Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
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Exodus
Book: Exodus
Chapter: 21
Overview:
Laws respecting servants.
(1-11) Judicial laws.
(12-21)
Judicial laws.
(22-36)
1-11 The laws in this
Chapter relate to the fifth and sixth
Commandments; and though they differ from our times and customs,
nor are they binding
On us, yet they explain the moral
Law, and
the rules of natural
Justice. The servant, in the state of
servitude, was an emblem of that state of
Bondage to
Sin,
Satan,
and the
Law, which
Man is brought into
By robbing
God of his
Glory,
By the transgression of his precepts. Likewise in being
made free, he was an emblem of that liberty wherewith
Christ,
the
Son of God, makes free from
Bondage his people, who are free
indeed; and made
So freely, without
Money and without price, of
free
Grace.
12-21 God, who
By his
Providence gives and maintains
Life,
By
his
Law protects it. A wilful murderer shall be taken even from
God's
Altar. But
God provided cities of
Refuge to protect those
whose unhappiness it was, and not their fault, to cause the
Death of another; for such as
By accident, when a
Man is doing a
lawful act, without intent of hurt, happens to kill another. Let
children hear the sentence of
God's
Word upon the ungrateful and
disobedient; and remember that
God will certainly requite it, if
they have ever cursed their parents, even in their hearts, or
have lifted up their hands against them, except they repent, and
flee for
Refuge to the
Saviour. And let parents hence learn to
be very careful in training up their children, setting them a
good
Example, especially in the government of their passions,
and in praying for them; taking heed not to provoke them to
wrath. Through poverty the Israelites sometimes sold themselves
or their children; magistrates sold some persons for their
crimes, and creditors were in some cases allowed to sell their
debtors who could not pay. But "
Man-
Stealing," the object of
which is to force another into slavery, is ranked in the New
Testament with the greatest crimes. Care is here taken, that
satisfaction be made for hurt done to a person, though
Death do
not follow. The
Gospel teaches masters to forbear, and to
moderate threatenings, Eph 6:9, considering with
Job, What
shall I do, when
God riseth up?
Job 31:13,14.
22-36 The cases here mentioned give rules of
Justice then, and
still in use, for deciding similar matters. We are taught
By
these laws, that we must be very careful to do
No wrong, either
directly or indirectly. If we have done wrong, we must be very
willing to make it good, and be desirous that nobody may lose
By
us.