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how does this teaching relate to the old testament emphasis on justice and recompense?

Adds the setting and its conversation across both testaments.

Matthew 5:38-42

““You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I tell you, don’t resist him who is evil; but whoever strikes you on your right cheek, turn to him the other also. If anyone sues you to take away your coat, let him have your cloak also. Whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two. Give to him who asks you, and don’t turn away him who desires to borrow from you.””

This passage is part of Jesus' Sermon on the Mount, found in the Gospel of Matthew. Jesus is teaching his followers about what it means to live in God's kingdom, often reinterpreting or deepening understandings of the Law given in the Old Testament.

What might it look like to live out this teaching in a world where injustice and harm are prevalent?

Then — the setting

This teaching by Jesus, likely given in Galilee around the early 1st century CE, directly addresses the understanding and application of the 'lex talionis' (law of retaliation) found in Old Testament law (Exodus 21:23-25; Leviticus 24:19-20; Deuteronomy 19:21). The original Old Testament context for 'an eye for an eye' was primarily judicial, intended to limit retribution and ensure proportional justice, preventing excessive vengeance in a society without strong centralized legal enforcement. It meant that compensation or punishment should fit the injury, not exceed it, and was typically administered by courts rather than individuals. Jesus' audience were Jews living under Roman occupation, accustomed to oppression and humiliation.

Across the Testaments

The Old Testament, particularly the Law, emphasizes justice and recompense, often articulated through principles like 'an eye for an eye' (lex talionis). This principle served to establish proportional justice and prevent escalating cycles of vengeance in community life. It ensured that punishment or compensation matched the offense, rather than being excessively harsh. Jesus' teaching in Matthew 5 does not abolish this principle but reinterprets it, shifting the focus from legal, communal justice to personal, ethical conduct. He moves beyond strict equivalence of harm/recompense by advocating for non-retaliation and generous, proactive peacemaking in personal interactions, challenging his followers to embody a higher ethic that transcends mere legal redress. This reflects a broader New Testament theme of grace and transformative love over strict punitive justice in interpersonal relationships, while still affirming God's ultimate justice.

Keep thinking

Read alongside it

Leviticus 24:19-20
This is a key Old Testament passage articulating the principle of 'an eye for an eye' (lex talionis).
Romans 12:17-21
Paul echoes a similar call for non-retaliation and responding to evil with good in the New Testament.
Luke 6:27-31
Luke's Gospel presents a parallel account of Jesus' teaching on loving enemies and turning the other cheek.

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