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From Rules to Repentance

Sunday, February 27, 2022
Pastor Jojo Ma

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Exodus 21:1-15

We are now beyond the 10 Commandments. We are now in something Moses called the “Book of the Covenant” (Ex 24:7). This was a list of rules and laws and case studies of how ancient Israel was to love one another, and live with one another, in the fear of Yahweh.

I.          Rules on Stealing [vv1-4]
II.        Rules on Inattention [vv5-6]
III.       Rules on Borrowing [vv7-15]

I.         Rules on Stealing [vv1-4]
1 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.

II.        Rules on Inattention [vv5-6]
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.

III.      Rules on Borrowing [vv7-15]
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.

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.

“Don’t hold a grudge, let God judge.”

Eph 4:28 Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need.

The gospel-centered application for us out of Exodus 22 is not just to forsake stealing in our lives, but also to realize any and all kinds of stealing is really glory-thieving and stealing from God, taking for ourselves what is not rightfully ours.

True repentance, as Psalm 51 reminds us, comes from a broken and contrite heart.

Martin Luther: “When our Lord and Master Jesus Christ said ‘Repent,’ he intended that the entire life of believers should be repentance.”