Matthew 5:38 Meaning and Explanation
“Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth:”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Jesus recalls the old rule of measured justice and is about to lead His people past mere retaliation into something higher.
The Context of Matthew 5:38
On the mountainside, Jesus opens another contrast with the words 'Ye have heard.' He quotes a principle written into the law of Moses, one that had governed Israel's courts, before turning in the next verse toward a different way of meeting wrong.
What Does Matthew 5:38 Mean?
The saying 'an eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth' sounds harsh to us, but in its first setting it was a mercy. It was a rule for judges, meant to keep punishment fair, so a small injury could not be repaid with a death and revenge could not spiral out of control. The penalty had to match the harm, no more. Over time, though, people turned a courtroom limit into a personal license, a reason to pay back every slight.
Jesus is about to lift His hearers above that whole reckoning. In the verses that follow He teaches them to absorb an insult, to give freely, to refuse the endless cycle of getting even. He points to a love that does not keep score, and He shows it Himself at the cross, where He bore wrong without returning it and prayed for those who harmed Him. That mercy is the life He opens to us.
Matthew 5:38 in the Original Language
ophthalmos (ὀφθαλμός), 'eye' -- the literal eye, here standing for measured, equal recompense in the law.
How to Apply Matthew 5:38 Today
The instinct to get even runs deep in us, and Jesus gently calls us higher, toward a love that does not keep score. He does not ask of us anything He did not do first, having borne wrong at the cross and forgiven those who caused it.
Frequently Asked Questions About Matthew 5:38
What does Matthew 5:38 mean?
Jesus recalls the old rule of measured justice and is about to lead His people past mere retaliation into something higher.
What is the context of Matthew 5:38?
On the mountainside, Jesus opens another contrast with the words 'Ye have heard.' He quotes a principle written into the law of Moses, one that had governed Israel's courts, before turning in the next verse toward a different way of meeting wrong.
How can I apply Matthew 5:38 today?
The instinct to get even runs deep in us, and Jesus gently calls us higher, toward a love that does not keep score. He does not ask of us anything He did not do first, having borne wrong at the cross and forgiven those who caused it.