LESSON 21
THE JUDGMENTS
—by E. L. Bynum
—by E. L. Bynum
Memory Verse: Exodus 21:12 (N.W. 22:1)————Lesson: Ex. 21:1-36
The next three chapters give the practical application of the Ten Commandments in the daily life of that day. In chapters 21-23, we have the main part of the civil law. The moral law is in chapter 20. The ceremonial law is found in Ex. 25-31, and in the book of Leviticus. These are the judgments of the Lord given to Moses. (See Exo. 24:3,4)
I . THE MASTER AND HIS SERVANT. v. 1-11
A . The Master And His Male Servant. v . 1-6
1. Buying a Hebrew servant. v. 2. This was of course a kind of slavery, but not to be confused with slavery that is practiced in the world today or that was practiced in America prior to the Civil War. The word for servant here is the same as that used for Abraham’s servant. Gen 24:2 And Abraham said unto his eldest servant of his house, that ruled over all that he had, Put, I pray thee, thy hand under my thigh: and for Abraham himself; Gen 26:24 And the LORD appeared unto him the same night, and said, I am the God of Abraham thy father: fear not, for I am with thee, and will bless thee, and multiply thy seed for my servant Abraham’s sake. It is also the same word that is used to describe the Lord Jesus Christ in O.T. prophecy. Zec 3:8 Hear now, O Joshua the high priest, thou, and thy fellows that sit before thee: for they are men wondered at: for, behold, I will bring forth my servant the BRANCH. An Hebrew could become a slave through poverty (Lev. 25:35,39), or through crime (Ex. 22:3).
2. The servitude to last 6 years. v. 2. Six is man’s number. Created on the sixth day. (Gen. 1:26-31) Man was to do his work in six days. Exo 20:9 Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: During the Great Tribulation: Rev 13:18 Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six. This would be the measure of man’s responsibility. This is what man owes to God.
3. Regulations concerning a wife and children. v. 3-4
4. After 6 years only love could bind the servant. v. 5
5. Bound by love, the servant’s ear was pierced. v. 6 Identification of love for his master. The believer’s identification of love for the Lord. John 14:15 If ye love me, keep my commandments. John 14:23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.
6. The bond slave is a type of Christ. v. 6
a. Christ took the form of a servant. Phil 2:5-8 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
b. He came to do the Father’s (master’s) will. Heb 10:7 Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God. John 6:38 For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.
c. He loved the Father (master). John 17:24-26; John 14:31 But that the world may know that I love the Father; and as the Father gave me commandment, even so I do. Arise, let us go hence.
d. He loved His wife. v. 5. Eph 5:25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;
e. He loved His children. Psa 127:3 Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward. Mat 19:14 But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven.
f. He could have gone free but for the love of the Master. Mat 26:53,54 Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels? 54 But how then shall the scriptures be fulfilled, that thus it must be?
g. Yet He gave Himself to the will of the Father (Master). Psa. 40:6-7 Sacrifice and offering thou didst not desire; mine ears hast thou opened: burnt offering and sin offering hast thou not required. 7 Then said I, Lo, I come: in the volume of the book it is written of me, 8 I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart. Heb 10:5-7 Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me: 6 In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure. 7 Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God.
h. As a bond slave in anti-type, He still continues to serve them. Heb 7:25 Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them. Luke 12:37 Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them.
7. We should follow Paul’s example in considering ourselves to be bond servants of Jesus Christ. Titus 1:1 Paul, a servant of God,… James 1:1; 2 Pet. 1:1; Jude 1:1.
B. The Master And His Female Servant. v. 7-11
1. The selling of a daughter. v. 7. This we presume would happen because of the same conditions as listed above. Lev. 25:35,39 (Through poverty.)
2. Her rights when betrothed unto the master. v. 8
3. Her rights if betrothed to his son. v. 9 In honor and purity. Lev 18:15 Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy daughter in law: she is thy son’s wife; thou shalt not uncover her nakedness.
4. Her rights if he took another wife. v. 10
5. Her rights if her master was not obedient to the law. v. 11
II. CAPITAL PUNISHMENT, OFFENCES, AND DAMAGES. v. 12-36
A. The Death Penalty For Homicide. v. 12-14
1. The death penalty taught here and in Gen. 9:5-6 And surely your blood of your lives will I require; at the hand of every beast will I require it, and at the hand of man; at the hand of every man’s brother will I require the life of man. 6 Whoso sheddeth man’s blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man.
2. The death penalty taught in the N .T. Luke 23:39-41 And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us. 40 But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? 41 And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss. Rom 13:3,4 For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same: 4 For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil. 1 Tim 1:8,9 But we know that the law is good, if a man use it lawfully; 9 Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers, (For more information see our tract, “Is The Death Penalty Scriptural?” # B-320.)
3. Ex. 20:13 contains the command, “Thou shalt not kill,” and 21:12 tells what to do to those who disobey this commandment.
B. The Death Penalty For Other Offences. v. 15-17
1. The smiting of father and mother. v. 15 There is a reward for honoring father and mother. Exo 20:12 Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee. Eph 6:2,3 Honour thy father and mother; which is the first commandment with promise; 3 That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.
2. The cursing of father and mother. v. 17 Mat 15:4 For God commanded, saying, Honour thy father and mother: and, He that curseth father or mother, let him die the death.
3. Man stealing. v. 16. This would include kidnaping. Deu 24:7 If a man be found stealing any of his brethren of the children of Israel, and maketh merchandise of him, or selleth him; then that thief shall die; and thou shalt put evil away from among you.
C. The Penalty For Smiting Others. v. 18-21
1. The smitten one to be compensated. v. 18-19
2. The penalty for smiting a servant. v. 20-21
D. The Penalty For Causing Premature Birth And Abortion. v.22-25
1. Strife causing premature birth . v. 22. This resulted in damages which were determined by the husband and the judges.
2. Strife causing the abortion of the baby. v. 23-25 (See tract # A-302, “Abortion Is It Murder?”) Deu 19:21 And thine eye shall not pity; but life shall go for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot.
E. The Penalty For Smiting A Servant. v. 26-27
If an eye or a tooth was destroyed the servant was set free.
F. The Law Concerning The Act Of The Ox. v. 28-36
1. When an ox kills a person. v. 28
2. The responsibility of the owner of the ox. v. 29-32
3. The penalty for leaving an open pit. v. 33-34
4. When an ox kills an ox. v 35-36
—by E. L. Bynum
STUDY QUESTIONS
1. Give two reasons why an Hebrew might become a servant.
2. How long was the servant to remain a servant?
3. What if the servant had a wife when he became a servant?
4. What if he is given a wife by his master?
5. Why would anyone want to remain a slave, after he had been set free?
6. What was done, if he decided to continue as a servant instead of going free?
7. How did the bond servant typify the Lord Jesus Christ?
8. Since the penalty for homicide was death, how can this be reconciled to “Thou shalt not kill?”
9. What is the N .T . evidence for a death penalty law?
10. What was the penalty for cursing Father or Mother?
11. What was the penalty for causing a premature birth?
12. What was the penalty for causing the death of the baby?
13. How was a man responsible for what his ox did?