Matthew 5:38Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Both the laws of retribution and of compassion were divinely instituted at appropriate times for the greatest good. Had these elevated commandments been presented from the very beginning, humanity might have rejected both them and their predecessors. However, by offering them in due season, He has reformed the entire world through them. Furthermore, the stipulation of an eye for an eye was not meant for us to take each other’s eyes, but rather so that we may refrain from causing harm; the fear of retribution serves to deter us from wrongdoing. Thus, the Lawgiver gradually instills piety in our hearts, commanding that the one who wrongs must make equal reparations, even though the instigator of the offense may deserve a far greater punishment according to justice. Yet, in His desire to intertwine justice with mercy, He allows the one guilty of a more severe wrongdoing to receive a more lenient penalty than warranted, aiming to teach us to exhibit profound kindness even amid our suffering.

The Lord states, “It was said to the ancients, ‘An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I say unto you, Resist not evil.” The Law views equal suffering as the standard for punishment, permitting the injured party to inflict the same harm they endured, thereby deterring wrongdoing out of fear of experiencing a similar fate. This elucidates the profound insight of the Lawgiver. The Gospel, through the humility of the Sufferer, curbs vice from escalating to its worst forms. Since it was rightly determined to restrict the injustice of those who sought personal retribution, and legislation was enacted to prohibit all wrongdoing, retaliatory actions were often met with reciprocal responses. Individuals ended up doing the same things they condemned in others. However, this did not bring an end to previous wrongs but instead incited new, more grievous injustices. One person, feeling wronged, committed evil again, while the other sought revenge for the past grievance, with neither party recognizing a limit to their wrongdoing. Retribution became merely a precursor to further calamities, as the offender and the avenger found themselves embroiled in an unending conflict. What was intended to be wise in the Law, crafted by the Lawgiver to deter sin, became, instead, a catalyst for more transgressions. Thus, when so many evils arose, the Gospel acted like a flame that extinguishes the initial embers, halting the relentless pursuit of wickedness.

In contrast, grace invites the defender to respond not with retaliation, mirroring that threat, but through humility, effectively diffusing anger— what could foster harmony more than this? Moreover, to seek retribution for an instigator of wrongdoing in a just manner does not conflict with the compassionate approach that offers comfort and maintains the dignity of a aggrieved spirit; while the former is a natural inclination of humanity, the latter aligns more closely with divine intentions. Therefore, we may conclude that the former pertains to the judge, urging him to prioritize justice without bias, serving as a balanced scale for those in dispute, while the latter calls for the judge to temper any vengeful impulses with abundant compassion, preventing the escalation of conflict and the perpetuation of wrongdoing that he abhors and believes worthy of punishment.

Therefore, as the eternal Lawgiver of both the Old and New Testaments, in His infinite wisdom, He chose not to reveal this heavenly commandment to the ancient Israelites, who were not yet ready to accept it, but instead provided them a law that allowed the offended to seek retribution equal to the wrong done: an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, a hand for a hand, a foot for a foot, a burn for a burn, a harm for a harm (Ex. 21:24, 25). This righteous law served to curb the inclination to offend others through the fear of equal retribution while also defining the limits of vengeance for the offended, facilitating a mutual reconciliation, though it remained imperfect.

Christ, who came not to abolish the law but to fulfill and perfect it (Matt. 5:17), does not annul this law of righteousness; rather, He unveils to His believers a higher divine commandment of limitless love and compassion. He provides them with a profound means to patiently endure the wrongs inflicted upon them and the urge for retribution from those who feel wronged, enabling them to maintain unshakeable peace in their hearts—the peace of God which transcends all understanding, as the Holy Apostle Paul states (Phil. 4:7). While the ancient law of equitable retribution holds truth, it reflects the understanding of the scribes and Pharisees. The follower of Christ is called to a higher standard, as the Savior states: “Unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:20). Thus, Christ instructs His followers: “But I say to you, do not resist the evil person” (Matt. 5:39), meaning they should not respond to wrongdoing with more wrongdoing but rather triumph over evil with goodness, as St. Paul expounds upon these words of the Savior (Rom. 12:21).

He teaches that if someone strikes you on your cheek, you should not only refrain from seeking revenge and continue to love that person but also offer the other cheek. A blow to the face has often been considered a great insult, as it impacts one's honor profoundly. This is appropriate since a person’s face reflects their dignity and is made in the image of God. Thus, Christ highlights this specific offense to illustrate that no wrongdoing, however severe, should extinguish the peace and love a Christian harbors in their heart or incite them to seek retribution. However, one might wonder why the Savior did not simply state, “If anyone strikes you on the palm of your hand,” instead of referring to the cheek, which is unorthodox, as a blow is typically delivered by a right-handed person striking the left cheek. The Fathers of the Church interpret this symbolism as representing what is most valuable to an individual: their honor.

In this light, Christ commands all Christians, particularly His disciples whom He was preparing for the significant Apostolic ministry, to bear all manner of personal slights and offenses from others with love, much like skilled physicians who tolerate insults from feverish patients yet continue to care for their well-being. He calls for them to be willing to sacrifice their own human honor when the salvation of souls demands it, emulating their Lord and Master, who willingly surrendered His divine glory for the sake of humanity’s redemption, enduring disrespect without flinching and allowing His holy hand to be struck by the contemptible servant of the wicked Caiaphas. Such a selfless act may appear as disgraceful in the eyes of the world, but in the sight of the Lord and His angels, it constitutes the highest honor and will earn eternal glory in heaven.

Yet, according to Christ's teachings, if we do not retaliate against evil, even if such actions go unpunished, the good within us remains intact, and thus Christ's command serves to fulfill the requirements of the law. For it is not merely by following the law that one upholds Christ’s teachings, but rather through Christ’s commandments that one truly fulfills the essence of the law.

St. Chrysostom remarks that the lawgiver instituted ‘an eye for an eye’ not to encourage mutual harm but to instill a fear in the offender of suffering the same fate as their victim. The ancient Hebrews frequently misinterpreted the essence of this law, leading to situations where the punished offender felt resentment, provoking further revenge from the original victim, thus causing an escalation of harm.

To demonstrate that the Old Testament law fundamentally stemmed from love towards others—not intended to satisfy human vengeance but rather to keep it in check and eradicate evil—Christ, our Savior, targets the very source of hostility: vindictiveness. He explicitly reveals the attitude necessary for a Christian to embody when faced with offenses, emphasizing the importance of aligning with the spirit of the law rather than adhering strictly to its letter.

Does this mean He entirely dismisses the principle of equal retribution? Not at all; this principle retains its relevance for those in authority, who must utilize it to uphold societal order rather than personal vendettas. Christ elevates the law of forgiveness as a guiding principle for those wronged, preventing them from seeking vengeance, thus breaking the cycle of personal animosity and allowing the injured to entrust their struggles to divine judgment (1 Pet. 2:23).