Sometimes we need to read the Scripture in context.

     We all have heard Christian and non-Christian alike use the phrase "eye for eye and tooth for tooth".  Yet I have ever to hear it use in context with what the rest of the Scripture attached to it says.  The other day I was reading in Exodus and came across the following: 

     "If men who are fighting hit a pregnant woman and she gives birth prematurely but thee 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." Exodus 21:22-25

     There is no other situation given regarding the pregnant woman and injury or death to the child.  At least my search of the Bible doesn't show any.  Now, why would two men in the process of their fight hit a pregnant woman?  Was it because she was trying to stop the fight? Was it because the "other man" is the father of her child?  Was this a socially acceptable way to abort a baby?  Hmmm...makes you wonder.  Society back then was much different and yet the same as it is today.  The issue for me is that God is giving Moses instructions as to laws the people are to obey and the punishment when they are broken.  Why would God use the "pregnant woman" here in this context?
     In Matthew 8 tells the story of the woman who was caught in the "very act of adultery".  She was caught with the man mid-action.  In the VERY act of adultery.  Yet, Scripture doesn't have the man she was caught with anywhere in the story.  Why is that?  The story isn't about adultery anymore than the Exodus Scripture is about fighting.  The Matthew story, when taken into context, is about judging others.  The story says that when asked what should be done (when they knew the law) Jesus bend down and wrote in the sand.  I believe he wrote the names of the MEN (there were no women present that we know of.) who were present in the sand.  He then tells them, "he who has no sin cast the first stone."  He bent down and wrote in the sand again.  I believe he wrote a sin or sins behind each mans name.  One by one they dropped their stones and went away.  The story concludes with Jesus sending the woman on her way with the admonishment to "go and sin no more."
     Scripture isn't always "convenient."  We simply cannot take what we want and throw the rest away.  To those who use parts of their argument (like I've done way to often), stop.  To those pastors who read into Scripture what people want to hear (and keep the tithes coming), stop.  To those who use the Scripture to beat people over the head (trying to force salvation), stop.  To those who use Scripture to justify their sins (again, I am the chief of sinners), stop.  While we may have the talent to rationalize and justify our actions or in actions with Scripture; we still are wrong.  We need to stop. 
     Whenever man takes something out of context there is Satan waiting to take the hook and add a fish.  I remember the quote:

“Oh what a tangled web we weave, When first we practice to deceive” Sir Walter Scott

I remember wondering what it meant as a young adult.  You see deception was just a part of life for the non-Christian.  Yet, the web was forming and being fortified over my years.  When I became a Christian the web forming didn't stop.  Christianity today is so watered down that it's easier to point out where the web isn't forming.  The Bible is clear.  We are to not take Scripture out of context.  Nor are we o make assumptions from Scripture.  Exodus could well be interpreted as a law against abortion.  Matthew could well be interpreted about the adulterous woman.  Read the Scripture, don't take it out of the context.