Exodus chapter 21 continues establishing the law concerning personal injury in verse 18, “If men quarrel and one hits the other with a stone or fist and he does not die, but is confined to bed… he must pay the injured man for his loss of time and see that he is healed completely.” Here we see the biblical principal of restitution being introduced. Hebrew law did not allow for jail time as a punishment or for rehabilitation, it allowed for the injured person to be compensated for his loss. This restitution was to be paid, even if it meant servitude for the guilty. Next, the law expands to injury to slaves; “If a man beats his slave with a rod, and the slave dies as a direct result, he must be punished“. Interestingly, the Hebrew law does not take away the personhood of the slave, while he is considered “property”, he remains a person. Every other culture at the time stripped the slave of any rights. Romans chapter 6 teaches us that we all are either slaves to sin, or slaves to God. Satan is an evil taskmaster, while Jesus said, “My yoke is easy and My burden is light“. We do not lose our individuality when we accept Christ as Lord.. Many of us were enthusiastic sinners, can we be nearly as enthusiastic Christians? Romans 6:19 makes the point, “For just as you presented your members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness… so now present your members as slaves to righteousness resulting in sanctification“.
Exodus 21:22 touches on both the personhood of the pre-born baby and contains an often misapplied verse. “If men who are fighting hit a pregnant women and she gives birth prematurely, but there is no permanent injury, the offending person must be fined whatever the woman’s husband demands and the court allows. 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…” The baby is fully recognized as an independent human being, even while in the womb. The ‘eye for an eye’ verse is in reality, God’s way of limiting our own desire for retribution. We humans do not seek fairness when we are harmed (particularly when it involves our kids), we want to inflict more damage than we received. But God conforms our desires for revenge by His perfect justice.
Verse 26 says, “If a man hits his manservant…in the eye and destroys it, he must let the servant go free to compensate for the eye“. Again we see God’s law protecting the slave from evil masters. Many of us were at one time living lives that did not honor God. We were in fact, slaves to sin and living in the world where Satan has dominion. We were abused physically, mentally and spiritually, but did not know how to escape. But God loved us even in our rebellion. 1 John 1:9 tells us, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness“. He will set us free from our bondage to sin, because, “Greater is He that is in us than he that is in the world” (1 John 4:4). And the good news is, “For whoever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world- our faith“. All that is required to be set free from sin is enough faith to ask for God’s forgiveness. “If therefore the Son shall make you free, you shall be free indeed” (John 8:36). Amen!