“An Eye for an Eye” (Exodus 21:12–36)

“An Eye for an Eye” (Exodus 21:12–36)
Pastor Cameron Jungels
Eastside Baptist Church
Sunday PM, August 19, 2018

Exodus 21:12–36 (NIV)

12 “Anyone who strikes a person with a fatal blow is to be put to death. 13 However, if it is not done intentionally, but God lets it happen, they are to flee to a place I will designate. 14 But if anyone schemes and kills someone deliberately, that person is to be taken from my altar and put to death.

15 “Anyone who attacks their father or mother is to be put to death.

16 “Anyone who kidnaps someone is to be put to death, whether the victim has been sold or is still in the kidnapper’s possession.

17 “Anyone who curses their father or mother is to be put to death.

18 “If people quarrel and one person hits another with a stone or with their fist and the victim does not die but is confined to bed, 19 the one who struck the blow will not be held liable if the other can get up and walk around outside with a staff; however, the guilty party must pay the injured person for any loss of time and see that the victim is completely healed.

20 “Anyone who beats their male or female slave with a rod must be punished if the slave dies as a direct result, 21 but they are not to be punished if the slave recovers after a day or two, since the slave is their property.

22 “If people are fighting and hit a pregnant woman and she gives birth prematurely but there is no serious injury, the offender must be fined whatever the woman’s husband demands and the court allows. 23 But if there is serious injury, you are to take life for life, 24 eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, 25 burn for burn, wound for wound, bruise for bruise.

26 “An owner who hits a male or female slave in the eye and destroys it must let the slave go free to compensate for the eye. 27 And an owner who knocks out the tooth of a male or female slave must let the slave go free to compensate for the tooth.

28 “If a bull gores a man or woman to death, the bull is to be stoned to death, and its meat must not be eaten. But the owner of the bull will not be held responsible. 29 If, however, the bull has had the habit of goring and the owner has been warned but has not kept it penned up and it kills a man or woman, the bull is to be stoned and its owner also is to be put to death. 30 However, if payment is demanded, the owner may redeem his life by the payment of whatever is demanded. 31 This law also applies if the bull gores a son or daughter. 32 If the bull gores a male or female slave, the owner must pay thirty shekels  of silver to the master of the slave, and the bull is to be stoned to death.

33 “If anyone uncovers a pit or digs one and fails to cover it and an ox or a donkey falls into it, 34 the one who opened the pit must pay the owner for the loss and take the dead animal in exchange.

35 “If anyone’s bull injures someone else’s bull and it dies, the two parties are to sell the live one and divide both the money and the dead animal equally. 36 However, if it was known that the bull had the habit of goring, yet the owner did not keep it penned up, the owner must pay, animal for animal, and take the dead animal in exchange.

1. It is Morally Evil to Directly Harm or Injur Another Person, without Just Cause (21:12–27).

a. Certain Violent Acts Deserve the Death Penalty

i. Murder or Intentional Manslaughter (6th command) (12–14)

ii. Violent Acts or Curses against Parents (5th command/6th command) (15, 17)

iii. Kidnapping/Slave Trading (6th command/8th command) (16)

iv. Excessive Beating of a Slave that Results in Death (6th command) (20–21)

v. Manslaughter of an Unborn Child (6th command) (22–25)

b. Other Violent Acts that Result in Personal Injury May Receive Lesser Penalties.

i. Unintentional or Accidental Manslaughter (13)

ii. Fighting or Brawling that Results in Personal Injury (18–19)

iii. Punishment of a Slave that Results in Personal Injury (26–27)

2. It is Morally Evil to Indirectly Harm or Injur Another Person, Due to Negligence (21:28–36).

a. Willful Negligence that Results in the Death of Another Person is Equivalent to Manslaughter and Is Punishable by Death (28–29).

b. The Life of the One Guilty of Willful Negligent Manslaughter May be Redeemed by a Payment of Money and Damages (30–32).

c. In Cases of Willful Negligence that Result in Injury or Damage to Another Person’s Property, the One Who Suffered Loss Must Be Fully Compensated by the Negligent Party (33–36).

Main Idea: Love for One’s Neighbor Requires Valuing the Life, Personal Health and Welfare, and the Property of our Neighbor.

Principles:
a. All human life is precious, from the youngest unborn child and the lowest class slave to the wealthy nobleman and privileged royalty.
b. All punishment must be in accordance with the crime. The level of punishment should match the level of the crime. Too low a penalty, and the seriousness of the crime is devalued and victims become downtrodden. Society becomes violent and crime is running rampant, because evil is not punished with sufficient severity. Too harsh a penalty, and the justice system is filled with violent abuse, misused power, and the oppression of the vulnerable.
c. We should respect the personal property of our neighbors and provide restitution when our actions (whether negligent or not) cause damage or injury.
d. Gross disrespect for the dignity of a parent is so perverse that it warps the soul. Someone who does this will have no respect for any other person’s rights and will be a menace to society.
e. God’s people should embrace an ethic of valuing human life and valuing one another’s property that is higher than the ethic of the surrounding culture.
f. We must take appropriate care with our animals and property so that they do not endanger the life or wellbeing of another person.