The NIV 365 Day Devotional

What to Do When Someone Wrongs Me?

The answer to this question is difficult to figure out. The Old Testament says eye for eye, tooth for tooth (Ex 21:24). But the passage in Luke talks about turning aside when we’re wronged. Do these passages contradict each other? We can make sense of these verses by understanding the context of each.

The verses in the Old Testament didn’t provide people an excuse to take revenge on others. The eye for eye passage refers to judicial procedures. Those verses actually call for fair, balanced judgment, or justice —something unheard of in an ancient culture that called for a life for an eye or a head for a tooth.

In the New Testament, Jesus’ law of love focuses on our personal response to wrongdoing. Our instinct says, “Stand up for your rights.” But Jesus says, “It’s not about you and your rights. It’s about overcoming evil —by absorbing it.”

So how does this work? Think about it this way: When water is poured on a rock, the rock’s hardness simply repels the water. It splashes all over the place. But when water is poured on a sponge, it soaks up the water. It’s like that with evil. We can either spread it, or in a small way, we can stop it from spreading —if we absorb it in love. It takes a lot of humility and patience —and help from God. But it can be done.

Note that this passage is talking about hurts and slights that occur in our everyday relationships. It is not talking about abuse or exploitation. If you are suffering from abuse, get help by talking to a trusted adult.

Taken from the NIV Quest Study Bible for Teens.