take an eye for an eye

Too often we think that when we have a problem with our lives or our country that the way to fix it is to take an eye for an eye.

But he is passionate about visiting the places where the Bible comes alive for him, such as the green hills now covered in wildflowers on the Mount of Beatitudes in the Galilee, where tradition says Jesus gave the sermon that called upon his followers to turn the other cheek, rather than take an eye for an eye.

The Old Testament injunction to take an eye for an eye, which today sounds so bloodthirsty, was in fact an appeal for proportion where death or dismemberment were meted out for trivial offences.

“You want someone to beat you? Have Lucky Strike take an eye for an eye, maybe?”

They take an eye for an eye literally in this part of south-east London.