Exodus 20:18-24:18: Laws
9/2/21
Preach
Scripture
Questions
Moses came down from Sinai with the terms of the covenant, i.e. how the people must live then and in the land he is giving them.
Why at the people trembling with fear [20:18-21]? How is coming to Mount Zion different to coming to Mount Sinai [Hebrews 12:18-24]? Why the difference?
Moses gives the people hypothetical case laws to show what the ten words look like applied in their context [about 3500 years ago in the Ancient Near East]. Identify two or three laws that are very strange. Can you translate the principles to our modern context?
Identify two or three laws that are a challenge to you. Resolve, by God’s grace, to be more obedient.
In the middle of the case laws there is a large section on how God is to be worshipped [20:23:33]. In the culture around, in Cyprus, orthodoxia means the correct worship of God. Which of the ten words deal with orthodoxia?
Suddenly, in the middle of the laws regarding the worship of God, there is a long section on the proper treatment of man, animals and property. What does this tell us about the character of God?
21:16 makes kidnapping and the selling of kidnapped persons a capital offence. What does this tell us, without any doubt, about shackled slavery? How then do the slavery laws in the bible apply to [21:1-11 esp. v7]?
How does 23:4-5 teach us to love our enemies [Matthew 5:43-48]? Think of what this might look like in your life and be ready to respond to your enemy in love!?
More
Bible Project’s Exodus 19-40 study notes