SCRIPTURE: Deuteronomy 19
OBSERVATION/APPLICATION:
“Show no pity: life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot.” [Deuteronomy 19:21] In this passage on justice, we see the principle of equitable retaliation. This idea was also found in other cultures at the time. It was a way to promote good order and punish injustice. It did not overcome evil, it restrained evil. It showed people that sin has its consequences. There is a price to pay.
Interestingly, Jesus speaks beyond this law. He does not deny it as a valid principle, but He does supersede it with greater principles, the principles of grace and mercy: “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.” [Matthew 5:38-39] Justice alone will not overcome evil. To overcome evil, grace and mercy must break the cycle of violence. It must overcome the sinful heart. If God treated us as our sins deserved, we would not survive. God could not ignore justice, but neither could He ignore grace and mercy. Love finds a way to meet the demands of justice and mercy. Jesus’ death on our behalf is that way.
It is true. For society to work well, justice must be maintained. The government cannot maintain order by ignoring justice. But neither can it prevent disorder and injustice with good laws and good education. We need more than laws, more than justice. We need mercy, we need help, we need God, we need grace. As a Jesus-follower, I need to stand for justice for others, but for myself I need to go beyond demanding justice, I need to exercise grace and mercy. Sin and injustice should be named for what they are (Jesus was clear on this), and the consequences of sin need to be acknowledged. But as a Jesus follower, committed to the example of Jesus, I also need to trump justice with grace and mercy. Loving my enemies, blessing those who curse me, serving those who abuse or neglect me, forgiving those who wrong me, making sacrifices for those who steal from me, etc. Again, this is not how we maintain order, this is how we overcome evil, and establish God’s kingdom.
This kind of response does not come easy or naturally. Our human and sinful nature demand justice. We need the Spirit to produce these Christ qualities in us. But we have to want them. We have to ask for them.
PRAYER:
Lord, I want to be gracious and merciful to others, just as You have been to me. Thank You for dealing with the justice issue; help me to deal with the mercy issue.