Breaking the Word

 "You have heard that it was said, 'An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.' But I say to you, offer no resistance to one who is evil. When someone strikes you on (your) right cheek, turn the other one to him as well. If anyone wants to go to law with you over your tunic, hand him your cloak as well. Should anyone press you into service for one mile, go with him for two miles. Give to the one who asks of you, and do not turn your back on one who wants to borrow. (Mt 5:38-42)

Jesus is offering a new sort of justice. The old type of justice, found in the Bible, was designed to prevent revenge running out of control. Better an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth than a fight in which one side going worse than the other. The old type of justice prevented the destruction of the weaker section by a powerful force. Old type of justice kept a sort of equality, though in a negative sense. 

Jesus’ new type of justice is creative, healing, and restoring. There is no place for revenge in this type of justice. This justice asks man to reflect the patient love of God. This new type of justice will prove that there is a God in Israel. This God is the one true God and his deepest nature is overflowing love.

Jesus gives three examples to prove his point. When one hits the other on the cheek, hitting back will only keep the evil in circulation. Hitting on the right cheek is only an insult. It treats the one who is hit as an inferior or a slave. Offering the other cheek implies: hit me now as an equal. Offering him your cloak as well will shame your opponent with your impoverished nakedness. Walking an extra mile is only to show that there is another way of being human.  Jesus’ way of being human is being Godly person. 

  A Pharisee invited him to dine with him, and he entered the Pharisee's house and reclined at table. Now there was a sinful woman in the city who learned that he was at table in the house of the Pharisee…

 When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this he said to himself, "If this man were a prophet, he would know who and what sort of woman this is who is touching him, that she is a sinner." Jesus said to him in reply, "Simon, I have something to say to you." "Tell me, teacher," he said.  "Two people were in debt to a certain creditor; one owed five hundred days' wages and the other owed fifty. Since they were unable to repay the debt, he forgave it for both. Which of them will love him more?" Simon said in reply, "The one, I suppose, whose larger debt was forgiven." He said to him, "You have judged rightly."…  (Lk7:36-8:3)

Jesus was invited by a Pharisee for a dinner. But Jesus met a sinful woman in that house.  How strange!!!. A righteous man allowed a sinful woman to come into his house. Pharisees were particular about the purification laws. Here in this story the Pharisee did not provide for the washing, whereas the sinful woman did the work of purification. Have they changed their roles?

Jesus had always something to tell. He had something even for the Pharisees. A simple and easily understandable parable was given to the Pharisee. He judged rightly and Jesus appreciated the Pharisee. Jesus appreciated the Pharisee when they said things rightly (do what they tell you and do not do what they do). The quantity/quality of love corresponds to the quantity/quality of forgiveness.  Greater the forgiveness; richer the love.

This story brings out certain elements which are important for life. When Jesus is there is no Pharisee or sinful person. They find themselves besides each other. They play the role of the other. They become equal in front of Jesus. (There are no quality/quantity distinctions). Forgiveness brings out the love that is within.