What does "pay for the lost time" teach about responsibility and restitution? Setting the Scene • Exodus 21 follows the giving of the Ten Commandments, spelling out how Israel was to live out love for God and neighbor in real-life situations. • Verses 18-19 deal with an altercation that ends in injury but not death, describing the offender’s obligations. Text in Focus “ If men quarrel and one strikes the other with a stone or with his fist, and the injured man does not die but is confined to bed, if he can rise again and walk around outside with his staff, then the one who struck him shall be cleared. He shall only pay for the injured man’s lost time and shall ensure that he is fully healed.” Key Observations • “Shall be cleared” —no criminal penalty once the victim recovers. • “Only pay” —civil liability remains; the aggressor must make the victim whole. • “Lost time” —wages, livelihood, and opportunities forfeited while bedridden. • “Ensure that he is fully healed” —cost of medical care, therapy, and any support needed to restore normal function. What “Pay for the Lost Time” Teaches • Responsibility is personal – The striker cannot hide behind excuses; he must step up and cover the consequences (cf. Galatians 6:5). • Time has tangible value – Scripture recognizes labor as a primary means of provision (Proverbs 14:23). Lost productivity deserves compensation. • Restitution is monetary and practical – Words alone are insufficient; financial repayment and tangible care are required (Leviticus 6:4-5). • Justice aims at restoration, not revenge – The goal is to return the victim to pre-injury condition—health restored, income replaced (Numbers 5:7). • Preventive accountability – Knowing we must shoulder the cost of harm we cause promotes caution, self-control, and respect for others’ wellbeing (Proverbs 22:3). Broader Biblical Pattern of Restitution • Property: “If a man steals an ox…he shall pay five oxen” (Exodus 22:1). • Fraud: “He shall repay it in full, plus a fifth” (Leviticus 6:5). • Personal repentance: Zacchaeus offered fourfold restitution (Luke 19:8). • Reconciliation priority: “First be reconciled to your brother” (Matthew 5:24). Personal Application Today • Own the fallout of our actions—apologies plus concrete repair. • Factor people’s lost time into workplace accidents or relational harm; compensate fairly. • Budget for restitution rather than lawyer fees; choose reconciliation over defense. • Model Christ’s sacrificial heart—He paid our unpayable debt, setting the standard for making others whole (Colossians 2:13-14). |
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