Connect Exodus 21:11 with New Testament teachings on freedom and justice. Text in Focus “ If, however, he does not provide her with these three things, she is to go free at no cost, without money.” – Exodus 21:11 Key Truths in Exodus 21:11 • God mandates protection for the vulnerable; a mistreated servant is guaranteed release. • Freedom is framed as a God-given right when justice is denied. • Justice is concrete, not abstract: food, clothing, and marital rights must be supplied. • Even within a fallen world where servitude exists, the Lord builds safeguards that anticipate liberation. Jesus Announces Deliverance • Luke 4:18-19 – “He has sent Me to proclaim liberty to the captives … to release the oppressed.” • John 8:36 – “So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” • Christ fulfills the Exodus pattern, declaring that mistreatment ends at His word and true emancipation begins in Him. Paul Connects Freedom and Justice • Galatians 5:1 – “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free.” • Galatians 3:28 – In Christ “slave nor free” distinctions lose power. • 1 Corinthians 7:21-23 – Believers are urged to pursue freedom when possible because “you were bought at a price.” • Philemon 15-16 – A former slave returns “no longer as a slave, but … a beloved brother,” showing the gospel’s social impact. • Ephesians 6:9 – Masters answer to the impartial Master in heaven, grounding workplace justice in divine accountability. James and Apostolic Warnings • James 5:4 – Unpaid wages “are crying out,” echoing Exodus-style liberation cries. • 1 Timothy 1:10 – Slave traders are listed among the lawless, underscoring God’s hatred of exploitation. • Revelation 18:13 – End-time judgment falls on merchants who traffic “bodies and souls of men.” Threads That Tie Old and New Together • Moral Continuity – The same Lord who freed the wronged servant in Exodus now frees sinners through Christ and defends the oppressed through His church. • Greater Exodus – Physical release in Exodus points to spiritual and social emancipation accomplished at the cross and empowered by the Spirit. • Image-Bearer Dignity – From Sinai to Pentecost, God insists that every person bears His image and must not be commodified. Living the Message Today • Champion tangible justice: ensure food, shelter, fair wages, and safety for the vulnerable. • Stand against modern slavery and trafficking, reflecting God’s heart in Exodus 21:11. • Treat every coworker, employee, or household member as an equal before Christ. • Proclaim the gospel that liberates from sin, reminding believers they are “the Lord’s freedmen” (1 Corinthians 7:22). • Hold authority humbly, knowing we all will answer to the Master who shows no favoritism. The Lord who scripted freedom into Israel’s civil code has written an even greater freedom into the New Covenant—one that breaks chains, levels social barriers, and displays His justice for all to see. |
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