How does this verse connect with Jesus' teachings on loving your neighbor? Setting the Verse in Context Exodus 22:27: “because his cloak is his only covering; it is the cloak for his body. In what else will he sleep? And when he cries out to Me, I will hear, for I am compassionate.” • The command appears in a section of laws governing social responsibility. • God protects the poor by limiting how long a lender may keep a borrower’s cloak. • The reason is rooted in God’s own character: “I am compassionate.” Love in the Law: A Foreshadowing • This single verse captures the heart of the whole Mosaic Law—practical love for one’s neighbor. • Returning the cloak by sunset means valuing a person’s basic need above personal gain. • Leviticus 19:18, given later, summarizes this ethic: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Exodus 22:27 shows it in action before it is stated in principle. Echoes in Jesus’ Teaching • Matthew 22:37-39—Jesus calls “Love your neighbor as yourself” the second great commandment. Exodus 22:27 is an early illustration of that command. • Luke 10:30-37—In the parable of the Good Samaritan, Jesus highlights compassion for someone in immediate physical need, just as God requires compassion for the borrower without a blanket. • Matthew 25:35-40—Jesus identifies Himself with “the least of these.” In Exodus 22, God likewise identifies with the poor man: “I will hear.” • John 13:34—Jesus gives a “new command” to love as He has loved; Exodus 22:27 reveals the same divine love motivating the law. Practical Takeaways for Today • Compassion isn’t optional—it reflects God’s own nature. • Meeting tangible needs (warmth, shelter, food) is a direct application of loving our neighbor. • Financial dealings should never exploit the vulnerable; love sets limits on profit. • Hearing the cry of the needy means acting promptly—return the “cloak” before nightfall, not tomorrow. • When we show mercy, we mirror the Lord who once said, “I am compassionate,” and who later walked among us, healing and serving in perfect love. |
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