Exodus 22:16  “…he shall surely pay the bride-price…”
No such thing as free sex between consenting adults.  You have sex with a woman, you are expected to marry her.  Actually, the act of having sex with someone seals the deal anyway.  It is a total shame mankind ever got away from that truth.  And if for some reason the father won’t allow the marriage, the man still has to pay a price.

18  “You shall not permit a sorceress to live.”
Kill the witches.  This wasn’t a casual thing.  Someone who openly practiced witchcraft and sorcery, trying to use spiritual powers beyond their control and understanding.  Trying to bypass God as it were.  In a sense, trying to be God.

19  “Whoever lies with an animal shall surely be put to death.”
Sexual perversion with animals.  Bestiality.

20  “He who sacrifices to any god…”
Violation of the first commandment.  Each of these listed had the harsh punishment of death and destruction.  God was creating a nation of God-followers from people who’d been living with pagans for 200 years.

21  “You shall neither mistreat a stranger nor oppress him…”
Care for strangers or foreigners.  Obvious and total common sense.  Shows the mercy and compassion of God.  Some try to use this to support acceptance of anyone and everyone, but you can’t disconnect one scripture from all others.  Scripture makes it clear God knew the difference between mere strangers and invaders.  And He gave instructions to combat those who came only to kill, loot, and destroy.

22-24  “You shall not afflict any widow or fatherless child…My wrath will become hot, and I will kill you with the sword…”
God doesn’t mince words here.  I will get angry, and I will kill you.  And yet today we have those who brag and celebrate over their ability to have unborn and just-born children murdered for their convenience and profit.  How long, oh Lord?

25  “…you shall not charge him interest”
Not a commandment against collecting interest in general, but a specific instance.  They weren’t to use their fellow Jews for making money.  They were to show grace and compassion.  And not to take anything as collateral that would put the person at a great disadvantage.

28  “You shall not revile God, nor curse a ruler of your people.”
Paul spoke of similar things in the New Testament when he said to support and pray for those in authority.  Reviling God is easy enough to avoid, but the other can be difficult when we’re not thinking.  Unfortunately, we have so many “rulers” today who are evil in their thinking and actions.  It is easy to speak against them.  But we must be careful to do only what God says.  We can speak out against the evil actions they do, but we also need to pray daily for them, and support them when they do what is right.

29  “You shall not delay to offer the first…”
Fulfillment of the requirement to offer the first-fruits to God.  Also the first of their sons and that of their livestock.  There were ways to redeem them so they could continue to use them, but the idea was a reverence to God that He owns it all, so the first of everything was dedicated to Him.

31  “…you shall not eat meat torn by beasts in the field…”
So, no eating roadkill.  Things torn by animals were considered soiled and unclean.  Therefore, to eat them would make the person unclean as well.  It is also speculated that many of the kosher laws God gave were to help the people stay physically healthy.  You wouldn’t know what types or kinds of diseases an animal might have left on something it attacked.  Best to throw it out.

I hope you enjoy reading and studying His word.  May it accomplish what He desires.  Please feel free to comment or post questions.  Thanks for reading!

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.