Exodus 22 — Sketch
Make It Right
Big Idea:
God continues to give laws to Isreal...
A thief must make restitution by paying back double.
An arsonist must make restitution.
A poor steward must make restitution by paying back double.
A judge must decide guilt between neighbors.
A man who seduces a virgin must marry her and pay the bride price.
Do not take advantage of a widow or orphan.
A person who lends must not charge interest.
A person who borrows must return what they borrow.
Don’t withhold offerings.
Give God the firstborn.
God tells Israel, “You are to be my holy people.”
Jesus in This Chapter:
Most of the laws in this chapter are about ensuring justice. Phrases like “make restitution” and “pay back double” are repeated. God is showing us that justice is part of His character. But how can God forgive our sins — which deserve death — while still upholding justice? Jesus’ death on the cross fulfills God’s justice for us (Romans 3:25-26).
God gave more than 600 laws to Israel. These laws — the Civil laws — kept order within Israel as a political nation. Ritual laws instructed the priestly sacrificial system. And moral laws direct us in living as God’s people. Because we are not a part of the political nation of Israel, the civil laws aren’t relevant to us. And because Jesus is our ultimate sacrifice, neither are the ritual laws. But the moral laws — the Ten Commandments and the Greatest Commandments — still apply to us because Jesus reinstated them. By putting our faith in Jesus, we are made innocent of breaking ANY of these laws — civil, ritual, or moral — because Jesus fulfills them all for us.
(Originally drawn October 5, 2010)