Thursday, September 24, 2015

Deuteronomy, Chapter 19, Verse 16-20

¹⁶ If a hostile witness rises against someone to accuse that person of wrongdoing, ¹⁷ the two parties in the dispute shall appear in the presence of the LORD, in the presence of the priests and judges in office at that time, ¹⁸ and the judges must investigate it thoroughly. If the witness is a false witness and has falsely accused the other, ¹⁹ you shall do to the false witness just as that false witness planned to do to the other. Thus shall you purge the evil from your midst. ²⁰ The rest shall hear and be afraid, and never again do such an evil thing as this in your midst. ²¹ Do not show pity. Life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, and foot for foot!

 

This is some pretty hard stuff. Yet, we should not be namby-pamby either. There should be a system of justice and we should be just people. Christ reminds us that if we want justice we must be just ourselves.

 

Answer by Fr. John Echert[1] on 6/12/2001:

 

The Gospel of St. Matthew records these words of Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount:

 

5:38 "You have heard that it was said, —An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.' 5:39 But I say to you, Do not resist one who is evil. But if any one strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also; 5:40 and if any one would sue you and take your coat, let him have your cloak as well; 5:41 and if any one forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. 5:42 Give to him who begs from you, and do not refuse him who would borrow from you. 5:43 "You have heard that it was said, —You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' 5:44 But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 5:45 so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. 5:46 For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 5:47 And if you salute only your brethren, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same?

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[1] http://www.ewtn.com/vexperts/showmessage.asp?number=341032&Pg=&Pgnu=&recnu=