Exodus 22.1

“If a man steals an ox or a sheep, and slaughters it or sells it, he shall restore five oxen for an ox and four sheep for a sheep.”

Luke 19.1-9

It’s not hard to see how these statutes would both discourage stealing and restore justice when transgression had been committed. The guidelines suggested here were doubtless applied more broadly than simply in the case of animals, as Zacchaeus’ response to Jesus suggests.

Jesus’ affirmation of Zacchaeus’ response is important for two reasons. First, He did not chide Zacchaeus for trying to keep the Law. There is no disjunction between Law and grace. Conviction under the Law – a work of grace – opens the door for further grace, which empowers those redeemed for keeping the Law.

Second, here again, in the case of Zacchaeus, we see how these ancient statutes contain principles of “general equity,” as The Westminster Confession of Faith puts it, for discerning the practice of justice beyond the letter and into the spirit of the Law.

T. M. Moore

The Law of God is the soil which, fertilized by the rest of God’s Word and watered by His Spirit, brings forth the fruit of Christian life. If you’d like to understand this process better, and how to make best use of the Law in your walk with and work for the Lord, order the book, The Ground for Christian Ethics, from our online store.

Except as indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.