We are examining the Sermon on the Mount, divided into 23 sections.
The next point addresses vengeance. Matthew uses his usual wording: ‘It is written, but I tell you.’ Luke does not directly address the law of retaliation.
Jesus the Messiah's instructions are the opposite of what Jewish religious teachers taught at the time. The law of retaliation, found in the Old Testament (Exodus 21.24, Leviticus 24.20, Deuteronomy 19.21), advocates retributive justice in which punishment must be proportional to the crime committed.
By contrast, Jesus advocates non-violence and forgiveness, encouraging his disciples to love their enemies and respond to evil with good. These teachings mark a break with the law of retaliation by emphasising mercy, forgiveness and unconditional love.
To explain the law of retaliation, we can consider the passage in which Jesus the Messiah answers questions about divorce in Matthew 19.8, indicating that hardness of the led to concessions in Mosaic law. Yet God's will stands far above this law.
Jesus' teachings emphasise non-resistance to evil and forgiveness, encouraging disciples to respond to violence with love and mercy. This does not necessarily mean that disciples must submit without any defence. Jesus advocates a response transcending violence and vengeance rather than total passivity towards injustice. Disciples are called to be peacemakers and seek ways to resolve conflicts without resorting to violence.
In practice, this may mean seeking peaceful solutions, avoiding escalating violence, and showing wisdom and discernment in every situation. Legitimate defence of oneself or others may be compatible with Jesus the Messiah's teachings, provided the intention is to protect and preserve life rather than to take revenge or cause harm.
In summary, Jesus' disciples are called to follow his precepts of non-violence and forgiveness, but that does not mean they must submit to aggression. They should seek peaceful and just ways to respond to conflict, emphasising love, mercy and justice (Romans 12.17, 1 Peter 3.9).
Here we observe the difference between human and divine perspectives. But Jesus the Messiah will go further, reaching a stage we might describe as contrary to nature.