In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Welcome back to Purify the Heart. This is Pastor Zachary Courie. In Exodus 21, the Lord continued applying the Decalogue, or Ten Commandments, to cases regarding slavery and restitution. Today, in Exodus 22, the Lord continues giving specific laws regarding property as well as various social relations.
Exodus 22
22 “If a man steals an ox or a sheep, and kills it or sells it, he shall repay five oxen for an ox, and four sheep for a sheep. 2 If a thief is found breaking in and is struck so that he dies, there shall be no bloodguilt for him, 3 but if the sun has risen on him, there shall be bloodguilt for him. He shall surely pay. If he has nothing, then he shall be sold for his theft. 4 If the stolen beast is found alive in his possession, whether it is an ox or a donkey or a sheep, he shall pay double.
5 “If a man causes a field or vineyard to be grazed over, or lets his beast loose and it feeds in another man’s field, he shall make restitution from the best in his own field and in his own vineyard.
6 “If fire breaks out and catches in thorns so that the stacked grain or the standing grain or the field is consumed, he who started the fire shall make full restitution.
7 “If a man gives to his neighbor money or goods to keep safe, and it is stolen from the man’s house, then, if the thief is found, he shall pay double. 8 If the thief is not found, the owner of the house shall come near to God to show whether or not he has put his hand to his neighbor’s property. 9 For every breach of trust, whether it is for an ox, for a donkey, for a sheep, for a cloak, or for any kind of lost thing, of which one says, ‘This is it,’ the case of both parties shall come before God. The one whom God condemns shall pay double to his neighbor.
10 “If a man gives to his neighbor a donkey or an ox or a sheep or any beast to keep safe, and it dies or is injured or is driven away, without anyone seeing it, 11 an oath by the Lord shall be between them both to see whether or not he has put his hand to his neighbor’s property. The owner shall accept the oath, and he shall not make restitution. 12 But if it is stolen from him, he shall make restitution to its owner. 13 If it is torn by beasts, let him bring it as evidence. He shall not make restitution for what has been torn.
14 “If a man borrows anything of his neighbor, and it is injured or dies, the owner not being with it, he shall make full restitution. 15 If the owner was with it, he shall not make restitution; if it was hired, it came for its hiring fee.
16 “If a man seduces a virgin who is not betrothed and lies with her, he shall give the bride-price for her and make her his wife. 17 If her father utterly refuses to give her to him, he shall pay money equal to the bride-price for virgins.
18 “You shall not permit a sorceress to live.
19 “Whoever lies with an animal shall be put to death.
20 “Whoever sacrifices to any god, other than the Lord alone, shall be devoted to destruction.
21 “You shall not wrong a sojourner or oppress him, for you were sojourners in the land of Egypt. 22 You shall not mistreat any widow or fatherless child. 23 If you do mistreat them, and they cry out to me, I will surely hear their cry, 24 and my wrath will burn, and I will kill you with the sword, and your wives shall become widows and your children fatherless.
25 “If you lend money to any of my people with you who is poor, you shall not be like a moneylender to him, and you shall not exact interest from him. 26 If ever you take your neighbor’s cloak in pledge, you shall return it to him before the sun goes down, 27 for that is his only covering, and it is his cloak for his body; in what else shall he sleep? And if he cries to me, I will hear, for I am compassionate.
28 “You shall not revile God, nor curse a ruler of your people.
29 “You shall not delay to offer from the fullness of your harvest and from the outflow of your presses. The firstborn of your sons you shall give to me. 30 You shall do the same with your oxen and with your sheep: seven days it shall be with its mother; on the eighth day you shall give it to me.
31 “You shall be consecrated to me. Therefore you shall not eat any flesh that is torn by beasts in the field; you shall throw it to the dogs. (Exodus 22:1–31, ESV)
This is the Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
With the laws of restitution, we see the Lord executing justice for those who have been wronged while also restraining revenge so that it does not become excessive or unjust. The well-known principle of “eye for eye, tooth for tooth” (Exodus 21:24) is not a command for brutal retaliation but a limitation—ensuring that punishment is proportionate to the crime. If someone loses an eye, they are not permitted to take both eyes in revenge. God desires justice, but He also values life, even the life of the offender.
As we continue through these laws given to Israel, it is crucial to remember that they were specifically for Israel’s life together as God’s redeemed people. For example, when the Lord commands, “You shall not permit a sorceress to live” (Exodus 22:18), He is not directing Israel to seek out and execute sorceresses from other nations. Rather, He is dealing with an Israelite woman who has personally received the Lord’s salvation—either as one brought out of Egypt or as a descendant raised to know the God who redeemed His people. If she turns to demonic practices instead of calling upon the Lord, she is rejecting the very God who saved her. This is not just a matter of lawbreaking; it is a matter of apostasy, a rejection of life with God.
Again, in these various laws, we see the Lord’s high regard for human dignity. He upholds the father’s authority in protecting his virgin daughter, ensuring her well-being whether or not she is given in marriage to her seducer. He condemns bestiality because it degrades humanity, reducing the dignity of man—created in God’s image—to the level of the animals he was given dominion over (Genesis 1:26). He commands exclusive worship, forbidding the worship of other gods, and insists on honoring rulers because authority itself is given by God for the good of His people. All of these commands serve one purpose: that man might remain in communion with the Lord, who is the source of life.
This is why Jesus declares, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6). In these laws, we see Christ—the One who upholds human dignity and takes sin seriously. The eternal Son of God took on our human nature, healed the sick, raised the dead, and overcame the effects of sin at every turn. Then, in the greatest act of justice and mercy, He suffered as the true Sinner on behalf of all, bearing the punishment we deserved in His sacrificial death on the cross. Glory to God in the highest!
Let us pray. O God, whose glory it is always to have mercy, be gracious to all who have gone astray from Your ways and bring them again with penitent hearts and steadfast faith to embrace and hold fast the unchangeable truth of Your Word; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
Let us pray. Almighty and everlasting God, You despise nothing You have made and forgive the sins of all who are penitent. Create in us new and contrite hearts that lamenting our sins and acknowledging our wretchedness we may receive from You full pardon and forgiveness; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
Thanks for joining me to Purify the Heart! Tomorrow, in Exodus 23, we continue with more laws from the Lord on various relations, directions for worship, and regarding the Israelites continuing their journey. Until then, grace be with you. Amen.
