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The Lamps
24 The LORD spoke to Moses, saying, “Command the people of Israel to bring you pure oil from beaten olives for the lamp, that a light may be kept burning regularly. Outside the veil of the testimony, in the tent of meeting, Aaron shall arrange it from evening to morning before the LORD regularly. It shall be a statute forever throughout your generations. He shall arrange the lamps on the lampstand of pure gold before the LORD regularly.
Bread for the Tabernacle
“You shall take fine flour and bake twelve loaves from it; two tenths of an ephah shall be in each loaf. And you shall set them in two piles, six in a pile, on the table of pure gold before the LORD. And you shall put pure frankincense on each pile, that it may go with the bread as a memorial portion as a food offering to the LORD. Every Sabbath day Aaron shall arrange it before the LORD regularly; it is from the people of Israel as a covenant forever. And it shall be for Aaron and his sons, and they shall eat it in a holy place, since it is for him a most holy portion out of the LORD’s food offerings, a perpetual due.”
Punishment for Blasphemy
Now an Israelite woman’s son, whose father was an Egyptian, went out among the people of Israel. And the Israelite woman’s son and a man of Israel fought in the camp, and the Israelite woman’s son blasphemed the Name, and cursed. Then they brought him to Moses. His mother’s name was Shelomith, the daughter of Dibri, of the tribe of Dan. And they put him in custody, till the will of the LORD should be clear to them.
Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, “Bring out of the camp the one who cursed, and let all who heard him lay their hands on his head, and let all the congregation stone him. And speak to the people of Israel, saying, Whoever curses his God shall bear his sin. Whoever blasphemes the name of the LORD shall surely be put to death. All the congregation shall stone him. The sojourner as well as the native, when he blasphemes the Name, shall be put to death.
An Eye for an Eye
“Whoever takes a human life shall surely be put to death. Whoever takes an animal’s life shall make it good, life for life. If anyone injures his neighbor, as he has done it shall be done to him, fracture for fracture, eye for eye, tooth for tooth; whatever injury he has given a person shall be given to him. Whoever kills an animal shall make it good, and whoever kills a person shall be put to death. You shall have the same rule for the sojourner and for the native, for I am the LORD your God.” So Moses spoke to the people of Israel, and they brought out of the camp the one who had cursed and stoned him with stones. Thus the people of Israel did as the LORD commanded Moses.
(ESV)
Leviticus 24 Commentary
by Brad Boyles
When I read the “eye for an eye” passage, I immediately think of the Sermon on the Mount.
“You have heard that it was said, ‘AN EYE FOR AN EYE, AND A TOOTH FOR A TOOTH.’ 39 “But I say to you, do not resist an evil person; but whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. 40 “If anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, let him have your coat also. 41 “Whoever forces you to go one mile, go with him two. 42 “Give to him who asks of you, and do not turn away from him who wants to borrow from you.
Matthew 5:38-42 NASB
The question I get asked a lot is, “Do we just let people walk all over us?” How can we find balance in this commandment? Jesus did not necessarily reject the idea of judgment or punishment with His statement. We have to remember that in many of Jesus’ teachings, He was getting to the root issue. Later in this passage, he basically says, “You have heard that adultery is wrong, but that divorce is permitted.” Then He illustrates how divorce and remarriage is actually another form of adultery.
I don’t believe Jesus is advocating for us to let others walk all over us. I think when you read the rest of the Bible in context, it is very clear (even in the NT) that punishment and consequences follow improper actions. The point Jesus is making here is that the Christian does not live a tit-for-tat lifestyle. Paul illustrates this when he describes love as “not keeping a record of wrongs.” Jesus said we should forgive others 70×7 times (a metaphor for no limit). The NT is full of challenging commands that encourage us to forgive others.
Forgiveness, however, does not mean that we have no boundaries. This is illustrated very powerfully and clearly in Scripture for the person who continually rejects Jesus. At the final judgment, they will face the wrath of God even though forgiveness was fully offered to them. We can forgive someone and love them while also setting healthy boundaries. The Holy Spirit will guide us in these matters as we allow Him to inhabit the darkest places of our hearts. He will check our motives and guide us in all truth.