16The same laws and regulations will apply both to you and to the alien living among you.
What a great protection for foreigners living among the Israelites. The same rules apply. This is so different from what they themselves experienced as foreigners when they were in Egypt. They were the object of very different laws and very great oppression as a result of those laws. The Lord is creating a new society where the same rules apply to everyone. There are no second-class citizens. All are equally guilty and must bring offerings for their sins. All have equal standing before the Lord. No one gets a special pass when it comes to sin. Do you have the same standard for yourself and for other people? Do you expect other people to be patient with you, but you don’t exercise patience with them. Do you expect others to be open and transparent, but you yourself keep hiding who you really are from them? Do you want others to reach out to you when you are hurting, but you fail to reach out when they are? Do you expect others to be friendly and inviting even while you refuse to reach out and make a friend? The Lord knew our tendency is to have double standards. That is one of the reasons He applied one set of laws and regulations for everyone in Israel.
The Arnold Journey 