Among the civil laws God gave to Moses in Exodus 21, there were stiff penalties for violent offenses. The punishment must fit the crime. Retribution should involve "life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burn for burn, wound for wound, bruise for bruise" (vv. 23-25). This principle, which has informed criminal justice systems ever since, has been called The Lex Talionis or "The Law of Retaliation." In this natural, sinful world, it is good that God requires punishments for criminal activity. Humans need consequences to dissuade them from destructive behavior. Strict law enforcement prevents crime from running rampant in our communities. Meanwhile, we have a Savior who quoted The Lex Talionis principle of Exodus 21 and then offered an alternative, saying, "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 evil person, but whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also" (Matthew 5:38-39). So, which is it, "An eye for an eye" or "turn the other cheek"? Essentially, it is not either/or, but both. For the kingdoms of this world, there need to be stringent laws to curb and punish sin. It is an economy of conditions. Humans behave best when there are rewards and punishments. Otherwise, anarchy will reign, and untold harm will be done. For the kingdom of heaven, however, it is an economy of grace. Jesus came not to condemn His enemies but to offer radical forgiveness. He "turned the other cheek," to the point that it cost Him His very life. He subjected Himself to the worst human conduct to rescue us from our woeful human condition. He lived the life we coul
