Mt 5:38-42
Retaliation: Leviticus, the law concerning retaliation states, “Whoever takes the life of any human being shall be put to death; whoever takes the life of an animal shall make restitution of another animal. A life for a life! Anyone who inflicts injury on his neighbor shall receive the same in return. Limb for limb, eye for eye, tooth for tooth! The same injury that a man gives another shall be inflicted on him in return” (Lv 24:17-20).
Retaliation: Leviticus, the law concerning retaliation states, “Whoever takes the life of any human being shall be put to death; whoever takes the life of an animal shall make restitution of another animal. A life for a life! Anyone who inflicts injury on his neighbor shall receive the same in return. Limb for limb, eye for eye, tooth for tooth! The same injury that a man gives another shall be inflicted on him in return” (Lv 24:17-20).
While it seems harsh today, this law concerning retaliation represents a moderation in the law in the culture of the time. It moderated vengeance so that the punishment did not exceed the injury done. When injured, a person could respond only proportionately.
According to Jesus in this Gospel passage, however, the righteous person may not respond proportionately. One who is struck on the right cheek should turn the other as well.
The righteous person may not only not respond proportionately to injury, but he or she may not even respond to evil at all. Authenticity, righteousness, forces the reader to see that the old law of retaliation is excessive. In declaring its excess, however, Matthew typically does not specify what kind of response demonstrates righteousness. To do so would be to establish a new law, and this would undermine Matthew’s whole theological perspective of righteousness or authenticity.