Walking the Second Mile
1 The justice of the Torah (the Old Testament) demanded equal payment in kind for criminal acts resulting in injury or loss of life. So the principle was established...
"eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burn for burn, wound for wound, stripe for stripe." Exodus 21:24-25
and
"life shall be for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot" Deut 19:21
and
"If a man causes disfigurement of his neighbor, as he has done, so shall it be done to him -- fracture for fracture, eye for eye, tooth for tooth; as he has caused disfigurement of a man, so shall it be done to him." Leviticus 24:19-20
2 Was Jesus wrong to scold the Pharisees for applying this law?
You have heard that it was said, "An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth!" But I tell you not to 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 away your tunic, let him have your cloak (tallit), also. And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two. Give to him who asks you, and from him who wants to borrow from you do not turn away. Matthew 5:38-42
3 The Pharisees had plenty of Bible verses on their side. How could Jesus tell them they were wrong?
Overlooked in the whole argument of course is the fact that we are not to take the law into our own hands. Exacting punishment for crimes committed against us is a matter for the courts.
4 The Torah had a completely different set of principles regarding individual behavior towards one's fellow man.
"You shall not take vengeance (revenge), nor bear any grudge against the children of your people. But you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord." Leviticus 19:18
5 The abysmal failure of the Pharisees to interpret the law correctly marked them forever as hypocrites. Jesus commanded that His disciples obey the law of love. Their hearts were to be free of bitterness, revenge, grudges, hatred, envy, strife, jealousy etc. This was the real command of the Torah.
6 But the question comes... What if an abusive person continues to strike you, borrow and not return, and in general just walk all over you without any regard for you at all? How would the law of love be applied in such a case? Perhaps we should quote the entire passage...
"You shall not hate your brother in your heart. You shall rebuke your neighbor, and not bear sin because of him.* You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the children of your people. But you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord." Leviticus 19:17-18
* literally: "You shall not lift sin because of him".
dynamically: "You shall... not bear (put up with or accept) sin because of him" means that you shall not allow him to continue to sin against you."Rebuke" means tell him to stop. If he does not stop, then report him to the authorities -- you shall not bear sin because of him. In all cases he needs to be forgiven. You shall not hate your brother in your heart.
7 Jesus' disciples eventually came to appreciate the law of love as the law of freedom. If they could return evil with kindness, cursing with blessing, hatred with love.. i.e. "walk the second mile" they would be children of their Heavenly Father -- and they would be free from wrath, envy, strife, infighting etc. -- free to love others and spread the gospel.
Discussion:
Memory verse: This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. John 15:12