23 But if there is serious injury, you are to take life for life, 24 eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, 25 burn for burn, wound for wound, bruise for bruise.
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus counters the common teaching of personal retaliation: “You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ But I tell you . . .” (Matthew 5:38–39). Jesus then proceeds to reveal God’s heart concerning interpersonal relationships: “Do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also. And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well. If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles. Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you” (Matthew 5:39–42).
In giving this “new” command, Jesus is not nullifying the Old Testament law (Matthew 5:17). Rather, He is separating the responsibility of the government (to punish evildoers justly) from the responsibility we all have on a personal level before God to love our enemies. We should not seek retribution for personal slights. We are to ignore personal insults (the meaning of “turn the other cheek”)
But Senator Deever's bill is about bearing false witness.
On the other hand, there is a legitimate state interest in compensating individuals for the harm inflicted on them by defamatory falsehoods. An individual's right to the protection of his own good name is, at bottom, but a reflection of our society's concept of the worth of the individual. Therefore, accommodation must be reached.
The warning at the beginning is a veiled attempt of censorship by pre-discrediting before the person even speaks. Expect to see more of these.
Exodus 21...
"But, but Jesus said turn the other cheek."
What does the Bible mean by "an eye for an eye"?
But Senator Deever's bill is about bearing false witness.
What does the Bible say about Bearing False Witness?
This is uncontituional because people have free speech.
First Amendment protection to bear false witness?
u/#trumpnope
u/#pepedetective
Defamation and False Statements Under the First Amendment By FindLaw Staff | Legally reviewed by Laura Temme, Esq. | Last reviewed July 18, 2022
Read the bill.
Oklahoma Senate Bill 1825