We are back for Part V of Old vs New Covenant. Today we are discussing Yeshua's (Jesus' real name) sermon on the mount. Specifically, we will dive into the statement where he states 'If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also'.

This is a well-known verse, Jesus says to lay down your arms and not choose violence or payback if someone wrongs you - and do it multiple times.

On the flip side, we all know the saying an eye for an eye and the world goes blind, but this saying is rooted in the Old Testament, where retribution was a part of Israelite culture. This is seemingly in direct opposition to what Yeshua said.

Since God is not the author of contradictions and uncertainty, let's dive into both and see if we can clear the waters.

The New: The Statement on the Mount

Mat 5:38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’

Mat 5:39 But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also.

Mat 5:40 And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well.

Mat 5:41 If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles.

Mat 5:42 Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.

This seems quite clear - at first glance, it seems that Yeshua is changing the 'Eye for an Eye' commandment and changing it to 'Turn the other cheek'.

The Old: The Original Law

There are two locations, one in Exodus and one in Deuteronomy. I will highlight the key parts as these are quite long:

Exodus:

Exo 21:22 “If people are fighting and hit a pregnant woman and she gives birth prematurely but there is no serious injury, the offender must be fined whatever the woman’s husband demands and the court allows.

Exo 21:23 But if there is serious injury, you are to take life for life,

Exo 21:24 eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot,

Exo 21:25 burn for burn, wound for wound, bruise for bruise.

Deuteronomy:

Deu 19:15 One witness is not enough to convict anyone accused of any crime or offense they may have committed. A matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.

Deu 19:16 If a malicious witness takes the stand to accuse someone of a crime,

Deu 19:17 the two people involved in the dispute must stand in the presence of the LORD before the priests and the judges who are in office at the time.

Deu 19:18 The judges must make a thorough investigation, and if the witness proves to be a liar, giving false testimony against a fellow Israelite,

Deu 19:19 then do to the false witness as that witness intended to do to the other party. You must purge the evil from among you.

Deu 19:20 The rest of the people will hear of this and be afraid, and never again will such an evil thing be done among you.

Deu 19:21 Show no pity: life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot.

Under the Law, any Israelite who was accused of wrongdoing had to come before a judge and plead their case, which is similar to the system we have now. The judge would then determine the sentence, based on witness testimony and evidence. This system was set up by God, and given to Moses. In this court system, God's instruction to the judges was to judge righteously and fairly.

There is no place where people took revenge outside of the Law. An eye for an eye was not an excuse for vigilantes to execute justice as they saw fit. If you did a crime, you came to a judge who would hand you your punishment. This is exactly how we do it today, and you are punished according to the Law of the country or state you are in. In some states, there is a death penalty for certain crimes, and in others, there are different degrees of punishment. God's Kingdom is no different.

Comparing the Two

So on one side, we have the Old Testament, where a judicial system, similar to our current one was set up. Everyone who committed a crime had to come before a judge and plead their case. No one could take revenge outside of this.

On the other side, we have Yeshua stating to turn the other cheek and not take revenge for yourself.

Do we see a problem anymore? Even in the Old Testament, it was prohibited to act like a vigilante and take revenge. This is exactly what Yeshua is saying in the New Testament.

To further investigate, let's find examples. We see evidence of this Old Testament Judicial system in the New Testament (After the Sermon on the Mount):

Jhn 7:50 Nicodemus, who had gone to Jesus earlier and who was one of their own number, asked,

Jhn 7:51 “Does our law condemn a man without first hearing him to find out what he has been doing?”

Here, Yeshua is about to be judged without a formal hearing, but Nicodemus was reminding the other Pharisees that Yeshua needs to go through the formal Judicial system first. This shows that the system was still in place.

We also see this in Acts:

Act 23:3 Then Paul said to him, “God will strike you, you whitewashed wall! You sit there to judge me according to the law, yet you yourself violate the law by commanding that I be struck!”

Here, the Pharisees were striking Paul (Vigilante style justice), without having a fair hearing with witnesses to prove his guilt.

So we have established the Judicial system set up in the Old Testament was still applied in the New Testament, even after Yeshua's statement.

We can do a similar investigation into the Old Testament, where 'the other cheek was turned':

Lev 19:18 “ ‘Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against anyone among your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD.

Pro 24:29 Do not say, “I’ll do to them as they have done to me; I’ll pay them back for what they did.”

Even in the Old Testament, God instructed people to 'Turn the other cheek', because it is the judicial system that He put in place that will give out judgment.

Conclusion

Yeshua’s teaching on turning the other cheek complements, rather than contradicts, the Old Testament law. When He spoke about turning the other cheek, He is referring to vengeance, which has never been allowed according to the Law, because God will deliver justice, either through Himself or through the appointed judges.

The Old Testament established a judicial system where crimes were judged fairly, removing the need for individuals to seek vigilante justice. Similarly, Yeshua calls His followers to forego personal retaliation and instead trust God’s justice. This principle underscores love, humility, and reliance on God rather than self. Ultimately, both covenants align in promoting a just and merciful society where vengeance belongs to God and proper systems, not individuals.

Be blessed!