【双语灵修】以眼还眼AN EYE FOR AN EYE

利未记 24:17-22；马太福音 5:38-42

打死人的必被治死， 打死牲畜的必赔上牲畜，以命偿命。 人若使他邻舍的身体有残疾，他怎样行，也要照样向他行。 以伤还伤，以眼还眼，以牙还牙，他怎样叫人的身体有残疾，也要照样向他行。 打死牲畜的，必赔上牲畜；打死人的，必被治死。 不管是寄居的，是本地人，同归一例。我是耶和华你们的神。”

“你们听见有话说：‘以眼还眼，以牙还牙。’ 只是我告诉你们，不要与恶人作对。有人打你的右脸，连左脸也转过来由他打； 有人想要告你，要拿你的里衣，连外衣也由他拿去； 有人强逼你走一里路，你就同他走二里。 有求你的，就给他；有向你借贷的，不可推辞。

星期三

十一月二十六日

以眼还眼

“‘只是我告诉你们，不要与恶人作对。’” - 太 5:39

你有没有曾经想过要报复？可能是因为同事窃取了你努力工作的功劳，又或者其他人不当的行为，令你受到指责。有人用说话或行动伤害了你，想去扯平是很自然的。但通常我们不会单单扯平，我们还会想进一步报复，便会引起恶性的循环，可以导至家庭破碎、社区分裂甚至国家灭亡。

今天所读的利未记经文，应用了我们昨天读过的故事中的律法，这令我们想起两件事。第一，不论我们是否生出来便是神约的子民，所有与神立约之民都要遵守约的要求。公平是适用于每一个人的。第二，当我们受到伤害，神的律法限制我们可要求的赔偿：“以眼还眼”（不能再多些）。例如你伤害或杀死了邻居的动物，他可以从你的动物中取回一只，但不可以取两只。正确地实施公平是应有限制的。

然而，耶稣更进一步挑战我们，去向伤害了我们的人表达爱心。事实上，神便是这样待我们的！虽然我们犯罪是该死的，但神并没有要我们填命，祂反而藉着基督为我们牺牲自己，来向我们施怜悯。当我们看见神怎样付出额外的努力，向我们施怜悯时，我们也可以用“连… 脸也转过来”的态度，去对待伤害过我们的人。

祷告

仁慈的神，我们虽然犯了罪，祢仍然以怜悯回应，我们真是永远感激祢。求祢帮助我们，以祢怜悯之道去对待每一个人。阿们。

Leviticus 24:17-22; Matthew 5:38-42

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 26

AN EYE FOR AN EYE

“I tell you, do not resist an evil person.” —Matthew 5:39

Have you ever wanted revenge? Maybe a colleague stole credit for your hard work, or you were blamed for someone else’s wrongdoing. Or if someone hurt you with their words or actions, it’s natural to want to even the score. We rarely stop there, however; usually we want revenge plus interest. This can lead to a vicious cycle that can tear apart families, fracture communities, and even destroy nations.

Today’s passage in Leviticus applies the law from the story we read yesterday, and it reminds us of two things. First, all who are part of God’s covenant people are bound by the requirements of the covenant, whether they were born into God’s people or not. Justice applies to everyone. And, second, God’s law limits what we may seek from people who have wronged us: “an eye for an eye” (and no more). For example, if you injure or kill your neighbor’s animal, they may take one of your animals from you, but not two. Justice, properly practiced, has limits.

Jesus, however, challenges us further—to extend kindness even to people who have hurt us. In fact, that’s what God has done for us! Rather than treat us as our sins deserve by demanding our life from us, the Lord extends mercy to us in Christ, who gave up his own life for our sake. When we see how God has gone the extra mile to show us mercy, we can “turn . . . the other cheek” to people who have wronged us.

Gracious God, though we have sinned, you have answered with mercy, and we are eternally thankful. Help us to live by your way of mercy toward everyone. In Jesus, Amen.