Torah Portion - "Mishpatim"

This Week's Portion

Torah: Exodus 21:1-24:18

Prophets: 2 Kings 11:17-12:17

Gospel: Luke 7:1-8:3

This week's Torah Portion is titled "Mishpatim" - which means "judgments".

Over the past few weeks, we have seen the preparations and foundations being laid for a national system of legal governance for the children, and soon to be nation, of Israel.

In Exodus Ch 18, Moses' father-in-law Jethro pays a visit. During this visit, he notices how incredibly burdened Moses is being the sole arbitrator of the matters between the children of Israel.

Jethro tells Moses in no uncertain terms that he is crazy and will burn out quickly at this pace. He gives him some fatherly advice and encourages him to set up rulers over thousands, over hundreds, over fifties and over tens. Moses takes Jethro's advice and sets up an organized structure of dealing with the matters of the people, the first judicial system for Israel.

The Torah law (while much of it was pre-existent) was written down and codified at Mount Sinai, the most famous being the Ten Words or Commandments. More significantly, Israel joined in covenant with YHVH saying - "All that YHVH hath spoken we will do." (Exodus 19:8)

So we have a law, we have a judiciary, and in this week's portion, Mishpatim, we receive God's judgments. Here we have God himself expressing the concepts of righteous judgment and how matters of law are to be adjudicated. At a base glance, we may look at these scriptures regarding servants and oxen and crops and think - "What in the world does this have to do with me?" However, when we take the time to understand the principles of righteous judgment being conveyed, we understand God's thought process.

Exodus 21-24

(21:1-21:11) Servants:

We look at slavery as a bad thing. However, having servants was very common in Biblical times. Sometimes out of necessity, a person would need to offer their services for hire in order to repay debts or make ends meet. We do the exact same thing today, except instead of receiving money from an employer, they would more often than not receive food, clothing, shelter, etc. in exchange for their services. However, this was intended to be a temporary situation. By law, you could only have a servant of your brethren for a maximum of six years. In the seventh year, he must be set free and given provision. Most of Exodus 21 addresses the fair and ethical treatment of servants (i.e. employees). Women servants were expected to be treated at the very least like a daughter, if not as a wife!

(21:12-21:27) Like for Like:

This section of scripture outlines the concept that the punishment is to fit the crime - eye for eye, tooth for tooth, wound for wound, stripe for stripe. Whatever loss or damages you caused are to be recompensed in like manner upon the offender. This was later misconstrued to condone personal retribution, which was then corrected by Yeshua (Jesus) in Matthew Ch. 5. Here he explains how if someone offends you or does wrong to you, you are not to take judgment into your own hands and retaliate in like manner, but are to "turn the other cheek". Its equivalent would be the modern-day expression "taking the law into your own hands". The point He is making is that the fair and equitable punishment for any damages is to be decided by duly appointed judges only!

21:28-21:36) Aggressive Animals:

This section lays out the guidelines in regards to damages caused by animals whether it be to another animal or to a human. This could be equated to modern-day leash laws and other statutes regarding a person's responsibility for their pets/animals, especially those with a history of violence.

(22:1-22:17) Theft/Loss

This section details various circumstances where the application of the eighth commandment would come into play, and what the proper restitution for instances of theft/loss are between parties, whether intentional or accidental. Typically in cases of theft or negligent loss, the offending party is required to pay back anywhere from 2 to 5 times the value of the lost property. This section also covers things like animals grazing in a neighbor's property; if one party is the cause of a fire breaking out on their neighbor's property; if property is lost/damaged while being lent out to a neighbor; the theft of the virginity of a father's daughter.

(22:17-24:18) Various other applications of the Law

Not charging interest when lending to your brethren

Not afflicting widows and orphans

Not oppressing strangers/visitors

Not raising a false report

Treating the poor fairly

Helping your enemy when he is in trouble (or did you think loving your enemy was just a New Testament thing?)

No taking bribes

Various commandments regarding proper and acceptable worship of YHVH

It is very clear to see how these laws, statutes and judgments are designed to help us LOVE GOD and LOVE OUR NEIGHBOR, just as Yeshua/Jesus told us in Matthew 22:40. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

They are not "all-inclusive" nor do I believe are they intended to be, but they are some of the initial precedents set for how to administer righteous judgment in respect to God's Law. The umbrella that they all fall under is how we LOVE GOD and how we LOVE OUR NEIGHBOR.

"For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself." (Romans 13:9)

What a blessing it is to have such a Righteous Judge, one who is no respecter of persons. He does not play favorites! Everyone is equally loved, valued and cared for in the eyes of our Creator.

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