GOP Gospel: An Eye For An Eye

Day 18 of my Lent project. For background, please read this.

A reading from the Gospel according to the GOP:

"You have heard that it was said, 'An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.' Truly the threat of reprisal is a great deterrent for wrongdoing, for who would pluck out an eye if their own eye would be plucked out? And who would knock out a tooth if their own tooth would be knocked out? It is this solid foundation of rules and punishments which keeps law and order. What's mine is mine, and what's yours is yours; on such understanding is civilization founded. If anyone strikes you on the right cheek, then strike them on the left: thus do they learn you are not to be struck. Better yet, project yourself as ready to make a full reprisal and you will never be struck at all. If anyone forces you to go one mile, then go only one mile and no further; when you reach the end of the mile, stop, declare your rights not to be pushed further than the agreed distance, and go home. Should someone beg from you, do a thorough background check and ensure they are not a thief or a layabout who will waste your money on drugs, or a scoundrel who will sell your coat on for a profit, for many a man has taken advantage of charity who had no need to do so. And if someone wants to borrow from you, first ascertain that they will use the money wisely and are likely to repay you, then set a fair interest rate on the loan with a firm repayment schedule. Such boundaries keep people honest, who are liable to fall into knavery when left to their own devices.

( Matthew 5:38-42 )