24:14,15
Workers wages were to be paid each day. Now, this does not mean that our common practice of paying wages monthly is wrong, for in those days many were really living from day to day. Advantage was not to be taken of the poor, instead account was to be taken of their situation, and they were to be respected. The previous section had a blessing for following the instructions, this section has a curse. The poor may cry out against the wealthy. These instructions applied to both Israelites and foreigners. There were not grounds for exploiting foreigners.
24:16
Parents and children were responsible for their own actions. A parent was not to be put to death for a child’s actions, nor a child for a parent’s actions. So how does this tie in with Ex 20:5, with the sins being visited down to the third or fourth generation? I would say two things. The first is that this command is about what we are to do. We are not to hold the parent guilty for the child, or vice versa. God can make other decisions, but we are not in a position to do so. The second is that our actions can have long lasting effects, so my sin may affect several generations.
No comments:
Post a Comment