An Eye for an Eye

Jesus is speaking about insults, not attacks (self-defense is appropriate when there is a real attack). The Pharisees’ applied the eye for an eye command to personal relationships (legalized revenge). But the law was for the courts, not personal relationships (justice). It limited harshness and leniency and eliminated personal vengeance. Elsewhere in the Law God forbids retaliation in personal relationships, which is the meaning of turn the other cheek.