In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus Christ addresses the concept of retribution, challenging the common understanding of the law of retaliation, known as Lex Talionis or "an eye for an eye." He clarifies that this principle, often taken literally to demand exact revenge, is not God's intent. Instead, it is meant to ensure just compensation for damage, not merciless vengeance. Jesus teaches that His disciples must not seek revenge or escalate conflicts through stubborn resistance or additional offenses. He instructs, "But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also," emphasizing the need to suppress the urge for vengeance and respond with patience, even being willing to endure a second insult without retaliation. Jesus further illustrates this principle by saying, "If anyone wants to sue you and take away your tunic, let him have your cloak also," advising His followers to settle disputes by accepting loss and even offering more to avoid escalating hostility. He adds, "And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two," teaching that when forced into burdensome service, one should willingly exceed the demand with a cheerful attitude. In another example, He states, "Give to him who asks you, and from him who wants to borrow from you do not turn away," highlighting the importance of generosity without expectation of repayment or retaliation, even when parting with valued possessions. Through these teachings, Jesus raises the standard beyond mere physical compliance with the law to a higher righteousness, urging a heart of patience, love, and generosity in the face of insult, loss, or imposition, far surpassing the rigid and vengeful attitudes of the scribes and Pharisees.

Family feuds, marked by retribution, have caused immense suffering throughout history, leading to countless deaths and destruction across nations and cultures. These conflicts often begin with a real or perceived offense, spiraling into cycles of retaliation where one side seeks to get even, and the other strikes back, escalating into outright war. The Hatfield and McCoy feud, sparked by a stolen hog, exemplifies this pattern, resulting in decades of violence and loss, including the New Year's Massacre of 1888, before legal intervention finally subdued the conflict. Similarly, historical feuds among Scottish clans, such as the Campbell and McDonald clash culminating in the Glencoe Massacre of 1692, demonstrate how betrayal and vengeance devastate communities. English family feuds, like that between the Bonneville and Courtney families, and the broader War of the Roses between the Yorks and Lancasters, further illustrate how retribution fuels prolonged strife, often merging into larger conflicts with significant casualties. In biblical accounts, retribution also plays a central role in family enmity, such as Cain's murder of Abel, which initiated a divide between their descendants, and the ongoing hostility between Israel and Edom stemming from Jacob's deception of Esau. These cycles of vengeance reflect human nature's tendency to retaliate rather than reconcile, perpetuating division and destruction. Jesus Christ addresses this destructive pattern of retribution in His teachings, presenting a radical alternative to the principle of "an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth," which, while intended to ensure proportionate justice under God's law through fines or restitution, often devolved into personal vengeance and feuds among individuals and families. He instructs His disciples to avoid retaliation, emphasizing personal peace over demanding justice in private conflicts. His guidance in Matthew 5:38-42 urges a response of patience, humility, and sacrifice, even to the point of not resisting an evil person, turning the other cheek, or giving more than is demanded. This approach, though seemingly impossible, aims to break the cycle of retribution, fostering peace and reflecting God's character by overcoming evil with good, rather than perpetuating the destructive feuds that human nature so readily embraces.

Sin inevitably leads to separation, with death as its ultimate consequence, as the wages of sin is death. The breaking of the Sixth Commandment, which prohibits murder, manifests the fruit of sin most immediately through the loss of life, a stark division with no alternative in its wake, even if the penalty is not always exacted right after the act. The principle of retribution is evident in the legal safeguards designed to protect life, where the death penalty exists but is not easily obtained, emphasizing carefulness in judgment. In cases of accidental killing, the person responsible must flee to a city of refuge, undergoing a trial and remaining there until the death of the high priest, with no sanctuary available for a premeditated murderer. The avenger of blood, often a relative, is tasked with protecting family rights and avenging loss, though vengeance does not always mean taking life. The law of retaliation, or lex talionis, ensures that punishment matches but does not exceed the damage done, as seen in cases where damages are awarded for injuries or death, determined by judges to be accidental or premeditated. If negligence or known danger is involved, such as with a dangerous animal, both the animal and owner face death. However, a shift is introduced through the teachings of Jesus Christ, moving away from retaliation by civil authorities to addressing sin at its source within the heart, where evil thoughts are tantamount to murder in God's eyes. Jesus advises against setting oneself against an evildoer, promoting humility and patience by doing good instead of retaliating, a principle exemplified by His own non-retaliatory stance even when facing personal harm. This counsel is reinforced by instructions to never allow vindictiveness or repay evil with evil, leaving vengeance to God, who has assigned Himself that responsibility within His family. The non-retaliatory remedy of Jesus Christ sets a standard for His followers to be distinct, ultimately achievable only by those with the spirit of God and living by faith, trusting that God will fight their battles, eliminating the need for personal retribution or participation in worldly conflicts.