What principles from Exodus 21:26 apply to modern Christian views on justice? Exodus 21:26—The Text “If a man strikes the eye of his male or female servant and destroys it, he shall let the servant go free on account of his eye.” Why This Single Verse Still Matters In one sentence, God establishes that even the least-powerful person in an ancient household possesses unassailable human worth. From that starting point flow several timeless principles that shape a distinctly Christian understanding of justice today. 1. The Value of Every Person • The servant’s eye is priceless; damaging it costs the master an entire lifetime of service. • Genesis 1:27 grounds this worth in creation: “God created man in His own image”. • James 3:9 reminds us we “curse men who are made in God’s likeness”. Modern takeaway: Any just society must treat every individual—regardless of status, race, income, or nationality—with equal dignity and protection. 2. Accountability for Those in Power • The master cannot hide behind authority; harming a subordinate brings immediate loss. • Proverbs 11:21: “Be assured, the wicked will not go unpunished”. • Romans 13:4 calls governing authorities “God’s servant for your good… an avenger who carries out wrath on the wrongdoer”. Modern takeaway: Leaders, employers, and public officials are answerable for misuse of power. Impartial enforcement guards against oppression. 3. Proportional Restitution • The penalty fits the injury—destroy an eye, forfeit a servant. • Leviticus 24:20: “fracture for fracture, eye for eye, tooth for tooth”. Modern takeaway: Penalties should match the harm done—neither trivializing wrongs nor demanding excessive retribution. Restitution replaces revenge. 4. Restorative Justice That Sets People Free • Freedom, not bodily retaliation, repairs the wrong. The servant gains a life free of abuse. • Isaiah 61:1 anticipates Messiah “to proclaim liberty to the captives”, echoed by Jesus in Luke 4:18. Modern takeaway: True justice seeks restoration—returning victims to wholeness and giving offenders opportunity to repent while bearing consequences. 5. Protection of the Vulnerable • Servants had little voice; God legislates on their behalf. • Deuteronomy 24:14-15 warns, “Do not oppress a hired servant who is poor and needy”. • Micah 6:8 urges us “to do justice, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God”. Modern takeaway: Christians champion laws and practices that defend the marginalized—workers, immigrants, children, the disabled—because God does. Putting These Principles to Work • Assess public policies: Do they uphold human dignity and equal treatment? • Support ministries that rescue and rehabilitate victims of trafficking or domestic abuse. • Model fair workplaces—“Masters, grant your slaves what is just and fair” (Colossians 4:1). • Advocate for sentencing reforms that emphasize restitution and rehabilitation while maintaining proportionality. • Speak up for those who cannot defend themselves—“Open your mouth… defend the rights of the poor and needy” (Proverbs 31:8-9). A Final Word Exodus 21:26 may look like a narrow servant-law, yet it radiates sweeping truths: every person has God-given worth, power must answer to justice, penalties should be measured and restorative, and the vulnerable deserve active protection. Living out these principles keeps modern believers faithful to the heart of God’s law and the Gospel that fulfills it. |
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