Is "Eye For An Eye" Christian? Jesus, Justice, and The Limits of Vengeance (Dru Johnson) Ep. #218

Sep 18, 2025

Dr. Dru Johnson, a Christian theologian and biblical ethics scholar, dives into the misunderstood principle of 'eye for an eye' from biblical texts. He explains how lex talionis is not about vengeance but serves as a wisdom-guided restraint on power. The discussion shifts to Jesus' teachings, illustrating how he reinterprets this principle to emphasize mercy over retaliation. This insightful conversation invites listeners to rethink justice and mercy, connecting ancient laws to contemporary issues like social media and cancel culture.

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INSIGHT

Talionis Is Not The Core Of Biblical Justice

Lex talionis is often mistaken as the cornerstone of biblical justice but it is not the primary frame for Torah ethics.
Dru Johnson argues biblical justice centers on broader wisdom, mercy, and protection of the vulnerable.

INSIGHT

Exodus Uses Talionis As Contextual Tort Guidance

Exodus 21 frames talionis within narrow tort contexts like injury to pregnant women and slaves.
These cases show the law targets specific social and economic harms rather than endorsing literal retaliation.

INSIGHT

Hebrew Law Restrains Powerful, Not Just Retributes

Hebrew law contrasts with other ANE codes by protecting lower-status people through release and restraint clauses.
Exodus orders release of a slave when an eye or tooth is broken, flipping retaliation into restraint of abuse.

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“Eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth.” We’ve all heard the phrase—but what does it actually mean in the Bible? In this episode, Mike Tolliver and Dr. Dru Johnson unpack the principle of Talion—Lex Talionis—and show why it’s one of the most misunderstood elements of biblical justice.

They trace the concept across Leviticus, Exodus, and Deuteronomy, exploring how this principle wasn’t about vengeance or equal retaliation, but a wisdom-guided restraint on power and a warning to those in authority: “Don’t abuse the vulnerable.” Far from being a hard legal code, eye-for-eye was a principle, surrounded by interpretive examples—not a statute for rigid enforcement.

The conversation moves from the Torah to Jesus’ teachings in Matthew 5, where Jesus isn’t rejecting the Old Testament, but interpreting it through its own inner logic. Jesus deepens the Torah’s call: instead of demanding retaliation, he teaches mercy and vulnerability—mirroring the Torah’s own ethic of protecting the powerless.

From ancient village courts to modern Twitter mobs, this episode challenges us to rethink how justice, mercy, and retaliation intersect in biblical ethics—and in our own lives.

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Chapters:
00:00 Understanding Biblical Justice: The Principle of Talion
02:13 Exploring the Context of Eye for an Eye
05:15 The Role of Retributive and Restorative Justice
08:26 Examining the Instances of Lex Talionis
11:20 The Implications of Class in Biblical Law
13:45 The Shift in Perspective: Power Dynamics in Justice
16:36 Witnesses and the Nature of Justice
19:39 God's Role in Justice and Retribution
22:22 Connecting Lex Talionis to the Imago Dei
25:41 Jesus and the Fulfillment of the Law
28:32 The Kingdom of Heaven: A New Perspective on Justice
31:28 The Floor and Ceiling of Biblical Law
34:43 Practical Applications of Biblical Justice Today