For April 28, 2026
Mercy by Greg Holmes, D.MIN – Director of Missions serving 17 churches
THE O.T. SEEMS MORE DIRECT than the N.T. in its prescriptions and proscriptions that set boundaries meant to guide our everyday human activities. It is inevitable that in the realm of human conduct there will continue to be conflict between us. When the conflict goes beyond words and becomes physical, and intentional injury or even unintentional wounding to one party results, the O.T. becomes strictly authoritative in how such injury is redressed. For example, Moses says “If people are fighting and hit a pregnant woman and she gives birth prematurely but there is no serious injury, the offender must be fined whatever the woman’s husband demands and the court allows. But if there is serious injury, you are to take life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burn for burn, wound for wound, bruise for bruise.” (Ex. 21:22-25) Similarly, but with greater emphasis, he says elsewhere “Show no pity: life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot.” (Deut. 19:21)