The Punishment Fits The Crime — an eye for an eye (Exodus 21:18-36)

How can you forgive someone who has hurt you? While it may not be the obvious lesson to draw from a group of explicit Mosaic laws, we find that one of these sentences have been wildly misinterpreted (Exodus 21:23-25). Because of this, our Lord Jesus famously addressed this error in Matthew 5:38-39 by saying, “Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also". Was Jesus contradicting Moses? If not, how are we to make sense of both Moses’ law as well as Jesus’ statement? Sandwiched in the middle of this mini-series on the idea that God’s laws demand a punishment that fits each crime, driving us away from sin and evil, we find an equally glorious truth drawing us towards mercy and love. As usual, it is only by understanding both these Old and New Testament statements that we gain a fuller, richer picture of our relationship to God, and thus our relationships with each other. 💭 Consider this: How, despite His justice, has God shown you mercy? To whom, despite your own sense of justice, can you show mercy today? 📄 Follow along with this sermon's transcript: https://www.bethelbpc.com.au/sermon-database/the-punishment-fits-the-crime-an-eye-for-an-eye 📍 Sermon Outline 00:00 Trailer 02:39 Introduction 04:50 I. The Crime, the Punishment, and the Principle. a. Injury from Physical Violence 07:58 b. Injury to Slaves 11:57 c. Injury to Pregnant Women 16:57 d. Injury from Animals 28:07 e. Injury to Animals 30:52 II. The Law of Compensation and the Law of Love 41:49 Closing Prayer 43:59 Reflection Questions 📺 Watch this sermon and others on YouTube: ⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@BethelBPC⁠ Copyright © 2024, Bethel Bible-Presbyterian Church. All rights reserved.