his statement to the mass who were not rulers for in his time the Jews were not in the position of authority to rule. They were ruled by the Romans.

The laws, eye for an eye was when God is ruler or the ruler turns to God for guidance in the rule.

Answer 7

When reading the Bible, ask who, what, why, where and when. The Old Testament laws were given by God to the Israelites. When Jesus came, we are under the New Testament which is that Jesus is now in authority. Jesus followed the laws in the OT perfectlly. No one else could and neither can we.

Answer 8

Much of the law changed with the ministry of Jesus. God stopped demanding the temple sacrfices, and the temple curtain was rent asunder. Jesus simplified salvation. He believed in the OT law, but he also knew that with his death, some of the ways we go about practicing our faith would change.
Short answer, Jesus IS God, so he is always inherently right.

Answer 9

"An eye for an eye" applies to justice under law. This is for God to execute. It does not apply to any individual's personal action. God delegates part of this role to the state; the remainder he executes on Judgment Day:
"Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: 'It is mine to avenge; I will repay,' says the Lord" (Romans 12:19, quoting Deuteronomy 32:35).
"Turn the other cheek" applies to personal ethics and treatment of our enemies. It does not apply to the judicial function of God or of the state.

Answer 10

Call it a new attitude. Or, a new covenant. God used the nation of Israel to prove a point to all of mankind. He then, sent forth His son to gather the flock of mankind following their lesson.

His point was simple, all who loved Him would be protected and blessed. All who opposed Him would be destroyed. The Bible states that Israel was not chosen for any special trait they bore. Israel was chosen to show the world that God can take the weakest of these and smite a mighty army.

Once that lesson period ran it's course, the purpose of that lesson was revealed by His invitation for all who would listen, to heed His call.