Exodus 21

INTRODUCTION: Andy Stanley story. House rules.

God wants us to take care of each other (Exodus 21:1-11)

Exodus 21:1 ESV

1 “Now these are the rules that you shall set before them.

rules before them - If 10 commandments was the constitution this is federal law.

God was speaking they ask him to stop, so now Moses writes it down.

There will also need more details. Don’t murder, but what if by accident?

Exodus 21:2 ESV

2 When you buy a Hebrew slave, he shall serve six years, and in the seventh he shall go out free, for nothing.

Hebrew slave. This was not a racial thing. This was one nation.

six year and the seventh go out free - This was not permanent slavery, this was for a time.

Exodus 21:3–4 ESV

3 If he comes in single, he shall go out single; if he comes in married, then his wife shall go out with him. 4 If his master gives him a wife and she bears him sons or daughters, the wife and her children shall be her master’s, and he shall go out alone.

Exodus 21:5–6 ESV

5 But if the slave plainly says, ‘I love my master, my wife, and my children; I will not go out free,’ 6 then his master shall bring him to God, and he shall bring him to the door or the doorpost. And his master shall bore his ear through with an awl, and he shall be his slave forever.

The fact that this verse exist shows that the intention for slavery was different.

The primary purpose of slavery in the Bible was to protect the poor, not benefit the rich.

Exodus 21:7–11 ESV

7 “When a man sells his daughter as a slave, she shall not go out as the male slaves do. 8 If she does not please her master, who has designated her for himself, then he shall let her be redeemed. He shall have no right to sell her to a foreign people, since he has broken faith with her. 9 If he designates her for his son, he shall deal with her as with a daughter. 10 If he takes another wife to himself, he shall not diminish her food, her clothing, or her marital rights. 11 And if he does not do these three things for her, she shall go out for nothing, without payment of money.

Why was it different for women? Number one it was more than likely women were sold to be married. Whenever women were married a price was always paid though.

But would not want here to be able to go free after 7 years if she was married. Further more if she was sold as a young woman she had now missed out on 7 years of child bearing and likely no one would want to marry her leaving her desititue.

God’s laws were established to protect the needy, so how are you protecting the needy?

God established punishment for when we don’t take care of each other. (Exodus 21:12-32)

Exodus 21:12–14 ESV

12 “Whoever strikes a man so that he dies shall be put to death. 13 But if he did not lie in wait for him, but God let him fall into his hand, then I will appoint for you a place to which he may flee. 14 But if a man willfully attacks another to kill him by cunning, you shall take him from my altar, that he may die.

murder is wrong. We know this. Capital punishment is not wrong.

Intention mattered to God. - Over and over again. Your intentions matter.

City of refuges - levites.

Exodus 21:15–17 ESV

15 “Whoever strikes his father or his mother shall be put to death. 16 “Whoever steals a man and sells him, and anyone found in possession of him, shall be put to death. 17 “Whoever curses his father or his mother shall be put to death.

Verse 15 and 17 - extentions of honoring your parents commandnent. IF you hit or curse your mother or father it was a death penelty. Uh-oh!

Verse 16 - says don’t steal or kidnap someone. Shuts down more modern slavery.

Exodus 21:18–19 ESV

18 “When men quarrel and one strikes the other with a stone or with his fist and the man does not die but takes to his bed, 19 then if the man rises again and walks outdoors with his staff, he who struck him shall be clear; only he shall pay for the loss of his time, and shall have him thoroughly healed.

If you were to hit someone and knock them out and they can’t work you were required to pay the price for them.

Exodus 21:20–21 ESV

20 “When a man strikes his slave, male or female, with a rod and the slave dies under his hand, he shall be avenged. 21 But if the slave survives a day or two, he is not to be avenged, for the slave is his money.

With a rod - dirty thing to do.

Number one - in some ancient cultures you could kill your slave and face no reprocutions. But here you would die.

But we say, but what about that person getting up. Is that ok. No, that’s not what is saying. ITs the exact same treatment, just without the payment, because he is already paying teh slave.

Exodus 21:22–25 ESV

22 “When men strive together and hit a pregnant woman, so that her children come out, but there is no harm, the one who hit her shall surely be fined, as the woman’s husband shall impose on him, and he shall pay as the judges determine. 23 But if there is harm, then you shall pay life for life, 24 eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, 25 burn for burn, wound for wound, stripe for stripe.

First - God counts children in the womb as people. So we should as well.

V23-25 is used to say look how barbaric the bible is. But that is wong. If you knock out my teeth I am giving you dentures.

God stops the abuse of overpunishment revenge.

Jesus says if anyone hits you on one cheek turn the other as well

What’s your response when someone wrongs you?

God’s punishment always matches the offence, what does that mean about your sin?

Exodus 21:26–27 ESV

26 “When a man strikes the eye of his slave, male or female, and destroys it, he shall let the slave go free because of his eye. 27 If he knocks out the tooth of his slave, male or female, he shall let the slave go free because of his tooth.

This was not normal treatment for slaves in the ancient world. Furthermore what is better for the slave to go free or just have a master with one eye and now more angry.

Exodus 21:28–32 ESV

28 “When an ox gores a man or a woman to death, the ox shall be stoned, and its flesh shall not be eaten, but the owner of the ox shall not be liable. 29 But if the ox has been accustomed to gore in the past, and its owner has been warned but has not kept it in, and it kills a man or a woman, the ox shall be stoned, and its owner also shall be put to death. 30 If a ransom is imposed on him, then he shall give for the redemption of his life whatever is imposed on him. 31 If it gores a man’s son or daughter, he shall be dealt with according to this same rule. 32 If the ox gores a slave, male or female, the owner shall give to their master thirty shekels of silver, and the ox shall be stoned.

Zech 11 and Matthew 27 pieces of 30 silver

conclusion: slave to Christ.

Communion