“An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.” Who doesn’t remember these words? For many people today, this is a commandment by which they live their lives - because she stole from me, so I will steal from her; he lied about me, and so I will gossip about him; she cheated, so I feel free to cheat; he hurt me, so I can hurt him in exchange. An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. How well we know this Old Testament saying. However, Jesus wants us to forget that and instead to implement a new commandment, a commandment that would guarantee perfect peace in your home, in our communities, and in our world. Love your neighbor as yourself. “I say to you, offer no resistance to one who is evil.” It is up to us if we want to remember and follow the Old Testament’s advice and to end up unhappy in fear and conflict. Or, we can desire to follow Jesus’ teaching and have peace and harmony.
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