Matthew Poole and continuators on Matthew 5:38

38 Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.

This was the Commandement of God to the Magistrate, in Case a Woman with Child were struck, and any Mischief came of it, Exod. 21.24. & Levit. 24.20. in C[illegible: 1 letter]se of Damage done to a Neighbour, and in the Case of False-witness, Deut. 19.21. But in the mean time God had said to private Persons, Levit. 19.18. Thou shall not avenge, and it is said, Prov. 24.29. Say not, I will do to him, as he hath done to me. The Pharisees had interpreted this Law of God, into a Liberty for every private Person, who had been wronged by another, to exact a Satisfaction upon him, provided that he did not exceed this Proportion of taking an Eye for an Eye, and a Tooth for a Tooth, doing no more wrong to another, than that other had done to him.