It’s easy for us to see God’s rules for reciprocal justice in Exodus 21 – an eye for any eye, a tooth for a tooth – as giving us permission to get revenge, but that was not God’s plan. Justice is handed down by a judge, not by the person who was harmed. As we navigate relationships with others we too will be hurt or offended and we need to learn to show grace in the midst of such circumstances. This doesn’t mean there are no consequences, but it does mean that we handle the situation without malice and revenge in our hearts.
