In Exodus 21–23, God gives Israel a series of case laws meant to shape a just society. But these laws do more than expose injustice “out there” — they expose the injustice in us. In this sermon, we explore what justice really is, why every sin incurs real moral debt before a holy God, why none of us can stand innocent before divine justice, and why the gospel of Jesus is both scandalous and glorious. At the cross, God does not ignore justice — he satisfies it.

These chapters contain some of the Bible’s most difficult and misunderstood laws — laws about slavery, servants, foreigners, widows, debt, and justice. But beneath these case laws we discover something surprising: the heart of God for the vulnerable. In this sermon, we explore how these laws applied the Ten Commandments to everyday life in ancient Israel, how they restrained exploitation in a broken world, and how they ultimately point us to Jesus Christ — the One who became vulnerable himself to rescue sinners and make us reflect his heart in the world.

The Ten Commandments are difficult, but not burdensome. The exclusive worship of God — in the way that he wants us to worship — is actually burden-lifting and full of rest. As we dive into the first four commandments in this sermon, we’ll find that the fourth (rest) is not possible without the first.

We were created for fellowship with a God whose presence we cannot endure. How can we — who are unholy because of sin — enter into the presence of a holy God? We’ll need a Mediator, who can represent God to us, and us to God; a Mediator who can make us fit for his presence.