Zeev...
Yes, an interesting interpretation of the passage, but one that does severe damage to the context and is thus untenable.
The lex talionis is mentioned several times in the OT (Torah), but always in context of civil government, not personal retribution. As part of the law, it limited the punishment to be in proportion to the offense - anything beyond that was retribution, not justice (vengeance is mine, says the Lord).
The Old Testament teaching corresponding to the teaching of Jesus comes from many places, notably from Prov. 25:21 "if your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat, if he is thirsty, give him water to drink." - no where that I know of in the OT is the right to take personal justice given to individuals.
That same themes are carried forward to the New Testament. The teaching of Jesus to His followers was to "turn the other cheek" and accept both the physical blow and the insult of being hit in the face. He lived that teaching when He was scourged and beaten before His crucifixion without lifting a finger to protect Himself - being without sin, He truly practised what He taught. Paul also acted in the same manner when he underwent beatings and scourges, as did others in the New Testament. The teaching is difficult to obey, but that is what we are supposed to do, and we are not supposed to explain it away just because we don't like it.
The counterpoint to the teaching of how an individual should respond (going back to the lex talionis) was from several parts of the New Testament like when Paul said (Rom 13:4) " but if you do what is evil be afraid for it (government) does not bear the sword for nothing - for it is a minister of God, an avenger who brings wrath on the one who practises evil." Also see 1 Peter, 2:13-14. So just as in the Old Testament, the New Testament gives the responsibility of giving justice to government and retribution to God, who is the ultimate dispenser of all justice and punishment.
It is often noted that the commandment reads "thou shalt not kill", but a more proper translation is "you shall not commit murder" - a big difference that is most often ignored. Note that when Jesus (who often fought for others) was on the cross, He never said a word about the other two minor criminals being executed with Him. Their executions were properly ordained under existing laws (as was His own execution) by the government authorities, and as such must be submitted to.
Such passages are contradictory only when one wants them to be or is unwilling to dig to find the meaning.
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