Exodus 22-24

by Paul Ice 

2 Questions

I.  Context is vital right?

Understanding who is writing, who it is written to, when it was written, the culture in which they live, etc. is very important.  Read out of context, this would be an odd passage.

II.  Are all sins equal in the eyes of God?

Maybe you have heard that before.  When you read this passage does it make you think that God views some sins as more serious than others? 

1. It is always difficult and dangerous to attempt to list sins according to their degree of seriousness.
2. Earthly punishment is no comparison to eternal punishment.
3. Which sins get punished the most severely?  Interesting in this passage - the first 15 verses of Exodus 22, every one who does wrong gets fined.  In the next nine verses, they die.   But look what happens when you mistreat aliens or orphans or widows.  "My wrath will burn, and I will kill you with the sword, and your wives shall become widows and your children fatherless" (Exodus 22:24).  Ouch!
4. In one sense, all sins are equal in that they all separate us from God.  Or, in other words, every sin, no matter how bad, is equally effective in separating us from God.
5. The good news is that Jesus’ atonement for our sins paid for all of them, no matter how big or small.