20.1 And God spoke all these words... It is the all part that is the catch. Most of us think we are okay with 5-6 of these, but God spoke all.
Funny Passover Seder joke that I saw on several Jewish sites:
How G-d came to give the Jews the Ten Commandments.
G-d first went to the Egyptians and asked them if they would like a commandment. What's a commandment?" they asked. "Well, it's like, THOU SHALL NOT COMMIT ADULTERY," replied G-d. The Egyptians thought about it and then said, "No way, that would ruin our weekends."
So then G-d went to the Assyrians and asked them if they would like a commandment. They also asked, "What's a commandment?" "Well," said G-d, "It's like, THOU SHALL NOT STEAL." The Assyrians immediately replied, "No way. That would ruin our economy."
So finally G-d went to the Jews and asked them if they wanted a commandment. They asked, "How much?" G-d said, "They're free."The Jews said, "Great! We'll take TEN!"
20.20 Do not fear, for God has come to test you, that the fear of Him may be before you... All the theatrics and display of power were so that they would have God's might and justice in the back of their mind, but not for them to be afraid of God.
Exodus 21
21.2 Hebrew slave... There seems to be a distinction between how Jews and gentiles were to be treated.
21.7 When a man sells his daughter as a slave... I know that this is supposed to be some kind of betrothal arrangement, but it just sounds wrong to my 21st century western ears.
21.22 that her children come out...then you shall pay for the life... a very "pro-life" statute
21.29 has been warned... Knowledge of a problem creates responsibility.
Exodus 22
22.2 bloodguilt... This is a interesting word that seems to assign some kind of extra blame.
22.1 repay...
22.4 pay double...
22.5 restitution...
22.6 restitution...
22.9 pay double...
22.11 restitution...
22.12 restitution...
22.13 restitution....
22.14 restitution...
I think that I see a theme developing here.
22.20 sacrifices to any god, other than...
22.28 You shall not revile God... Contrasted with rich toward God in Luke 12.21
Luke 12
12.5 fear him... I'm just not seeing the reverence angle here. It sounds like a pretty clear warning about who we should fear more.
12.21 rich toward God... I like the attitude and magnanimousness of spirit this phrase communicates and inspires.
12.34 where your treasure is...
12.40 You also must be ready...
12.50 My distress... I am thinking about how these statements of Christ's distress or agony should help my understanding of sin, humanity, and deity.
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