Here we are, that famous phrase: eye for eye, tooth for tooth, set in a passage about death sentences, slaves, fists and stones. Make yourself read the passage because you will see more than this.
“Anyone who strikes a person with a fatal blow is to be put to death. 13 However, if it is not done intentionally, but God lets it happen, they are to flee to a place I will designate. 14 But if anyone schemes and kills someone deliberately, that person is to be taken from my altar and put to death. 15 “Anyone who attacks[c] their father or mother is to be put to death. 16 “Anyone who kidnaps someone is to be put to death, whether the victim has been sold or is still in the kidnapper’s possession. 17 “Anyone who curses their father or mother is to be put to death. 18 “If people quarrel and one person hits another with a stone or with their fist and the victim does not die but is confined to bed, 19 the one who struck the blow will not be held liable if the other can get up and walk around outside with a staff; however, the guilty party must pay the injured person for any loss of time and see that the victim is completely healed. 20 “Anyone who beats their male or female slave with a rod must be punished if the slave dies as a direct result, 21 but they are not to be punished if the slave recovers after a day or two, since the slave is their property. 22 “If people are fighting and hit a pregnant woman and she gives birth prematurely[e] but there is no serious injury, the offender must be fined whatever the woman’s husband demands and the court allows. 23 But if there is serious injury, you are to take life for life, 24 eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, 25 burn for burn, wound for wound, bruise for bruise. 26 “An owner who hits a male or female slave in the eye and destroys it must let the slave go free to compensate for the eye. 27 And an owner who knocks out the tooth of a male or female slave must let the slave go free to compensate for the tooth.” (Exodus 21 v 12-27)
Life is sacred. God wants us to view life not as a cheap commodity but as something that God made, and that is to be honoured.
Life contains accidents. Deaths happen that are not intentional, and God has a place to flee to. It is a place of mercy for the repentant. But such grace will not be abused.
Life should be fair. “Eye for eye, tooth for tooth” was never about revenge but more about limiting the punishment to a level that was fair. An owner who destroys a servant’s eye must set them free.
Life must consist of justice. A life paid for a life. Justice cannot be waived. Justice must be satisfied, and mercy must have a place to run.
At the cross justice was done: a life was given for a life. Mercy was opened for every sinner who will flee to him.
So what does this mean for us in 2026?
Life should be treated as sacred for every person. Let’s not abuse that.
Life contains accidents, and there needs to be mercy for the repentant.
Life should contain responses that are nothing more than fair and proportionate to the wrong, certainly not driven by the wound. Jesus told us to go further than this in Matthew 5:38-39.
Life must have justice. The gospel is not about cheap forgiveness, but God is the greater judge than we are.
Life was always meant to contain the cross of Christ. Justice was satisfied there.
The world asks for an eye for an eye; the cross answers with a life for a life, and offers refuge to all who will run to it.
