What principles of justice are highlighted in Exodus 21:35 regarding property damage? Setting the Scene • Exodus 21 sits within the covenant code the LORD gave Moses immediately after the Ten Commandments. • The ordinances show how love for God and neighbor works out in everyday disputes, including property damage. Text at a Glance Exodus 21:35 — “If one man’s ox injures another’s ox and it dies, they must sell the live one and divide its price; they must also divide the dead animal.” Principles of Justice Highlighted • Personal responsibility for one’s property – Owners are accountable for what their animals do. – Proverbs 27:23 calls us to “know well the condition of your flocks,” underscoring diligent oversight. • Restitution, not revenge – Loss is addressed by compensation, not by punishing the offender beyond the value of the damage. – Leviticus 24:18: “Whoever injures an animal must make restitution—life for life.” • Equity and shared burden – Both parties absorb the loss: the live ox’s sale price and the carcass are split evenly. – The principle balances justice (the offender pays something) with mercy (he is not ruined financially). • Preservation of community harmony – Clear, fair guidelines prevent escalating conflict between neighbors. – Romans 13:10: “Love does no wrong to a neighbor.” • Protection of property rights – Scripture affirms each person’s right to his own ox yet guards against misuse. – Deuteronomy 22:1–3 commands returning lost property, reinforcing respect for what belongs to another. • Proportional justice – The penalty fits the damage—no more, no less. – Exodus 21:24 sets the wider standard: “eye for eye, tooth for tooth,” establishing measured, not excessive, reparation. Practicing These Principles Today • Insist on responsible ownership—whether animals, vehicles, or businesses. • Seek restitution that restores rather than ruins, following Zacchaeus’s model in Luke 19:8. • Aim for solutions that share burdens and preserve relationships, reflecting Galatians 6:2. • Uphold laws that protect property while tempering them with mercy, echoing Micah 6:8: “do justice, love kindness, walk humbly.” God’s timeless wisdom in Exodus 21:35 calls believers to fair, balanced, and compassionate justice whenever property is harmed. |
    |