Thoughts for the Day

You have heard that it was said, “An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.” But I say to you, Do not resist an evildoer. But if anyone strikes you on the right cheek, turn the other also; and if anyone wants to sue you and take your coat, give your cloak as well; and if anyone forces you to go one mile, go also the second mile. Give to everyone who begs from you, and do not refuse anyone who wants to borrow from you.

(Lectionary, New Revised Standard Version)

Thoughts

Hammurabi was the sixth king of the First Babylonian Dynasty and reigned from c1792 to 1750 BCE and was responsible for producing the oldest and most complete collection of laws, known as the Code of Hammurabi. Before his death they were collected together and placed on a stela or stone pillar (see left - it's hard to see, but the laws have been chiselled into the stone). They include laws about trade, commerce, marriage, divorce, and criminal offences. The oldest law in the world - the Lex Talionis - is the 'tit-for-tat law'. If you broke someone's arm, your arm could be broken, though there was a different penalty for breaking a gentleman's or a worker's arm.

Initially this law was meant to stop blood feuds where whole tribes could be killed in vengeance for the death of one man, and it was meant for a Judge to apply. However, with Jesus' words we see a new kind of mercy, for he comes to replace the old Law with a totally new and radical one.

Let us stop a moment and imagine the example Jesus gives, of striking someone on the right cheek. For most of us who are right-handed to strike someone on the right cheek is utterly impossible. The only way is to use the back of the hand, and this under Jewish law is twice as insulting. So this is a symbolic strike rather than a knock-down blow. It is more likely that Jesus meant if someone insults you in the worst possible way you shouldn't retaliate or resent it. We should learn to ignore insults if we know that we are doing what God wants. Jesus was accused of many things that were untrue, and we are to learn from his example.

Lord God,
enable us to ignore insults
and only to give back love to others;
to give more than we are asked for;
and to welcome the company of all people,
not just those we might prefer.
Amen.