The Golden Rule Mistaken for An Eye For An Eye

Last week a teacher reminded her students not to bother the model projects of other students. She states the Golden Rule of DO UNTO OTHERS AS YOU WOULD HAVE THEM DO UNTO YOU.  One student tried to say he could bother the other students project but not vice versa. She cut him off in mid-sentence and stated that if he messed up the other student's project, then that student has the right to come in and mess up his project in the same manner. That stopped the student in his place, immediately. 

However, I must state that the verse, AN EYE FOR AN EYE fits this situation better. 

Exodus 21:22-25 Here states that if two men fight and hurt a pregnant woman and she miscarries, then the guilty party must pay restitution as demanded by the husband. However, if bodily injury occurs to the wife then, a life for a life, eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth. 

Extrapolating these verses into every day justice, people have been demanding revenge for crimes against themselves from the perpetrators. "If you burn my house down, then I'll burn your house down." "If you kill my animal, I'll kill your animal." An example on tv was shown on THE WALTONS tv series.  John Walton, sr. was part of the war effort. He inducted a neighbor's son into the army; against the family's wishes. When the son was found from hiding he was sent with his troop to Europe. Unfortunately he did not survive. The father demanded restitution for the death of his son: "An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. A son for a son."

My pastor once explained to us: an eye for an eye means exactly that. The same way you hurt me I can hurt you back and NOT MORE.  If you step on my toes, I'll step on your toes, back. It does not mean I go get my gang and beat you up. 

Please take a moment to read exodus 21 in full context. See what you get from it. 

Amen. 

Glory be to the Father, to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the Beginning, is now and Ever shall be. Amen. 

Caridad de las Mercedes.