Exodus 21

But if there is serious injury, you are to take life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burn for burn, wound for wound, bruise for bruise. Exodus 21:23-25 NIV

The “eye for an eye” rule was a guide for judges, to try to prevent punishment that was cruel and too harsh compared to the crime that was committed.  Jesus used this principle to teach us not to take our own revenge (Matthew 5:38-42).  We must remember what the apostle Paul wrote: “Dear friends, never take revenge.  Leave that to the righteous anger of God. For the Scriptures say, ‘I will take revenge; I will pay them back,’ says the LORD” (Romans 12:19).  If we try to take revenge on our own, we are not living out the command to “Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone” (Romans 12:18).  If you are a parent, you need to ask God for wisdom in order to dole out the proper punishment when your child does something wrong.  It is the parents’ duty to discipline their children.  The Bible says “Do not withhold discipline from a child; if you punish him with the rod, he will not die” (Proverbs 23:13).  The Bible also tells us “Those who spare the rod of discipline hate their children.  Those who love their children care enough to discipline them” (Proverbs 13:24).  Make sure that you use godly wisdom when you discipline.  A punishment too harsh is not fair, and one too lenient does not teach your child anything.