In what ways can Exodus 21:23 guide our views on accountability today? A brief look at the verse “ But if there is serious injury, you are to take life for life.” (Exodus 21:23) What God was teaching Israel • This line sits in a larger passage on personal injury. God spells out consequences so no one can shrug off harm done to another. • “Life for life” establishes two timeless convictions: the dignity of every human bearer of God’s image (Genesis 1:26-27) and the duty to answer for any assault on that dignity. Timeless truths about accountability • Human life is sacred; harming it is never a small matter. • Justice must be proportional—neither soft-pedaled nor vengeful. • Accountability is public, not private; the community knows the standards and the penalties (Deuteronomy 19:20). • God, not personal emotion, sets the terms for righting wrongs (Leviticus 19:18). Applying the principle today 1. Personal responsibility – When my actions injure others—physically, financially, emotionally—I own the outcome. Avoiding blame contradicts God’s revealed order (Proverbs 28:13). 2. Valuing every life – From the unborn (Psalm 139:13-16) to the elderly, life is treated as priceless. Policies, medical ethics, and everyday choices must start there. 3. Proportional justice in society – Courts, workplaces, and churches mirror God’s heart when penalties fit offenses (Romans 13:1-4). 4. Restitution, not revenge – Exodus 21:23 leads into verses on restoring what was lost. True accountability seeks repair, not payback (Luke 19:8-9). 5. Leadership and influence – Employers, parents, and ministry leaders are doubly accountable because others depend on their choices (James 3:1; Hebrews 13:17). The New-Covenant lens • Jesus affirms the Law’s moral bedrock while calling His followers to exceed it with heart-level righteousness (Matthew 5:17-20, 38-39). • Love fulfills the law by guarding our neighbor’s life and welfare (Romans 13:9-10). Living it out this week • Speak up for the vulnerable—preborn children, abuse victims, trafficked people. • When you wrong someone, name the harm and make concrete restitution. • Support fair sentencing reform that balances justice with the possibility of redemption. • Teach children that choices carry consequences; model confession and forgiveness at home. • Pray for leaders to craft policies that treasure life and require integrity. By embracing the “life for life” principle in Christ-centered ways, we move beyond mere rule-keeping and become stewards of the life God entrusts to every one of us. |
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